Omnimaga
General Discussion => Technology and Development => Computer Programming => Topic started by: Sitarknight on August 10, 2011, 09:36:52 pm
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I was trying to find a section or some tutorial to programming, as I don't even know the smallest amount of programming. I was thinking that if there isn't one, it'd be a good idea to make one, so that new comers can start learning right away and don't feel out of place..like myself. Any help would be be appreciated. Also on that note, would there be any good books to look into to learn programming, that fairly easy? Thanks for all of your support
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Well what language did you have in mind to learn?
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For whatever language you learn, start with the hello world program and work your way up from there. That's what I did with TI-BASIC, C, and just today, z80 asm.
I reccommend starting with an easy language, like TI-BASIC. This (http://tibasicdev.wikidot.com/resources) is a good tutorial for it.
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I also recommend TI-BASIC for your starting language.
I do not, however think that "Hello World" is a good start for ASM programming. I recommend Hot_Dog's tutorials instead.
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Ti-Basic is definitely where you want to start.
I do not, however think that "Hello World" is a good start for ASM programming.
Agreed. However, Hello World is an EXCELLENT start for Ti-Basic programming.
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I also recommend TI-BASIC for your starting language.
I do not, however think that "Hello World" is a good start for ASM programming. I recommend Hot_Dog's tutorials instead.
Yeah, I guess so :P.
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If you're just starting to venture out, and assuming you have a calculator, TI-BASIC is an awesome place to start. It's completely safe, and just playing around can teach you a lot :)
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I do not, however think that "Hello World" is a good start for ASM programming.
ASM has a whole bunch of characteristics that make "Hello world" a non-trivial program to understand/modify. Adding two numbers would be a better first ASM program IMHO. That said, ASM generally isn't a beginner's language.
Also, I'm writing an introduction to the basic principles of programming that I'll post in a bit.
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I do not, however think that "Hello World" is a good start for ASM programming.
ASM has a whole bunch of characteristics that make "Hello world" a non-trivial program to understand/modify. Adding two numbers would be a better first ASM program IMHO. That said, ASM generally isn't a beginner's language.
Agreed, and assembly of any sort definitely isn't the best idea for a first language. Unless you're trying to end a computer addiction or something.Also, I'm writing an introduction to the basic principles of programming that I'll post in a bit.
Ooh, I'd like to see one too :D
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Try this:
Pick TI-Basic (assuming you have a calculator), or if you want to focus on computers, higher languages like Python, Ruby, etc... (I'm a bit of a Python fanboy, so my opinion may be biased here.)
Assuming you pick TI-Basic, first try Hello World, then work on making progressively more complex programs and games. Try making things like quadratic solvers, rock paper scissors, etc. If you're still in school, try writing programs that automate a lot of the grunt work math classes make you do -- find the lengths and angles of a triangle, divide polynomials, etc. I found http://tibasicdev.wikidot.com/home (http://tibasicdev.wikidot.com/home) to be a really good resource for teaching a lot of the particulars of TI-Basic, although if I recall correctly, it wasn't particularly good at teaching the principles of programming in general. Once you have a general feel for writing programs, progress to Axe. TI-Basic is a safe way for you to learn the basics so you won't destroy your calculator due to a fundamental misunderstandings (and Axe is a lot faster then TI-Basic, anyways).
If you start with computers, mostly the same thing, except perhaps try delaying attempting to make games until a little later? Try searching for books (or online tutorials) for Python -- it's a relatively easy language to learn.
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Ti-Basic is really convenient for a first language because it's completely safe and the majority of the commands are fairly straight-forward and easy to figure out. i went six months and was already making graphical programs without having looked at a single tutorial (or even language documentation, as my calc came from my brother and i didn't have the book. i didn't know how to do for loops for the longest time, and so would have 8 or 9 of the exact same command all in a row :P). if you just play around with it for a while you'll get it eventually, and then every other language will be easier to understand.
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I learned TI-Basic in 1 year, just with example programs. With tutorials, you'll become a BasicKnight in no time. Strange thing: TI-Basic is a good language because it is not free at all. I mean, you have a function for everything (almost) and can't really create a function, but you can make whatever you want with all those functions. ASM is the contrary. You have nothing and must create all, but that allows you to mess up your calculator, for example :P, and here, you really can do whatever you want. Axe is in the middle (so now I program in Axe).
