For yæars I've wished I knew how to program but everytime I have gone
out and bought a book I always get overwhelmed and give up. In hs I did
take some basic classes that taught some qbasic & pascal but they seem
to be dead for the most part these days. I have taught myself html
coding but wouldn't really call that programming since anything cool you
would want to do would require java or java script.

So I guess my question is:

Can anyone suggest a good place to start learning to program in a linux
environment? I tried perl but didn't really care for it plus to my
knowledge perl seems to be more for text manipulating isn't it? Maybe
I'm wrong but I just would like a nice easy to understand and powerful
place to start. Python was suggested but I figured I would ask you guys.
Java really seems like the laungauge to know but its a bitch to learn.

Scott Eberl wrote:
> For yæars I've wished I knew how to program but everytime I have gone
> out and bought a book I always get overwhelmed and give up. In hs I did
> take some basic classes that taught some qbasic & pascal but they seem
> to be dead for the most part these days. I have taught myself html
> coding but wouldn't really call that programming since anything cool you
> would want to do would require java or java script.
>
> So I guess my question is:
>
> Can anyone suggest a good place to start learning to program in a linux
> environment? I tried perl but didn't really care for it plus to my
> knowledge perl seems to be more for text manipulating isn't it? Maybe
> I'm wrong but I just would like a nice easy to understand and powerful
> place to start. Python was suggested but I figured I would ask you guys.
> Java really seems like the laungauge to know but its a bitch to learn.

C is the basis of much of Linux so I would suggest leaning it would be
benficial.

Ian

On 2004-08-18, ruffrecords <ruffrecords@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Scott Eberl wrote:
>> For yæars I've wished I knew how to program but everytime I have gone
>> out and bought a book I always get overwhelmed and give up. In hs I did
>> take some basic classes that taught some qbasic & pascal but they seem
>> to be dead for the most part these days. I have taught myself html
>> coding but wouldn't really call that programming since anything cool you
>> would want to do would require java or java script.
>>
>> So I guess my question is:
>>
>> Can anyone suggest a good place to start learning to program in a linux
>> environment? I tried perl but didn't really care for it plus to my
>> knowledge perl seems to be more for text manipulating isn't it? Maybe
>> I'm wrong but I just would like a nice easy to understand and powerful
>> place to start. Python was suggested but I figured I would ask you guys.
>> Java really seems like the laungauge to know but its a bitch to learn.
>
> C is the basis of much of Linux so I would suggest leaning it would be
> benficial.
>

Now do you mean just C or do you mean C++

Scott Eberl wrote:

> On 2004-08-18, ruffrecords <ruffrecords@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> Scott Eberl wrote:
>>> For yæars I've wished I knew how to program but everytime I have gone
>>> out and bought a book I always get overwhelmed and give up. In hs I did
>>> take some basic classes that taught some qbasic & pascal but they seem
>>> to be dead for the most part these days. I have taught myself html
>>> coding but wouldn't really call that programming since anything cool you
>>> would want to do would require java or java script.
>>>
>>> So I guess my question is:
>>>
>>> Can anyone suggest a good place to start learning to program in a linux
>>> environment? I tried perl but didn't really care for it plus to my
>>> knowledge perl seems to be more for text manipulating isn't it? Maybe
>>> I'm wrong but I just would like a nice easy to understand and powerful
>>> place to start. Python was suggested but I figured I would ask you guys.
>>> Java really seems like the laungauge to know but its a bitch to learn.
>>
>> C is the basis of much of Linux so I would suggest leaning it would be
>> benficial.
>>
>
> Now do you mean just C or do you mean C++

First, you should read as much as you can on both, so you can make an
informed decision. C++ is probably the way to go if you want to do GUI
and X and stuff, in which case don't waste your time learning stuff in
C that you'd have to unlearn to move to C++. I learned to copy-n-paste
C mumblemumble years ago by the seat of my pants, with a mentor who
was only marginally less stupid than I am, and a copy of K&R at my
elbow. So, naturally, the first time I saw C++, which I kinda have to
because I've decided to learn to operate some CAD s/w, and possibly
customize some, I panicked and ranted for awhile, but I've seen the
error of my ways hallelujah. :-)

It seems daunting, but if you have no programming experience at all,
you might as well start there, and learn its concepts like classes
and such, so you'll have a good basis for the nuts-and-bolts of it.
Please don't skip chapter 1, in other words. :-)

Good Luck!
Rich

Scott Eberl wrote:
> Can anyone suggest a good place to start learning to program in a linux
> environment?

python.

> I tried perl but didn't really care for it plus to my
> knowledge perl seems to be more for text manipulating isn't it? Maybe
> I'm wrong but I just would like a nice easy to understand and powerful
> place to start. Python was suggested but I figured I would ask you guys.
> Java really seems like the laungauge to know but its a bitch to learn.

python's a good suggestion. java in general seems a PITA.

the nice thing about python is that it is not too difficult to learn, and
it still gives you a lot of power. unless you want to be a kernel hacker or
do some low-level systems programming, there is really very little that
python won't let you do. with C or C++, it'll take a lot longer to get to a
level where you can do some interesting programming than it does with
python.

my idea is usually: if you have the freedom to choose your own programming
language, choose python or lisp. (lisp is better, but python will do.) only
use C, C++, java or similar if circumstances force you to.

anyway, once you've become sufficiently proficient with python, you can
always see if you want to get into another language. a lot of what you will
have learnt with python will carry over to any other language you may
decide to pick up later.

