hannan_edwards

Hello everyone I am fairly new to programming and completing my first semester of programming classes (VB, python, C++...don't ask why I did 3 at once >_<) and I really enjoy it and find it fun but unfortunately I am not very good at it. I can do the HW but it takes me longer to do then my classmates and in some cases im not able to figure it out at all. I like programming and I want to make a career out of it but I need some extra help. What I was wondering was if there were any books or Websites or anything that was around that could help me or maybe if you guys had some tips I could use to become a more efficient programmer. Thanks in advance!

redfiretruck

The biggest problem is that you tried to do all 3 at once.

Programming is a very complex mindset that requires most people to really adjust to understand it. Once you understand basic concepts in one language, you can usually learn those concepts in other languages fairly easily.

My opinion: You should start with just one language, get in-depth with it to a point where you can actually do some decent things. As my math instructor put it, "Find something you really wish your computer did for you, hopefully something hard to do, and just make a program to do it for you in that language."

As far as which language to start with, it really just depends on what looks best and is easiest for you. A lot of people like to start with VB.NET because it is probably one of the most dumbed down languages possible, but it is perfect for just a starting language to get your feet wet. If you don't like VB.NET for whatever reason, try python and then try another and another.

I'd say some of the bigger ones to try are:
- VB.NET / C# ( I put them together, but they look very different in code )
- Python
- Pascal ( Delphi is a good program to try for that )
- C++ ( If you do C++, I highly recommend getting a book. Accelerated C++ is a great one if your interested. Keep in mind C++ is a pretty hard language to start out with by the way ).
- Java ( I've never learned Java personally yet, but I've heard good things about it being easy )

If you want to start out with Java or C++, one thing you might want to try is listening to iTunes U from Stanford. They offer a bunch of programming classes that cover the languages, quite literally in an ivy league form, and will help out if you need some structure to follow with languages.

http://itunes.stanford.edu/

As much as I hate iTunes, I still downloaded it just to be able to listen to these classes. The only problem is the first guy has a really high pitched voice, I just made the video go 1.5x faster and his voice all of a sudden started making me laugh and I could understand him still ^^.

Efficient Programming
I'm still barking up that tree myself... Efficiency is probably something you should deal with later on in programming... Most importantly, while you learn these languages, chances are that you will learn efficiency along the way. Soon enough you will know a lot about efficiency without even trying to learn about it.


For Books
http://www.gamedev.net/columns/books...?CategoryID=21

Look for books for whatever language you are trying out. You should probably try to get the language books first, they typically have the language name in their book title. I'd say you should read one of those first before you attempt to do other more advanced things.
( They rate their books well, Every book i've bought with a 5star rating was totally deserving of 5 stars. )

hannan_edwards

awesome thank you so much for the information! I'll have to check out that radio station some time when I get a chance sounds pretty helpful/funny lol. The reason I did 3 was cause my teacher convinced me that I could handle it and he was sort of right but I think it also messed me up...Personally my 2 favorite languages are C++ and Python cause they (to me) are the most fun to program in. Looking back now though I think if i had the chance again i would only take one class and wait till the next semester to do another. either way Thanks alot for the help Redfiretruck!

DaWei

Buy low, sell high.

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