Aspiring young computer programmer here. Requesting a list of things that every young programmer should know and begin working on. I want to become an expert like you guys, so anything will be helpful. Maybe let me know what the best text editor is, what languages are the best, what is the best language to learn first, and what some good starter projects are. Should I learn by reading or by doing? What are some thing that I'm not likely to learn for awhile that you have learned through your experience?
Actual response:
If you want to just start out, Python is a great starting point. Use the IDE1 that comes with it for program writing/running. I don't know much about tutorials, but I've heard Dive Into Python2 is a great series to work through and seems like a great mix of reading and doing(also it's free.) Good luck!
Maybe let me know what the best text editor is, what languages are the best, what is the best language to learn first, and what some good starter projects are. Let us partake in the game of dicks.
>>2 Troll response:
READ SICP. LEARN LISP. USE EMACS
Actually, these are more useful than your Flawed Indentation of Lambda.
What >>1 should really do:
Learn LISP, read SICP, master C and use it. Stay away from python, ruby, sepples and other shit.
ED! ED! ED IS THE STANDARD!!! ED! ED! ED IS THE STANDARD!!! ED!ED!EDISTHESTANDARD!!! ED!ED!EDISTHESTANDARD!!! ED!ED!EDISTHESTANDARD!!! ED!ED!EDISTHESTANDARD!!!
>>16
I failed it.
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Read SICP. Seriously. This is the single best book on computer programming you can find on Earth. The earlier you read it, the smoother your progress will be.
Concepts, Techniques, and Models of Computer Programming by Peter van Roy and Seif Haridi comes in second. This one can be used as a cheatsheet for concepts that you encounter in PLs you learn.
Make sure you read SICP and at least browse through CT&MCP before trying to master an industrial language (C, C++, Java, Python etc) because learning a new programming language isn't about syntax, it's about mastering the concepts it heavily uses. One who refuses to learn the theory hardly ever sees principles on which his system is based and thus never moves beyond helloworlds and buggy 5-page PHP websites.
Learning Python the Hard Way.
Python for Software Design - How to think like a Computer Scientist.
SICP.
Code Complete. (THE book on good programming practice)
The Pragmatic Programmer.
The C Programming Language.
Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code.
Introduction to algorithms (Cormen, Leiserson, Rivest, Stein)
The Mythical Man-Month
Design Patterns
Remember the language is generally secondary to the underlying principles. Don't discount a language just because you prefer another one. Learn at least one scripting, one functional, one high and one low level language.
Also MIT, Stanford, Carnegie-Mellon and more all have great online videos and open course lectures for Computer Scientists and Programmers.
Name:
Anonymous2010-12-25 17:22
Don't learn LISP. It will not get you a programming job.
An actual hint:
Conway's Game of Life is a pretty good beginner project as it's rather neat in its finished state.
Also stuff like a decimal number -> roman numbers converter would be pretty cool. Oh and maybe like a really simple server that connects to a client and echoes what they input as a haiku (3 lines, don't count syllables).
As a post-script to >>44, I'd just like to point out that I've been sat refreshing this website for the past half a year.
Thank you.
- Shawn Michaels
Name:
Forced anon2011-05-11 23:02
>>45 Way to waste your life. I learned C++ from trial/error and skimming through badly-made websites in a little over 4 months. I recently made my first game (indiegames.com)
>>47 1Yes, I am being deliberately sexist here, because in my experience those women who write code are consistently good at it.
What the fuck is this.
Name:
Anonymous2011-05-12 1:49
>>48
Maybe it's like with female terrorists: If they manage to overcome their sexual handicap they have to be hardcore.
Name:
Anonymous2011-05-12 2:43
>>48
There aren't any so you can qualify them as however you want.