My first program in Basic was not Hello World but a noob clone of Guitar Hero. It was no good but I was proud of me ;). To say how easy it is (but kind of slow, sometimes).
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Okay, I wrote that tutorial I promised. I didn't expect it to be 2500 words though :P
A BASIC guide to programming (http://www.omnimaga.org/index.php?action=articles;sa=view;article=74)
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I'm not a newbie to programming, but I haven't used BASIC yet. I'll try your tutorial. Thanks :thumbsup:
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I personally do not think BASIC is a good place to start. It'll teach you some basic programming skills (no pun intended) but it'll be an uphill battle trying to learn more intermediate-to-advanced concepts after you've been tainted. I suggest Ruby/Python (I have a preference towards Ruby) or something like Lua.
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If you're just starting to venture out, and assuming you have a calculator, TI-BASIC is an awesome place to start. It's completely safe, and just playing around can teach you a lot :)
I once thought that too, now I know what can happen with basic., but anyway, it's still a great place to start if you have a calc (and want to do calc programming)
If you want to learn to program on compuers, then a high level language (python, java, ruby, ...) or Game maker is a good place too start (only when you use the built-in scripting language of game maker, you don't learn anything from drag&drop).
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It's not a BASIC tutorial. I was making a pun with the title
/me runs
@Ashbad, I disagree. Learning BASIC *properly* is acceptable. The problem comes in when you learn the syntax and abstractions that it enforces rather than the underlying ideas. I mean, learning ASM also won't really prepare you for any other language, but the people who did back in the 70's went on create most of the languages we use today.
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That said, ASM generally isn't a beginner's language.
It sure used to be :) Meaning it was the only language besides pure opcodes
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I personally do not think BASIC is a good place to start. It'll teach you some basic programming skills (no pun intended) but it'll be an uphill battle trying to learn more intermediate-to-advanced concepts after you've been tainted. I suggest Ruby/Python (I have a preference towards Ruby) or something like Lua.
Unless you get trapped into Gotos or something, I personally don't see how it's a bad place to start programming. Just playing around teaches you a lot about how code works, and as for the "uphill battle," well yeah, harder languages are always harder, but it's always a good idea to start easy.
Plus if you stick with TI-BASIC, it'll teach you how valuable optimization really is, more so than any other modern language. That really helps because you get a sense of doing things with the lightest load and the fewest resources, which is important in a lot of other fields.
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I agree with Ashbad, I had to "unlearn" many of my habits with TI-BASIC just to learn Ruby, and later C++. Parameters, for one. (I think it was the same for DJ_O as well)
I would suggest Ruby at first, then move up to C++, Java, C#, etc once you have a good grasp of programming fundamentals.
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I found TI-BASIC a great place to start learning about programming. Not only is it safe (like everyone already said), but it's also really easy to get results quickly. You can figure it out purely by playing with it on your own and start making graphical programs without being taught anything - something I've not seen in any "serious" language I've tried to learn since.
Plus, it naturally leads into Axe, which (I'm told) leads into ASM when you start getting complicated with it :P
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Hey welcome to the forums gendoku! if you are planning on staying you should introduce yourself (http://www.omnimaga.org/index.php?board=10.0).
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He did lol :P
The only thing I find with TI BASIC as a starting language, is that it's a sequential language. And beyond that, variables are global so scope and objects are harder to learn when you transition into a lower language.
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ooh woops I forgot to even check it first. XD
EDIT: I even posted on it :P
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ooh woops I forgot to even check it first. XD
EDIT: I even posted on it :P
Big lol
The way I learned most about programming languages was looking at other people's source code and taking parts or ideas from it and understanding the concepts of their programs.
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I can find some time to tutor you over etherpad! I can give you a crash course. You should be good from there.
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Maybe I could write a complete TI-BASIC tutorial for newbies.
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Deep Thought's writing a complete tutorial for Axe, not sure if anyone's mentioned that already.
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I really should write a BASIC tut. I think I could help a lot of people.
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Deep Thought's writing a complete tutorial for Axe, not sure if anyone's mentioned that already.
I would like that. Depends on where I need to improve tho.
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If you'd want to program in Python, I suggest using the set of video tutorials I used to learn Python:
http://thenewboston.org/list.php?cat=36 (http://thenewboston.org/list.php?cat=36)