Learning to code
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- 3030
I would go with Javascript and Ruby. JS is the most widely used and mostly misunderstood language due to its popularity and nature. Ruby is a fun laguage, very flexible and easy to learn. On a daily basis I do front-end development (have to write a lot of JS) and integration with back-end services using .NET and ASP.NET MVC framework - all in C#. New verion of C# adds some nice features that make life easier so you can give it a shot (you can install Mono framework on Mac/Linux).
I've tried to learn Objective-C and do some iOS developemnt but I failed. To me Objectve-C is fucked-up language and I can't get my head around it. Maybe I am spoiled by C# and Ruby.
If you asked me about PHP, I would say no. I know it, is a very popular language (drupal, joomla, wordpress - you name it) and multi-platform and I used to use it, but the language is like a (Frankenstein's monster)^OMG*WTF.
But in the end it is up to you. Try and decide. Happy coding.
- haha, php's not so bad, apart from the awkward OO syntax etc. C#/.net etc always seemed a trip to me. No Dark Sides :)mikotondria3
- MrT0
I got absolutely nowhere trying to source some Ruby coders last year but spoke to some who were apparently GETTING $250/hour in Sydney. Made me consider a swift retrain...
- Fuck me, I'd strip bend and clench for 2 hours a day of that.mikotondria3
- mikotondria30
Php is an easy to learn, useful language - you can get comfortable with the basics of coding within a familiar (web) setting. It can get as complex as you like, and even on up to Object Orientated Programming (OOP), which is the fundamentals of C-family programming. Php is actually written in C.
C, C++, C# and Objective C etc are proper 'grown up', lower-level languages that do require some real work to grasp their often counter-intuitive principles. It might be nice to whet your whistle on something a little more palatable first.
- feel0
i learned coding on mIRC, but i got my real skills doing flash action script for the past 7 years, its been about 5 years i'm working only with animation, coding is just not my thing, and there's guys that destroy on it.
but coding in flash (as2) as sweet and easy, as3 is more robust but more complicated.
my 2 cents
- Yeh, few years too late to be any use learning AS2, but yeh - that was a fun time :)mikotondria3
- ukit20
I would just try to learn the language you want to actually use. The main thing is to learn the basics of programming. Once you understand the basics, it's really not that hard at all to pick up another language (my experience as someone who is self taught).
- mg330
+1 to what ukit said. Have you worked around developers that have coded major websites? I did for 5 years, and, if I were in your shoes, I'd eliminate all forms of coding that don't meet your actual needs or passions/interests. For me, I know right off the bat that PHP would be a priority, because I'd love to learn how to build and seriously customize WP themes, or to just fully understand themes I am using.
- monNom0
^ as they've done it, using google maps, You'd need to get data from someplace like Alexa (if they have a data API, you could connect to that for the data). With data, you need to create a custom tile-server to plot the circles into a format that google-maps can deal with. There are open-source map-projects out there that would do the trick with a little finesse (http://www.openstreetmap.org/).
The above is maybe overly complicated. You could do all of this in HTML5 Canvas using a bit of javascript and a simple AJAX interface to a database that returns results based on a quardant. A little pre-processing of your data to plot all data points to an X/Y coordinate space, and to position circles for no overlap (start large, and move smaller in passes so you can fit smaller cicrles into gaps). With properly formatted data, the javascript/canvas stuff is dead-simple. essentially just draw circles at such and such point, with such and such radius.
Server-side stuff can be simple PHP/MySQL. Preprocessing could get memory intensive depending on scope of data. Splitting into 'tiles' may help to keep things efficient.
- pango0
one of my friend was talking about "processing".
i know nothing about it but he said it's future is pretty promising.
- yocco_my_taco0
Lots of great intro to advanced classes here
https://www.udacity.com/all free
- identity0
awesome! thank you!
- nocomply0
You can learn a lot of the nuts and bolts of programming just by practicing some good old fashioned javascript.
I would recommend that or PHP to start.
I come from a strong front-end background and I'm no expert at either language, but I generally know enough to "make things work" when I need to.
PHP often goes hand-in-hand with MySQL, so if you're interested in database driven websites it would be good to develop at least some kind of comfort level with MySQL as well.
- pango0
"Processing is an open source programming language and environment for people who want to create images, animations, and interactions. Initially developed to serve as a software sketchbook and to teach fundamentals of computer programming within a visual context, Processing also has evolved into a tool for generating finished professional work. Today, there are tens of thousands of students, artists, designers, researchers, and hobbyists who use Processing for learning, prototyping, and production. "
- useful for visual stuff but thats it.fadein11
- useful for learninganimatedgif
- animatedgif0
Processing is fucking brilliant for learning to code. Also helps you move into C++ later via OpenFrameworks.
Wouldn't bother with PHP unless you want to do backend/database work and even then if you're doing that professionally then there are better tools than PHP for it. PHP is only really worthwhile if you're developing for shared hosting.
- colossalhead0
Some good advice so far. Check iTunes U as well. You can take intro computer science courses from Harvard, Stanford, etc. Full HD streams of the lectures, course notes, slides, etc. I highly recommend the Harvard CS50 one.
- identity0
Good advice indeed!
Thanks guys - I'm taking ALL this into consideration.
I'm definitely interested in making tech/digi products and not necessaril sites (for instance, if I want to cross references multiple databases to find patterns/connections between disparate object) - that kind of thing. Given that, it sounds like a knowing MySQL/PHP would be a good starting place.Thanks again all!
- Centigrade0
Head First PHP & MySQL
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This book is kind of silly but in a good way. It's written in non-tech speak and most importantly as you go through it the author repeats concepts over and over so you don't have to keep going backwards to learn. I found it a great intro to building dynamic content sites.It's a fun book that doesn't take itself too seriously and a great Stage 1 starting point.
- Knuckleberry0
codeacademy.com
(it's free)
- monNom0
1. Think of something you want to build (start small)
2. Research the tools/languages you'll need
3. Start hacking. Build little pieces that do little things. When you run into a problem, look it up.
4. Continue hacking until it works
5. You now know how to code a little bit.
6. Repeat. (and repeat and repeat) and that's how you'll get it.- If you get stuck on a problem for an hour. Take a break and when yo come back you will see that it was just missing a comma...BabySnakes
- small tube of cream cheese.detritus
- ha ha ha. "Seems to be working now, there must have been a bagel in the way."monNom
- section_0140
PHP without out a doubt. As mentioned, it's C based and will share a lot of syntax that more advanced languages like C++, C#, Java and Objective-C share.
Learn objected oriented coding styles (and perhaps MVC) right from the gate.