Learning to Program

[jjshabado]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
That's a little vague. Who do you want to apply to when you graduate.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thats kinda the problem I'm having at this point. I only have a vague idea of what I want to do, and I'm miles away from being able to answer a question as specific as who I want to work for. Developing software sounds appealing, and from what i've read software engineering is a field that is growing rapidly and is both financially and personally rewarding. So thats kinda where I'm at right now.

-DG

[/ QUOTE ]

I stick with my recommendation of learning Java first. I think its fairly easy to learn, is used in industry a lot, and relates well to a number of other languages. I actually believe a language like Python is what you should start with, but I don't think there are very many good resources to use, so if you're learning independently, its probably not a good choice.

The nice thing about programming though is that a programming language is only the surface. Any monkey can learn to program (an infinte number of monkeys typing on an infinite number of computers will eventually write a completely bugless Widows Vista?) a good developer (ie. somebody who will have a job here in NA for a good length of time) knows concepts and principles that he/she can quickly learn to apply in any new language. Learning programming languages is a lot like learning real languages in the sense that each additional language you learn, makes the next language easier to learn.