New To Programming, help?

[Calpis]

With a "Hello world" :P

If you're thinking about making money the languages to choose would be Python, Java or C#, the latter two being standard these days in enterprise software.

If you're into 16-bit through current consoles C might be where to start (but on a PC).

If instead you're into PC games jumping directly to C++ would be fine.

If you're into web development Python, Perl or PHP would be what to go with.

[Shakey_Jake33]

It's really just something I was to mess around with in my own time, rather than wanting to head towards a career in programming.

Sounds like C++ is the place to start! Any recommended literature? Honestly, I made a 'Hello World' about 7 years ago, and I don't even remember how to do that anymore!

[Zy0n]

One of the main problems here is I'll

a) have to start from scratch (normally I just pimp/reverse engineer)
b) dispite my desire to help my friend I have insufficient motivation
c) my concentration now is a complete and utter sack of shit. As such no matter how hard I try to learn or read for this project I'll become distracted at every step of the way. The irony is if I don't try I absorb a LOT more...

If I was in the mood I'd bend the heavens to make my code work. As I'm not I need to do it the old fashioned way.

This may sound strange and not to mention slightly off topic, but there are things you can do to remedy and improve your concentration and focus,which i have learned over many years. If you actually meditate for 40 minutes or more a day its shown to drastically improve your concentration. All you have to do whilst doing it is concentrate on your breathing, which helps your focus. I used to work in the stock markets on wall street and they offered these classes everyday.

[gamecubecat]

A good book that can help you with C++ is C++ a Beginner's Guide Second Edition by Herb Schildt. It is designed for those who have never programmed before. I myself and learning to program and like the book.

http://depositfiles.com/en/files/jaitt9f1d

http://www.filesonic.com/file/496218...153C_Guide.rar

It is nicer to use the print version, but I tried the PDF before deciding if it was worth it to get the physical copy. It especially helps if you have dual monitors.

[Fireball haven]

f you have access to a Mac, or can run OS X in a virtual machine. I recommend taking a look at the iPhone SDK, there are plentiful examples, resources and books. It's a great SDk and you can get visual results straight away.

[Deathscythe]

If you are starting out programming you might want to start out with simple object oriented / scripting language like Python and Ruby just to get an idea of how interpreters and compilers work plus they are free and there is plenty of documentation out there on the web.

Now If you want to get into the more hardcore stuff try c++ at colleges and universities right now is the main language taught. It was the first language I ever tried and I can admit that I had some difficulties with it but practice makes perfect. C++ is a good language to learn because it will help you develop logic, the logic is fundamental part of programming and if you get that down you can master other programming languages like java.

[R37R0]

As a professional developer of 10 years (engineering not games), I would agree with what others have said. Start with the basics in a small language like basic or pascal, then move to C and C++. With a good grasp of C++ you should be able to pick up most programming languages available today. I Started with C++ at University (and a little pascal and C at 'A' level) and since then have picked up C#, Java and Ada 95 (yes some people do use Ada still!).

Another tip: get a good development envionment, they can really ease the task of teaching yourself a language if the documentation system is available in the development environment and it provides facilities like autocomplete.

[derekb]

I'd advise against java and php as a first language, they're easy to use and ok for learning basics of functions etc, but they let you be really lazy in your programming so when you switch to something like C++ youll be stuck learning alot of proper coding practices

[YamiHoshi.nl]

If you need a book for C++, I'd recommend you exactly this book: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beginning-C-.../dp/1435457420
It's not the best book in the world, but it explains C++ Programming very clearly.

But I'd not go with C++ to soon, if I were you, just take a look at Unity3D, and create some C# Scripts in it.
If you've done that, you'll see how easily you can convert your C# knowledge into C++ knowledge.

I'm also writing some C++ Tutorials.
One is a full C++ Command Line Tutorial, and one is a Game Programming Tutorial, but the latter one goes beyond the basics, so I'd first recommend you to read the C++ Command Line Tutorial.
C++ Command Line Tutorial: http://www.cw-games.org/forum/index....amis-c-basics/
Game Programming Tutorial 1: http://www.cw-games.org/forum/index....he-c-language/
Game Programming Tutorial 2: http://www.cw-games.org/forum/index....bouncing-ball/

[Yogurtstorm]

I've just started using Python today, I want to design my own games one day.

My first Hello World was a success :'-)

[Tchoin]

I've just started using Python today, I want to design my own games one day.

My first Hello World was a success :'-)

Python is a great language to learn programming, and it teaches you to have a nice & tidy code! There are a few Python game development frameworks/engines, so you'll probably find one that suits you best :)

Btw, if you want to get into web dev with python I suggest you check out the Django framework, awesome stuff.

[Mqark]

I fully recommend Lazy Foo's SDL tutorial. It goes through step by step very clearly how to download a free C IDE/compiler, set it up with SDL and write enough of the building blocks of a game to actually put them together.

http://www.lazyfoo.net/SDL_tutorials/

It's surprisingly easy to download a sprite sheet and get something looking like a crude game going with this. Then it's up to you to carry on and learn more through the millions of online resources.

[alexander]

Selecting your first language is a hard choice!

My first language was C. I don't think that C or C++ are good beginner languages with its pointers. Requiring the user to handle memory allocation and freeing. It's a tricky language and can result in a lot of frustration with hard to debug bugs.
But it's a satiable language to learn if you want to write for game consoles and isn't impossible to learn, I did ;).

More info:
http://www.cprogramming.com/begin.html
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0131103628/

Java is a good beginner choice in my opinion. Not a gamer oriented but easier to get started with and in some sense similar to C and C++ syntax. There is a lot of good development environment such as Eclipse and Netbeans. And when you are ready you can always move to C++.

More info:
http://eclipsetutorial.sourceforge.n...erlessons.html
http://www.eclipse.org/

[richi902]

and for C++ & SDL2 i recomend: http://twinklebeardev.blogspot.de/p/...ial-index.html
it helps me through my pong clone i'm writing currently.