opinions from professional programmers, please

[XoverIP]

Hey everyone,

I'm trying to figure out exactly where to start when it comes to learning programming. I'm a savvy network guy with lots of; success, practical experience and theory. My success was paid in blood/sweat/tears and my theory was ~95% self-study. Can someone help fast-track me by means of recommending the best [study] resources and/or free OnLine classes?

Reason why, is b/c I have an opportunity to be involved in a web development project. I also want to learn how to write basic scripts for my routers and switches too. All-in-all, I know; desktop/server support, pre/post sale switching and internetworking. The main thing I've been lacking for some time now, has been programming...

Thanks in advance
Ixix CC, SWE, LCNCS-C, LNCS-OF ,3CSA, 3CNTS, 3CSE, NNCAS, NNCDS, ENA, ENA-PS, ENS, CCNA, CCDA, CCNP, CCDP

Ixix CC, SWE, LCNCS-C, LNCS-OF ,3CSA, 3CNTS, 3CSE, NNCAS, NNCDS, ENA, ENA-PS, ENS, CCNA, CCDA, CCNP, CCDP

 

[1DMF]

What type of programing / web development do you want to do?

There is a plethora of options, and it's down to what you fancy doing.

Are you looking at straight procedural scripting or object orientated.

What platform you interested in? *nix / Mac / Windows?

do you want to full on app development in environments such as Java or scripting type such as VB script / PHP, maybe ColdFusion if you are interested in J2EE platform, or how about Flash?

Maybe you want to look at Ruby on Rails / Python?

Perhaps the .NET framework?

I have personally sent myself back to school via the Open university and am studying for a Diploma in computing, which is mainly about OO programing and application design.

I did OO programing with Java my 1st year, and I'm currently studying Designing applications with Visual Basic (.NET)

However, I web develop using Perl and inhouse applications are MS Access (VBA).

Are you looking for academic qualifications or industry qualifications?

You need to think more about what exactly you want to do, programming is rather a broad subject.


"In complete darkness we are all the same, only our knowledge and wisdom separates us, don't let your eyes deceive you."

"If a shortcut was meant to be easy, it wouldn't be a shortcut, it would be the way!"

Google Rank Extractor -> Perl beta with FusionCharts

 

[stevexff]

Echoing 1DMF's comments, with:

Procedural programmming is a completely different paradigm to OO. If you are learning to write new programs rather than maintain other people's I'd probably advise you to go down the OO route from the word go, then you won't be tempted to write procedural code in an object oriented language. Which can happen, especially when C veterans move to C++

Much as I like perl (the unix programmer's Swiss Army chainsaw), it pretty much lets you do what you like, in any way you like. While this flexibility is great for quick and dirty fixes, it doesn't really encourage good programming style for a beginner.

If you want to script, try Ruby (my favourite; you can do a lot by writing very little. Much of the literature is based around the Rails framework but Ruby works fine on its own too) or Python (very popular but personally I don't like the fact that whitespace is important). Both are OO scripting languages.

If you want to code in a compiled language, Java is universally available for free, although C# is a very nice language too. I'm not a big fan of VB, but only because I don't like the clunky syntax; it runs just fine.

Steve

[small]"Every program can be reduced by one instruction, and every program has at least one bug. Therefore, any program can be reduced to one instruction which doesn't work." (Object:erlDesignPatterns)[/small]

 

[1DMF]

Much as I like perl (the unix programmer's Swiss Army chainsaw), it pretty much lets you do what you like, in any way you like. While this flexibility is great for quick and dirty fixes, it doesn't really encourage good programming style for a beginner.

Hey we don't like perl, we LOVE perl, it doesn't matter how many languages I try, and I've tried a few I can tell you.

Nothing is as quick, easy and simple to get things done, OK perl is old, and i even use SSI (Server Side Includes), which is old, but you know what IT WORKS!!

But Steve is right, OO is the way to go, what ever language you use even OOP (Object Orientated Perl).

I wrote my first OOP script a few months back and it's running SWEEET! , love it!

I would also add that it seems perl heads are some of the nicest , friendliest, helpful people I have ever asked a forum question too.

I owe many beers to many great people on TT, but none as much as the perl heads, they taught me every thing I know, and kept me in a job for 10 years and counting!

So learn some OO and use the latest considered standard in what ever flavour you like be it Ruby, PHP, Java, VB.Net, what ever floats your boat, but when you have some 'me time', take a look at perl, you won't be wasting your time I promise ;-)



"In complete darkness we are all the same, only our knowledge and wisdom separates us, don't let your eyes deceive you."

"If a shortcut was meant to be easy, it wouldn't be a shortcut, it would be the way!"

Google Rank Extractor -> Perl beta with FusionCharts

 

[fdalmoro]

Hi Xover,

It's funny you asked this question because I'm on the same boat. I decided on Java just because I want to make some Android apps.

In any case I went with Java, first I read Beginning Java for Dummies and now I'm on Dietel's Java How To Program. The dummy book is on a SLOOOOWW gear. It explains the basics 5 different ways. The How To Program book covers what the entire Dummy book covered in two chapters. I like my route because it gave me a great understanding of the basics and then the How To is not so overwhelming. I hope this helps.

Fernando