Where to start in coding?

Portreve

elfprince Well, I can think of a few "n00b" questions.

So, earlier today I was looking at the online version of the "official" (if you want to call it that) book on learning Rust. One of the things it stated pretty early on is that if you're new to programming, then that isn't the book for you, and to find a book to cover the introduction and basics of programming. Also, the other day I was in Barnes and Noble and found a large format magazine on learning Python. In it, they mentioned eric as a well-suited program for typing code.

I want to stress that I'm not trying to myopically focus this discussion on any one specific language, but what I'm trying to get at is, how do I even begin to look for software to write in any of these languages? How does that even work?

When I set up Rust earlier today (I searched for and followed directions relative to Solus) I did get various components installed, and it had you do a Hello World program using nano which is fine, and I certainly know my way around nano (at least somewhat, as I've used it to edit bash script files and config files before) but is that what instruction courses assume is what one uses? Particularly for a n00b such as myself, is there something considered more... appropriate?

Maybe software development is one of those things that like with cars, everyone has a favorite, but is there a good go-to source for said beginning instruction?

elfprince

Portreve I use Kate and nano for code dev. Micro also comes highly recommended by the community. 😃

Chaussettes99

For a succinct response I'll say pretty much anyone can pick up Python and throw together their first terminal program in the first day. Something like a calculator or dummy login prompt are good starter projects to just get a grasp of how programming works, working with variables, functions, etc

Spending a lot of time writing terminal programs is my recommendation to learn how the code works rather than being frustrated at creating a gui or working with someone else's libraries. Once you have a grasp of function and classes you can jump into creating basic GUI applications with something like PyQT or Tkinter.

WetGeek

Chaussettes99 I'll say pretty much anyone can pick up Python and throw together their first terminal program in the first day.

I'll chip in a couple cents, as well. As someone who's written a college textbook on C, and worked professionally for decades coding in C, C++, Visual Basic, Pascal, and C#, I'd recommend that he start with Python as well. Surprised?

Being an interpreted language, Python makes it super easy to check the code you write interactively, one piece at a time, if you want. It includes all the usual data structures, like arrays, lists, and dictionaries. It supports structured programming with those, and supports procedures and functions. It's easy to create libraries, keeping you from writing the same code over and over again

It supports unit testing, so that you can test your code as you write it, giving you the best chance of ending up with serious applications that run correctly when you're finished. You won't need to deal with hidden bugs that don't show up until your users start letting you know about them.

Although it's an interpreted language, its runtime environment is fast enough to challenge compiled languages for execution speed. And the available graphical add-ons you mentioned makes it easy to produce windowed GUI applications that rival anything Windows-like, if you're interested in creating such.

And having taught programming for Microsoft and at various community colleges, I also think it's the perfect language to learn programming. And did I mention that everything you need is free? (Except maybe for a good introductory Python book, but even that won't break the bank.)

In short, Python is a language that's easy to learn, but without any "beginner" limitations.

Portreve

elfprince
WetGeek

Ok, I'll start off with Python. However, can we get some sort of consensus here about what I should use for doing actual code work? Please and thank you! 😁

elfprince

WetGeek Shucks, I was kind of rooting for Perl! 🤣 Just kidding!

WetGeek

elfprince I was kind of rooting for Perl!

During my career, I've needed perl five times. That required me to learn it five times. 😄

barbaros83

doesnt matter where you begin, some programming languages are easier to learn, some are more low level, look very complex.
i think the most important part is, use something that lets you do what you like to do the most, that way, you will enjoy your journey as a programmer, and thus it becomes not a hassle, but a joy to work.
Once you have learned 1 programming language, learning new ones becomes very easy, thats why you should just pick 1, and stick with it untill you fully understand what programming is about.
if you like making games, i would suggest using godot, it has its own scripting language, very easy to learn and similar to python.
if you like making gui applications, you could probly use something likt Qt, it has its own IDE, the main programming language for that is c++ but i think you can use other languages as wel.
your choice depends more on what you would like to make, write.

kyrios

Personally I would advise starting with scripting languages.

tomscharbach

kyrios Personally I would advise starting with scripting languages.

I agree. I don't program any more, but programming is more an exercise in systems-thinking and logic than an exercise in learning code. So I'd start with scripting, too, because scripts don't demand a lot of coding but do demand the ability to think in terms of systems and develop the ability to think logically.

I mastered Basic years ago, and then Java, Javascript, HTML+ and XML years later as an adjunct to a global intranet project I was managing. Last year, long into retirement, I decided to learn Python during the COVID winter. It wasn't nearly as difficult as I thought it would be to gain ground-level skills, but I strongly recommend that anyone learning to program read, re-read and absorb DataDrake's comment. DataDrake nailed the methodology of learning to program as clearly and concisely as anything I've read over the years. If you go at it in a rush, or sporadically, it is much harder to learn.

I spent a week earlier this summer with my 7-year-old grand-twins, both of whom are learning to code using a kid's programming resource. Both are at a sub-beginner's level, but I could see that the two of them were starting to grasp the principles of programming. The two of them had built a simple program in which a cow was transported up into an alien spaceship, and we spent a little time each day modifying the program so that herds of cows were transported. We had a lot of fun, and that reminded me that programming to achieve a specific result is a lot more interesting than just learning code for code's sake.

WetGeek

Portreve can we get some sort of consensus here about what I should use for doing actual code work?

If you mean an editor, there are many that are excellent. For use in a terminal, I favor micro. And depending on your DE, you might like gedit (on the gnome side) or KATE (KDE Advanced Text Editor). Linux purists might recommend emacs or vi, and even fight over which is better, but I could never develop any love for either of those.

If you'll be more specific with your question, I'll try to be the same with an answer.

YuriTheHenrique

Portreve I suggest Kate, very customizable, has a good GUI and it is not heavy.

nathanpainchaud

Portreve For a heavier software, but that comes batteries-included and pretty much configured out-of-the-box for everything Python, there's also PyCharm by JetBrains. It's one of their few IDEs that has a free community edition as well! It's even available in the third-party section of the repo 😉

It might be more daunting to use at first than simple text editors, but I think many of the tools included, e.g. running the code from within the IDE, debugging, etc., ends up being quite helpful for beginners. It allows you to handle everything from within the same program, and even offers some great graphical tools to help you with some common steps, like setting up a virtual environment. Until you get a better understanding of how everything works together behind the scenes (and become more proficient at setting these things up yourself), it can really help you hit the ground running and alleviate some of the most tedious aspects of programming 😛

Source: I'm writing code all day every day in Python for my Ph.D., and I'm doing it using PyCharm. I personally use the professional version for some more useful tools (remote debugging is a godsend!), but I've used the community edition in the past and it has more than enough included for a beginner.

hxcdk

Portreve If you can use PDF documents, I would recommend the "Think Python 2" book and the "Python for Everybode". The latter being based on the former. You can get them here:
https://greenteapress.com/wp/think-python-2e/
https://www.py4e.com/book

Happy Coding ;-)

Portreve

hxcdk I've been looking through both of those books. Darn near fell out of my chair laughing when I looked up the xkcd footnote.

(I seem to recall a joke having to do with the speed of light and people first appearing bright until you hear them talk.)

kyrios

There are many learning platforms available on the web like EDX or o'reilly learning for example.
Some like EDX often offer free learning paths (but then of course you can't do the exams and get the certificate).

elfprince

I used O'Reilly for a long time, really like their platform.

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