<p>Bump. Anyone with anything new to add?</p>
<p>Sorry if someone already mentioned this, but my dad who is a PhD in computer science from Stanford has told me that it does not really matter which programming language you learn first because once you understand one language it is fairly easy to learn others because the ideas are the same and all you’re doing is using different notation. I hope this helps.</p>
<p>I’m no programmer, but if you’re interested in Java, [Code</a> Academy](<a href=“http://www.codecademy.com%5DCode”>http://www.codecademy.com) seems like a good place to start. It’s an interesting way to learn.</p>
<p>^Good advice, thanks. </p>
<p>Haha, I wish my dad was a PhD in comp. sci from Stanford. That must make learning programming a great deal easier, right? I have an uncle who’s a aeronautics engineer from Purdue and knows C++, but he’s in Spain and thus not exactly available to teach me…</p>
<p>There are plenty of tutorials sites available for any language you want to learn; Just google for them.</p>
<p>I know, but I’m still debating which language is best. I guess I’m leaning towards Python, but then, I already have some materials to work on the Blitz stuff that I mentioned earlier…and still some of you guys are saying C++ or even Java… Others tell me that it really doesn’t matter. haha</p>
<p>The discussion is helping, but I’m not quite sure yet.</p>
<p>I would recommend starting out with Blitz–especially if you want to begin with 2D or basic 3D action games to develop. My friends and I in our amateurish club used to use this before we got a lot better at developing games.</p>
<p>If you want to make your game more complex (storyline or strategy-wise) I would recommend using Python and/or C++. It’s also fun working with others on developing complex games too, so if you have any friends interested in this sort of programming, work with them as well.</p>
<p>How did you learn to code? How long did it take you? What language? Which language would be best for my purposes (but would also allow me to expand on what I’ve learned and delve into deeper projects eventually)? What are the best books/websites/tutorials to help me get started</p>
<p>I learned the winter break before last. Learning is an ongoing process, but I became a “programmer” in a month. C++ is a very good language to learn first. It’s useful and learning it will teach you everything you need to know about programming. C++ is designed to do heavy programming work as well, so you can accomplish big and small projects. I would go to learncpp.com, practice on projecteuler.net, and try to get involved in some kind of project, research or otherwise, that will use your knowledge of C++. That’s what I did, and now I’m a 1337 haxor</p>
<p>^Leet speak? Really? :-)</p>
<p>It’s impressive that you started out with C++. I had problems with it at first but some of my friends (who are taking Computer Science classes) have been able to move me past my difficulties in using it.</p>
<p>Back when I was learning how to program, my school started with Visual Basic, and then after you learn how that works, you go to C++. I think, really, you should just get a basic C++ book and just work through it. Don’t try to skip to linked lists or anything. Start with Hello World, do a program that takes some input and manipulates it, figure out how to write your own sorting algorithm, etc. These are all little programs you’re going to be using later on, anyway, so as might as well learn how to do it in bite sized chunks.</p>
<p>(I also wouldn’t recommend starting with VB, though I have found it to be a really useful language when I need to write a quick program to manipulate some data since it always seems easier to remember how to use it than C++.)</p>
<p>I would recommend that you learn C++, then python for simple things (instead of VB). I hope you will also learn bash and the linux system.</p>
<p>^^Yes, I’m a funny person irl (in real life)</p>