What to study to break into programming.

[SavantMan]

This is my first post to this forum, so if I'm breaking protocol in any way, please be gentle.

I have been working in SW Quality Assurance for years, and am attempting to execute a career shift into programming. I am in the process of going through VB in 21 days, to be followed by More VB in 21 days. I know I need to add other skills in addition to VB and could really use some advice on a couple of things. Should I be using a different training method? (Money is a definite concern at this point, a small part of the reason I'm changing is lack of work in my field/geographic region). And also, where to go from here? Java? ASP? XML?

Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

 

[iSeriesCodePoet]

You can't go wrong knowing VB and Java. I would be careful though, most places I have seen are looking for expirience or a degree. Mike Wills
AS400 Programmer


Please, if you find my post useful, let me know.

 

[varocho]

I'd also learn relational databases and SQL. A lot of application development is done involving relational databases.

 

[OneFreshHaiku]

I guess it all depends on what sort of programming you'd like to get into, and possibly what sort of programming goes on at your current employers - since it might be possible to swing an internal move?
While not the most fashionable of languages, COBOL is probably worth at least a look - it's quite easy, and there's a huge user base out there in the Finance and Banking sectors... It also fits very well with relational databases/SQL.
Hope this helps,
Dave