Path to Programming...
 

What's your story about learning to programming and how you got where you are now. I was into Web Developing, first I learned HTML, then CSS, then Javascript(not a lot, enough for a slideshow), then I took a Visual Basic class and there was this kid who knew C++ and everyone thought he was a genius! Then I decided to go for programming then looked into programming languages and then I decided to go Java, then I got really into it and BAM! Here I am now!

So what's your story?

Got interested in the inner workings of a computer at about the age of six... I could barely read, so I couldn't start programming or anything - because of my lack of knowledge at that age (and I didn't have access to the Internet as well, and again I didn't knew what that was exactly) I didn't even know it was possible, I believe. At the age of seven I got sick of playing minesweeper, and I didn't touch the computer for quite a long time ;). Then I started reading computer magazines, and found somewhere an article about Visual Basic for Applications, which was by default in Excel. After having found and interpretted some programs written in Visual Basic I started to see the logic in it. At the same time, I got a version of Logo for children for my birthday, and 3 books about it. After having learned the language, I switched back to Visual Basic. I have programmed to long in Visual Basic, I think. A year later I got the real Visual Basic for my birthday, and a book about C++ (C++ for Dummies) and a compiler (yep, a GNU compiler ;)). Because I liked to create GUIs, and the C++ book didn't tell anything about GUIs, I choosed to continue with Visual Basic. I was young, and I didn't know better ;). About one or two years I started to get interested in C, and later in C++. Funnily enough, I have never read that book I got for my birthday.

Used to run a message forum (ikonBoard 2). Started learning perl when i started installing hacks and eventually writing hacks. Then I learned PHP. The I got ahold of my brother's C++ book and read that. Took a high school C++ course the next year and then Java the year after that. And ta da!, I'm a comp sci major in college.

I started out with QBASIC in fourth grade at age 10 (right?). In seventh grade, I had a go at Visual Basic, didn't like it. I started with C++ In 9th grade, started with C in first grade at "gymnasiet" at the same time I started using Debian and Slackware. Started with perl in second grade (bought The Camel and some other perl related books from O'reilly), and here I am. Soon graduating from third grade, getting started in life.

I had a go at HTML, CSS and some perl CGI in 6th and 7th grade, but I'm not very good with design and graphical layouts so I don't really do that anymore. Luckily, GTK, perl/Tk and Qt comes with nice packing functions so I don't have to care that much about the looks in my programs. And I'm mostly making CLI's so :)

Dont read it, I have that book and it sucks. Anyway I made a thread just like this long long ago, but here it is again:

First I was doing html, making simple web sites. but then I watched a movie about a hacker (Sword Fish, wich was a really good movie). So then I looked up a tutorial on hacking. Bascialy it was a load of garbage, all untill the last line. It said "If you ever want to be a real hacker you have to learn to program using Java, c++, or Visual Basic". So I searched and searched but I could only find one free compiler, Dev-c++, So i was destined to be a c++ programmer. I picked up a few tutorials, skimmed em, and made a really pathetic text program. Soon after I quit coding, then eventually I went back to html and learned php as well. Soon after I quit that too and whent back to c++, wich is were I am now.

heres the thread I made: http://www.programmingforums.org/for...ead.php?t=6148
edit: dont post in that thread, Its been dead for a while.

Oh, my fault crazykid! I wanted to start a thread which would have a lot of people's interest in posting in but looks like someone had the idea first, all credit to crazykid on this subject!

No problem. There are probably new members or members who wasnt around to see my old thread but still want a chance to tell us about their 'path to programming'.

First programming- DarkBasic (yeah, that's your cue to point and laugh) in maybe 6th grade. Then Python in 8th, Delphi in 9th, C# in 10th, and now PHP and some basic JavaScript in 11th. I guess I've stuck to the "language-a-year" thing pretty well, although I don't really use Delphi or C# anymore.

I guess I should mention that my Dad is a computer programmer- no need for a class when I've got him!

Mines kind of different to all yours. anyway here goes.

I was going to join the armed forces but turns out they don't accept partically blind people. This was when I was 16 and had no backup plan eather. I didn't have a clue what to do so I joined the first computing course available,I had always been Interested in computers but we coulden't afford one so the most I learned was that of my ICT classes in high school. It was quite interesting and I started picking parts of visual basic 6 up. I got through the course and moved into my second year (the year im in now), and started learning C/C++. I have been learning C++ pretty intensivly for the last few months now, I use just about any e-book I can find and have picked up a couple from the local book shop. I also know java script and CSS which I took part time courses in at college. I already knew HTML from when I learned that when I was 10 years old. I am also in the progress of learning postgresSQL and got a couple of books to learn from.

The internet at age six? Bah. Whippersnapper ;)

I think I was poking away at the keyboard of a Dragon 32 microcomputer at that age. Four colour screen, 32k of RAM, 890KHz processor, cassette tape storage - though I'm sure some forum members can remember cutting their teeth on punchcards *coughs* DaWei *coughs*.