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Topic: Starting out programming (Read 792 times)

hero member
Activity: 899
Merit: 1002
April 18, 2015, 06:37:20 PM
#19
As mentioned Zeb Shaw's book 'Learn Python the Hard Way' is a pretty good intro. There's also this Coursera specialization which covers algorithms and basic computer science plus it's all in Python so can stick with that language after reading LPTHW.

Harvard's beginning Computer Science course is also excellent, heavily C based so you can learn about buffer overflows and other issues https://www.edx.org/course/introduction-computer-science-harvardx-cs50x

It doesn't matter what language you learn just learn how to program first in any language.

I learned by reading SICP, Structural Interpretation of Computer Programs and watching these old vids and I use Gambit Scheme and Racket (Scheme) for a lot of projects http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-computer-science/6-001-structure-and-interpretation-of-computer-programs-spring-2005/



Edit: Some guy made a 'Mastering Bitcoin' book, I haven't read it
http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920032281.do
hero member
Activity: 686
Merit: 504
always the student, never the master.
April 18, 2015, 05:52:15 PM
#18
Yeah, well you probably need to study for about 3 years before you try to do anything related to bitcoin. Take it from someone who learned the hard way
hero member
Activity: 854
Merit: 503
Legendary trader
April 18, 2015, 05:42:04 PM
#17
I recently came across this, maybe it helps you.

That graphic is amazing!
legendary
Activity: 1078
Merit: 1003
newbie
Activity: 22
Merit: 0
April 18, 2015, 05:11:17 PM
#15
I suggest PHP because it is simple and believe it will satisfy all your needs for creating web sites and services. If you plan to gather and store information then you will have to learn SQL (recommend).
sr. member
Activity: 406
Merit: 250
April 17, 2015, 10:06:10 PM
#14
I quite liked the way our college structured the programming component of our introductory computer science course. We started off with Python since it's easier to grasp for newbies in the beginning compared to languages like C++. There is a popular textbook for Python licensed under the Creative Commons license called "Think Python: How to Think Like a Computer Scientist" which you can download online and a modified version of this was what we used during the course:

http://www.greenteapress.com/thinkpython/

Afterwards, we moved to Java in our second semester. Not only is it a highly useful programming language, but learning Java will probably make you feel more comfortable with learning C++ and PHP too since they share much of the same syntax.

I started out with web programming with HTML for my robotics team way back in high school. Today I am still churning out websites, mostly in PHP but as a hobby.

Isn't HTML more of a markup language than a real programming language though?
hero member
Activity: 628
Merit: 500
April 17, 2015, 02:09:29 PM
#13
I've used edx and it works well for me.
Berkeley has some of there stuff for free online as well. its not a "class," but it is the content.
legendary
Activity: 1272
Merit: 1012
howdy
April 16, 2015, 08:45:58 PM
#12
I started out with web programming with HTML for my robotics team way back in high school. Today I am still churning out websites, mostly in PHP but as a hobby.
legendary
Activity: 1694
Merit: 1005
Betting Championship betking.io/sports-leaderboard
April 16, 2015, 05:04:40 PM
#11
It depends on that you want to do with it I think, but learning more than one type might be good to. I would start with scripted oriented languages because they are very easy to learn (like python, or pearl, or even matlab).
copper member
Activity: 1498
Merit: 1528
No I dont escrow anymore.
April 16, 2015, 03:57:46 PM
#10
I recently came across this, maybe it helps you.

jr. member
Activity: 56
Merit: 1
April 16, 2015, 02:48:27 PM
#9
Javascript. It is getting mainstream. You can create Android app.. exe with it.

I think you're confusing Javascript with Java... You can't code an Android app entirely in Javascript. It uses straight Java for most of its programming SDK. You can use Javascript on top of it but not to code the whole thing.
sr. member
Activity: 320
Merit: 250
April 16, 2015, 04:24:29 AM
#8
Javascript. It is getting mainstream. You can create Android app.. exe with it.
hero member
Activity: 560
Merit: 509
I prefer Zakir over Muhammed when mentioning me!
sr. member
Activity: 552
Merit: 255
April 16, 2015, 01:14:37 AM
#6
If you want to develop web based programs then learn php and java script
legendary
Activity: 1736
Merit: 1023
April 15, 2015, 11:36:18 PM
#5
I'd say that starting with something like Python is probably a good idea. If you are interested in doing web stuff, maybe PHP instead. Definitely try one of the tutorial sites that others listed as they are good resources for learning.
jr. member
Activity: 56
Merit: 1
April 15, 2015, 08:37:55 PM
#4
Codecademy.com is a free place to start if you're looking to do websites.
Maybe someone else here can suggest a good place to get started with C?
Codecademy is good.

Udemy is another place to look at; they have user submitted tutorials, some are paid, others are free. PluralSight is another, but that is paid, after a 10-day free trial. Surprisingly I still find some books to be relevant; at least as a starting point and reference guide.
legendary
Activity: 1442
Merit: 1186
April 15, 2015, 08:04:16 PM
#3
Programming is a very broad term. What sort of development are you looking to do? Are you looking to build computer applications like bitcoin, or websites?
Personally, almost 20 years ago now I started with Visual Basic, and C then html, javascript, and flash actionscripting <- (is that still even a thing? lol) then I stopped for a while then did SQL and PHP. I've learned some on my own and others I went to school.

Codecademy.com is a free place to start if you're looking to do websites.
Maybe someone else here can suggest a good place to get started with C?
jr. member
Activity: 56
Merit: 1
April 15, 2015, 07:59:57 PM
#2
PHP, Ruby, Python, Java, or C++. All of them are nearly identical, so you can go from one to other fairly easily. After the basics the primary differences are names for functions and the syntactical layout of stuff. PHP is the one of the most widely used web-programming languages, and that knowledge can be fairly easily moved to another. C++ or Java would be a decent place to start too, as they're the most abundantly used languages for desktop-based applications and mobile applications. If you want to start right up with desktop/mobile apps my suggestion would be C++, that's what the BitCoinD/BitCoin-Qt applications are coded in.
newbie
Activity: 18
Merit: 0
April 15, 2015, 07:47:26 PM
#1
I've always wanted to learn to program so that I can get more involved in Bitcoin and other alternative crypto currencies and I have finally decided to get started, no time like the present! What language would you recommend is best to start with and most relevant?

Can anyone post links for any decent material to get started on learning or recommend any courses to do in the UK. Much appreciated.
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