Beginning Programming, Major Languages and Where to Learn Them

In the following paragraphs, I will talk about major programming languages, where to learn them, and where to download them.

Python
Python is a free easy to learn object-oriented-language. This means that Python uses objects that we might use in real life. Python is usually used to write scripts, but can also be used for programming.

Website
www.Python.org

Tutorials
http://www.python.org/doc/2.5.2/tut/tut.html
http://www.sthurlow.com/python/
http://diveintopython.org/toc/index.html

VB.NET
Visual Basic.Net is an offshoot of Microsoft's Visual Basic programming language. Yet again, it is an object oriented language, and is one of the easist to learn.

Website
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vstudio/default.aspx (download the trial)

Tutorials
http://www.java2s.com/Tutorial/VB/CatalogVB.htm
http://www.homeandlearn.co.uk/NET/vbNET.html
http://www.programmersheaven.com/2/VB-NET-School
http://www.programmingtutorials.com/vbnet.aspx

C
C is one of the most useful languages to know. It forms the basis of C#, and C++. Unlike Python and VB.net, it is an imperative language.It recquires a program known as a compiler to run. It is used to make quite alot of computer applications.

Website
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/visualc/default.aspx

Tutorial
http://www.cprogramming.com/tutorial/c/lesson1.html
http://www.programmingtutorials.com/c.aspx
http://www2.its.strath.ac.uk/courses/c/

C++
C++ is become a very popular language. C++ was developed as an offshoot of C. It is used in programming almost all video games nowadays.

Website
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/visualc/default.aspx

Tutorials
http://www.cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/
http://www.physics.drexel.edu/courses/Comp_Phys/General/C_basics/
http://www.learncpp.com/

Ruby
Ruby is an object-oriented scripting language. It is very similiar to other languages, because well, it is many different languages made into one. This is a very easy language to learn.

Website
http://www.ruby-lang.org/en/

Tutorial
http://tryruby.hobix.com/ (a neat interactive tutorial/try-out)
http://poignantguide.net/ruby/
http://www.sapphiresteel.com/The-Book-Of-Ruby

PHP
Although not really a language, PHP is a very popular web scripting language. If you are looking to design your own website, PHP is a must. It takes almost no time to learn, and almost all site hosters allow PHP.

Website
http://www.php.net/

Tutorial
http://www.w3schools.com/PHP/DEfaULT.asP
http://us2.php.net/tut.php
http://net.tutsplus.com/category/tutorials/php/

Perl
A more advanced version of PHP. It is quite easy to learn, and can help you make a pretty looking website, or help you make a pretty penny.

Website
http://perl.com/

Tutorials
http://www.cs.tut.fi/~jkorpela/perl/course.html
http://www.sthomas.net/roberts-perl-tutorial.htm
http://www.perl.com/pub/a/2000/12/begperl5.html






Hopefully, I have given you a tiny bit of inspiration to pursue programming/learn another language. If you have any recommendations/things to add, just post here.

 

lol, wtf? where did C# and Java go???

rofl, you are kidding me, right?

 

Leaving Java and C# out of a thread on the major programming languages is like leaving your baby brother at a manbla meeting.

 

I believe you mean NAMBLA sir.

Lol'd.

 

Pretty sure unless you know how to protect your site from hackers using scripts, PHP epic fails. You'd get raped in a day if you had a blackmarket forum, or something runescape related.

 

hey what about actionscript? is that a one decent to learn? i heard its used to script flash games, dont knwo if it will be important.

 

ActionScript is completely useless.

 

unless you want to create flash websites/games etc...

 

The thing is 99% of people hate flash websites. The games are just boring.

 

Flash is not very useful in any business setting....

 

ok bad example, whole websites are rarely made in flash, and yes many people do hate it, but far from 99%... but flash is still widely used on many big sites
some random examples that uses flash more or less;
http://www.rockstargames.com (Entire site made in Flash)
http://www.callofduty.com (Almost entire site made in Flash)
http://halo.xbox.com/halo3/ (Entire site made in Flash)
http://www.blizzard.com/diablo3
http://www.worldofwarcraft.com
http://www.youtube.com
http://www.nbc.com/
http://www.cnn.com/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/
http://www.dcshoes.com (Entire site made in Flash)
http://www.adidas.com (Entire site made in Flash)
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/
http://www.lynda.com/
http://www.nike.com
http://www.hellyhansen.com/
https://www.photoshop.com/ (Entire site made in Flash)

and as for the games, you may find them boring, but they are no doubt extremely popular, especially among younger kids.

so, there still is a market for it and I would say it's far from useless...

 

If that's the only things flash can be used for Silverlight will rip it to shreds.

 

I disagree with this statement. PHP is indeed a language, and is fully eligible to be called such.

 

I have never claimed the opposite... Silverlight > Flash imo...