What is the best way to into programming?

Preferably while learning relevant languages, but not necessarily.

Move to Best Korea. They'll program you.

SICP

>>2
Oh, and you'll learn Korean, which is a relevant language I guess.

Touhou

1. javascript
2. you're done!

>>6
2. you're done!

>>7
javascript will be the only language worth using in the next 5 years

>>8
Only if you are a low-paid frontend ``developer''.
Nobody uses this ``node.js'' thing.  Nobody.

>>9
Except hipsters who think Ruby is too mainstream.

PHP

Yeah, I said it.  Yadda yadda fractal of bad design blah blah suck my cock whores.

PHP is easy enough to figure out for non-programmers and you can build up to bigger and more complex projects.  PHP has a pretty good user community, so just google what you want and copy/paste.  It's not perfect, but you'll actually get shit done instead of doing some Project Euler ego-masturbation exercise.

Common Lisp

don't end up a codemonkey

Answers so far:

javascript
PHP
Common Lisp

Analysis:
These are actually the appropriate answers for someone who thinks that the best approach would be to come to /prog/ and ask "How should I start programming?"

CLISP
Scheme

>>11
PHP is easy enough to figure out for non-programmers
It's so shitty experienced programmers have a hard time trying to understand it, what are you talking about?

Oh, [spoiler]IHBT[spoiler]

>>15
Nigga, please.  The OP's question is flawed, as programming can mean a lot of different things to different people, especially non-programmers. 

The conventional answer is to learn C.  That's all fine and good, and the benefits of structured programming pays off for years down the road when you're working with high-level languages.  I think what keeps most people from actual programming is a lack of interesting results.  You can do a lot with C, but you have to know what you're doing to impress yourself. 

I say PHP because it's everywhere on the web (Wordpress, Magento, Code Ignitor and gets results quick.  Another great language to start with is Python, especially because it's simple to learn, intended for beginner programmers, and you can make games with it (the reason most people want to program). 

Just because you start with a POS like PHP doesn't mean you're scarred for life or that you have to use it for life.  And for fuck's sake, you can actually make a decent wage with PHP.

>>16
When you're a young lad and don't know any better, sure. Then you realize that PHP is awful down the road and you can no longer code in it sober.

>>14
and racket specifically.

>what you want and copy/paste.
gets me everytime.

learn OOPL concepts using java. Afterwards, every other language will take a fraction of the amount of time to learn. Anyone else that says differently is disregarding the learning aspect of your question and simply posting their favorite / most-proficient-in language. Different programming environments call for different languages.

>>16
Please not PHP, it's a horrible language and this is coming from a PHP dev. I got sucked into it because of its seemingly familiar syntax with C (at least on face value) and the ease of deployment (at that time). Definitely start with Python or if you're into modding games, Lua.

>>20
Why would you send a newbie to Java to learn OOP? It's not even OOP, it's Class oriented more than anything. Learn proper OOP using Erlang with its actor model or Smalltalk.

>>20-21
True OOP is shit. Smalltalk is shit.

Pick one language
Learn the basics (variables, loops, conditional statements, etc.)
Start making small programs (simple shit at first)
Make useful programs for yourself
Get more skills
Take skillset from 1st language, learn another related or complementary language
Repeat the process

Any time that you devote to learning the language will make you an overall better programmer.

>>22
No.