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Old 04-19-2006, 07:35 AM   #1 (permalink)
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Default Interested in programming, where do i start?

I have been playing with computers for some time now, and id like to start learing programming. The only problem is i don't really know where to start. Any ideas pointing in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.
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Old 04-19-2006, 10:08 AM   #2 (permalink)
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You can use tutorials to get you started.. but you really need a good book. I can't advice you on books tho. Also looking a snipets of code other people wrote can get you very far.

You also need to choose a language you wan't to program in. I heard delphi is good and made to learn programming. But people prefer c++ wich is more symbolic. There's also visual basic wich is really easy but it isn't really populair since it's not very strickt about your code. This makes code really hard to ready and makes bugs hard to find. And it's slow (you won't see much of a difference in smaller programs).

Don't stick me to my words plz... i'm just a nublet myself.

Edit: If anyone knows a good book plz post i'm searching one myself... for a beginnning programmer.

Code:
program Lotto;

uses Crt;

function GetUserNumber : byte;
var
   x: byte;
begin
     read(x);
     result := x;
end;

function GetComputerNumber : byte;
var
   x: byte;
begin
     randomize;
     x := random(5) + 1;
     result := x;
end;

procedure GameStart(var money: integer);
var
   prize: byte;
   x: array[1..5] of boolean;
   counter: byte;
   usernumber: array[1..5] of byte;
   computernumber: array[1..5] of byte;
begin
     writeln;
     write('Please fill in your numbers (from 1 to 5) one at the time followed by an "Enter"');
     writeln;
     for counter := 1 to 5 do
         begin
              usernumber[counter] := GetUserNumber;
              while (usernumber[counter] < 1) or (usernumber[counter] > 5) do
                    begin
                         writeln('Please choose a number from 1 to 5');
                         usernumber[counter] := GetUserNumber;
                    end;
              computernumber[counter] := GetComputerNumber;
         end;
     ClrScr;
     counter := 0;
     writeln('Your Number    Computer`s Number');
     for counter := 1 to 5  do
              writeln(usernumber[counter], '              ', computernumber[counter]);
     counter := 0;
     for counter := 1 to 5 do
         begin
              if usernumber[counter] = computernumber[counter] then
                 x[counter] := true
              else
                 x[counter] := false
         end;
     if (x[1] = true) and (x[2] = true) and (x[3] = true) and (x[4] = true) and (x[5] = true) then
          begin
               prize := 5;
          end
     else if (x[1] = true) and (x[2] = true) and (x[3] = true) and (x[4] = true) then
          begin
               prize := 4;
          end
     else if (x[1] = true) and (x[2] = true) and (x[3] = true) then
          begin
               prize := 3;
          end
     else if (x[1] = true) and (x[2] = true) then
          begin
               prize := 2;
          end
     else if (x[1] = true) or (x[2] = true) or (x[3] = true) or (x[4] = true) or (x[5] = true) then
          begin
               prize := 1;
          end
     else
          begin
               prize := 0;
          end;

     money := money + prize;
     writeln('You have won ', prize, ' credit(s)!!! You now have ' , money , ' credits left.');
end;

var
   money: integer;
   act: byte;
begin
     money := 20;
     writeln('Welcome to Lotto! written in Dev-Pascal by XXXXXXXX!');
     writeln('You have 20 credits and every bet costs 2 credits.');
     writeln;
     act := 2;
     while (act <> 1) and (money > 1) do
     begin
          money := money - 2;
          writeln;
          writeln('You have ', money, ' credits left!');
          GameStart(money);
          writeln;
          writeln('Do you want to quit?');
          writeln('Type 1 to quit or 2 to continue');
          read(act);
          while (act > 2) or (act < 1) do
          begin
               writeln('This option is invalid, please choose 1 to quit or 2 to continue');
               read(act);
          end;
     end;
end.
This is about the best i ever wrote
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Last edited by B-MAN; 04-19-2006 at 10:25 AM.
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Old 04-19-2006, 11:49 AM   #3 (permalink)
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If you want to learn programming for your own use, books on their own are great.
If you want to learn programming in order to earn a living, a college diploma will be required.
Tom
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Old 04-19-2006, 12:13 PM   #4 (permalink)
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Keep a look out for Ebooks or cheap books on Ebay, Visual Basic is about easiest as far as I know, I am currently learning Java with a learn from home college, its about a 12 month course depending on how much you put in each week and they find you a job on completion of your exams after the studying has finished.

If you want to learn just bits and peices for a one off project or don't want a career in programming then look on google for tutorials.

Mike
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Old 04-20-2006, 12:45 AM   #5 (permalink)
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i'd recommend C++, Java, or C# for starters. try one of those 'learn C++ in 24 hours' books, they're usually quite good.
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Old 04-20-2006, 12:48 AM   #6 (permalink)
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i wanna learn C++ really bad lol
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Old 04-20-2006, 01:37 AM   #7 (permalink)
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I know HTML (easy) and I'm almost done with Visual Basic. Visual Basic was very easy, but I also had a teacher helping me. Check to see if their are any classes available at your school. I know right now that I am taking BCP and I have learned HTML, Visual Basic, a little of C++ and a little of JavaScript.

Yes, I too want to get a very good book because after this year I am not going to be taking and more computer classes in order to persue a career in the health field.
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Old 04-20-2006, 01:40 AM   #8 (permalink)
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Ruby is really easy. No compiling, and the commands (is that what they're called?) are easy to remember.
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Old 04-20-2006, 01:41 AM   #9 (permalink)
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HTML is quite easy and can come in handy with other programs. I have tried learning C++ with a couple of the "learn in 24 days" books but attention span wasnt long enough to finish. Good luck with what you choose.
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Old 04-20-2006, 01:46 AM   #10 (permalink)
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I just checked Amazon.com and they have 5,869 books on programming... It's got everything in here from C++ to graphics. Check it out, I'll give you guys the link if ya'll are interested.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=...%3A3839&page=1
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