--
Joost Kremers joostkremers@yahoo.com
Selbst in die Unterwelt dringt durch Spalten Licht
EN:SiS(9)

Scott Eberl wrote:

> On 2004-08-18, ruffrecords <ruffrecords@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> Scott Eberl wrote:
>>> For yæars I've wished I knew how to program but everytime I have gone
>>> out and bought a book I always get overwhelmed and give up. In hs I did
>>> take some basic classes that taught some qbasic & pascal but they seem
>>> to be dead for the most part these days. I have taught myself html
>>> coding but wouldn't really call that programming since anything cool you
>>> would want to do would require java or java script.
>>>
>>> So I guess my question is:
>>>
>>> Can anyone suggest a good place to start learning to program in a linux
>>> environment? I tried perl but didn't really care for it plus to my
>>> knowledge perl seems to be more for text manipulating isn't it? Maybe
>>> I'm wrong but I just would like a nice easy to understand and powerful
>>> place to start. Python was suggested but I figured I would ask you guys.
>>> Java really seems like the laungauge to know but its a bitch to learn.
>>
>> C is the basis of much of Linux so I would suggest leaning it would be
>> benficial.
>>
>
> Now do you mean just C or do you mean C++

C for GTK, C++ for QT. Wanna develop apps for KDE or GNOME, or other?

--
------
http://www.doublesixonline.com
-
Read the FAQ before you post
http://www.doublesixonline.com/alt.music.mr-bungle_FAQ/

On 2004-08-18, Rich Grise <null@example.net> wrote:
> Scott Eberl wrote:
>
>> On 2004-08-18, ruffrecords <ruffrecords@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>> Scott Eberl wrote:
>>>> For yæars I've wished I knew how to program but everytime I have gone
>>>> out and bought a book I always get overwhelmed and give up. In hs I did
>>>> take some basic classes that taught some qbasic & pascal but they seem
>>>> to be dead for the most part these days. I have taught myself html
>>>> coding but wouldn't really call that programming since anything cool you
>>>> would want to do would require java or java script.
>>>>
>>>> So I guess my question is:
>>>>
>>>> Can anyone suggest a good place to start learning to program in a linux
>>>> environment? I tried perl but didn't really care for it plus to my
>>>> knowledge perl seems to be more for text manipulating isn't it? Maybe
>>>> I'm wrong but I just would like a nice easy to understand and powerful
>>>> place to start. Python was suggested but I figured I would ask you guys.
>>>> Java really seems like the laungauge to know but its a bitch to learn.
>>>
>>> C is the basis of much of Linux so I would suggest leaning it would be
>>> benficial.
>>>
>>
>> Now do you mean just C or do you mean C++
>
> First, you should read as much as you can on both, so you can make an
> informed decision. C++ is probably the way to go if you want to do GUI
> and X and stuff, in which case don't waste your time learning stuff in
> C that you'd have to unlearn to move to C++. I learned to copy-n-paste
> C mumblemumble years ago by the seat of my pants, with a mentor who
> was only marginally less stupid than I am, and a copy of K&R at my
> elbow. So, naturally, the first time I saw C++, which I kinda have to
> because I've decided to learn to operate some CAD s/w, and possibly
> customize some, I panicked and ranted for awhile, but I've seen the
> error of my ways hallelujah. :-)
>
> It seems daunting, but if you have no programming experience at all,
> you might as well start there, and learn its concepts like classes
> and such, so you'll have a good basis for the nuts-and-bolts of it.
> Please don't skip chapter 1, in other words. :-)
>
I have seen a few references to K&R regarding C ans I'm assuming its
comparable to people referring to the Bat book for instance meaning
sendmail by O'Rielly so what does K&R really refer to?

Scott Eberl wrote:
>
> Can anyone suggest a good place to start learning to program in a linux
> environment?

Why not start out with just some shell scripting
in bash? That way you also learn a lot about your
Linux/GNU system and can automate many tasks. You
can do supringsingly much allredy in bash, some
wont call it programming, but hey, just see it as
a startingplace. And once you know that, there is
a lot of similarities between many languages.
Javascript as you mantioned can also be quite useful
sometimes, combine it with bash scripts as cgi's under
Apache and you can do quite a lot, and again, there
is many similarities with more potent languages.

Advanced Bash-Scripting Guide
http://www.tldp.org/LDP/abs/html/index.html


--
Software is not manufactured, it is something you write and publish.
Keep Europe free from software patents, we do not want censorship
by patent law on written works.

Scott Eberl <scott@airea420.com> writes:
>I have seen a few references to K&R regarding C ans I'm assuming its
>comparable to people referring to the Bat book for instance meaning
>sendmail by O'Rielly so what does K&R really refer to?

The white book: http://cm.bell-labs.com/cm/cs/cbook/

--
Mark Cudworth

On 2004-08-18, Mark Cudworth <usenet@markc.users.panix.com> wrote:
> Scott Eberl <scott@airea420.com> writes:
>>I have seen a few references to K&R regarding C ans I'm assuming its
>>comparable to people referring to the Bat book for instance meaning
>>sendmail by O'Rielly so what does K&R really refer to?
>
> The white book: http://cm.bell-labs.com/cm/cs/cbook/
>
Thank you kindly. Looks like I need to take a trip to the bookstore. I
have decided to focus my efforts on C & Python. Thank you everyone who
gave suggestions even though my question has many many answers.