What programming should I learn first?

I'm someone who has no experience in programming AT ALL. I want opinions of what language is advised to be learned first, so I could understand the basics. It would also help if you could say what language you learned first. I keep hearing that Python teaches the basics, but I also hear that it doesn't..

 

I started out with VB6 and continued with VB.NET later on.

I think you can start out with VB.NET without worries. It's almost like VB6 - somewhat simple to read, it's based on the .NET Framework and it's business standard. Every language will teach you programming principles, so why not just start out with a simple language that gets sophisticated as you progress?

 

visual basic to start with.

 

If its your first language start you can start with VB/VB.net, Python is really good too. I started with c but most people don't recommended it.

 

I've done the same as Flopper, although it is taking me some time to get used to the new methods of doing things in vb.net. All though i must some they have simplified alot of things and made controls alot more customizable, only downside is you can't easily making arrays with your controls like you could in vb6.

So yea i suggest vb.net (vb6 is too un-supported, help-wise to learn these days).

 

I don't remember how arrays were made in VB6, but for VB.NET lists are awesome. Generic lists are almost effortless to use as well.
How do lists compare to arrays in VB6?

 

I'm talking about control arrays not variable arrays.

Like in vb6 you could have 7 command buttons called cmdStart. but they would all have their control number in the index property so they button would actually be cmdStart(0) to cmdStart(6).
make sense?

 

I personally started off with PAWN (Sa-mp coding language). I then moved onto VB.net followed by PHP + HTML and some C.

 

I see - sounds easier than what VB.NET has to offer. Making object based arrays in VB.NET doesn't bother me much, however.

 

Python will give you a really solid foundation. Lots of free texts and tutorials online, just use google. After python, C/C++ or Java is best to learn next. Stay away from VB... IMO, spaghetti code/pre-made GUI's... disgusting.

 

Why not just declare the array of controls in code yourself if you're worried about it. Control arrays are an arbitrary feature; each control should be named accordingly unless you need large amounts of them to do the same or similar things, and these should be declared and initialised within the code.

 

I'd recommend you to start learning
Pascal or C++ (there's no reasons to learn C);

 

If you want to be a professional programmer and you intend on producing the best code possible, start out with C. You'll get the best understanding of how to make efficient, well written code.

If you find it too difficult, use C++.

Don't let people fool you into using VB.NET. It's good because of it's simplicity, but if you want to learn how to PROGRAM then use C, you'll easily be able to move to C++, Java or whatever you choose to use at a later stage.

 

There's no need to learn C, he can start instantly from C++

 

Why exactly? Perhaps in practical use C++ is better, but for learning purposes there certainly is a point to first learning C.

C++ is a superset of C and therefore to completely understand C++ you should learn C first. If someone ever hopes to be programming hardware it's necessary to understand the lower levels of a language.

I'm just saying, if you want to produce the BEST code, do C first, too many people produce crap code in VB.NET or even C++ that works, but is not nearly as efficient as it should be.

 

If you're starting off with C++, then I suggest buying C++ for Dummies. It's really well written and is intended for somebody with no experience or prior knowledge with programming whatsoever.

EDIT: Just looked at the OP date. >.<

 

You have absolutely no idea the significance of C, do you?

 

I also want to learn to program. I am taking everything everyone has said into consideration

 

Python will teach you simple sytnax and discipline, and it is very easy to learn (it's practically useless though)

 

He doesnt need to start from -c he can get on c+33 directly