good programming language

[Mr. Rogers]

What would be a good programming language to get started in? i like web/networking stuff so maybe something in that. i've heard python is good, but i don't have a clue where to get started ^_^;;

[Mithrandir]

If you want one language that can do both web AND networking (system admin, etc) stuff, then I'd recommend perl. It's easy to learn as a first language, and it is VERY usefull. I know quite a few people here will agree it's a good language to start with too.

If you were going into programming as a discipline, then maybe C++ would be a better choice, but I've yet to run across a problem I can't solve with Perl.

If we knew exactly what you wanted to do, it might help us narrow down the field a bit more for you.

[LorentzForce]

I agree with oldphil and say; Perl perl perl perl perl Not because I'm a fan of Perl language, but because it's a good language. And good to learn too.

After that do some PHP. You'll find it's remarkably similar to perl.

C++ will have to come later. That language can confuse a many young programmers It'll be a while until you can appreciate the power of C++ without getting frustrated at handling it.

Oh yeah, stay away from Javascript unless you REALLY need it. Only thing good for Javascript is making the client's computer do the processing, and that's a very rare thing to achieve in many sites. Maybe open a new window, but you can do that with normal HTML anyway.

[blkmage]

Python is good. It's really easy to read and easy to learn. It's also useful.

[TheMelodyMaker]

I could recommend some version of BASIC because it's easy to read and understand -- but I don't want to start a debate over it. Different languages are for different people.

[Mr. Rogers]

thanks for your help. i found a perl book and ill start with that. after that ill do some php and more web stuff i guess.

[LorentzForce]

I coded in BASIC before I spoke a single proper sentence of English...

And I mean it. I was taught to program before I learnt English Probably why my way of thinking during coding is so much more absurd than many other people.

That said, BASIC too is good as a beginner's language. I mean, gees, it's in the name. It's unfortunate that it has very bad organisational possibilities in it, especially when you just coded 5MB of code without comments. Eww, goto statements. At least in GW-BASIC it was so often used...

[edit] Get away from that copy of Visual BASIC. Now. Use a tong, put it in your microwave oven, and throw that out while it's powered on. Then throw the tong away too. Take a very hot shower.

Good on you sldr. Perl is a good start

[Technomancer]

BASIC is a pretty good language to get started with, and is what I first learned myself. However, like Lorentz mentioned, it does allow you to develop some bad habits. A better language to start with I think is PASCAL, which is also easy to read but enforces good discipline. There is a visually oriented version of it as well called "Delphi".

[Mithrandir]

Geeze TM, you'd think we grew up together. I started out with BASIC, then wen't to pascal, then to Delphi. I just couldn't do enough back end system stuff with it, so I moved to perl. Then again, I also picked up a lot of other tools along the way, and just use the one's I need.

I stand by my statement that you should learn a language you'll use - and if you aren't going into coding full time, you'll not really need C. Pascal is a great language to learn, and it teaches you great fundamentals - same with basic - but in my mind that's an academic vs production question. This person seems to want to to production, therefore perl. QED.

And he's learning perl now. MWUHUHAHAHAHA! Everyone will be converted in the end!!!

[Technomancer]

And he's learning perl now. MWUHUHAHAHAHA! Everyone will be converted in the end!!!

Fie! Show me a perl script that can calculate EM waveguide propagation problems quickly and then maybe I'll be convinced. 'Till then I'll always be a holdout

[Kaligraphic]

I'd say learn assembly. Not so much for the utility, as for the fact that I double as a sadistic {okay, why is B-----d censored?}.

Seriously, I like PHP for a starting language, maybe contrasted with something else for the experience of typed variable declarations. (personally, I started with C++, which is a nice enough language but you can run into all sorts of memory management mischeif.)

[shooraijin]

Because it's considered a rude word?

[skynes]

PERL..... it's as BASIC as BASIC.

For those who get that - lol.

For those who don't - Forget about it...

[Mithrandir]

Seriously, I like PHP for a starting language

Perhaps if he was ONLY going to be doing web stuff, but I think he said he wanted something more robust. PHP started as a web language, and all the otherstuff was ad hoc 'd into it. Perl on the other hand started out as a 'duct tape' language, and it's grown steadily into a mature language with a fairly large number of different uses...

Of course, it's both moot and academic at this point.

[Mr. Rogers]

anyone happen to know of any good books or resources for learning Perl?

[blkmage]

Learning Perl and Programming Perl (the llama book and the camel book) from O'Reilly and Associates.

[Mithrandir]

Black mage is right, and I would recommend them in that order. The camel book is great, but Larry would probably be the first to tell you it's a reference book, not a "learner's" book. LP is much more elegant at that. Now then, once you have learned, and need a reference - then go camel. In fact, if you've picked it up mostly by editing other people's stuff, then the camel is a good starting point.

Or, if you're formally trained in CS...

[Mr. Rogers]

learning perl.....2nd edition or 3rd? seems some people like 2nd better, but its for version 5.004 and the current version is like 5.8 or something. maybe t doesn't matter, i dunno.

[Mithrandir]

2nd edition is cheaper (usually) but you won't learn the "cool new stuff." I think that's irrelevent, though, since work is being done on Perl 6 as week speak, er type. I would recommend the 2nd ed for now to get a feel for perl as a language; if you find you really like perl, when 6 comes out you can get that book, and really learn it well.