Learning to Program
How do you go about learning to program a computer? It must be really hard, right? Well no, not really. Programming isn’t magic, you just need to learn a few basic rules, and then build on what you know. It’s great fun; the key is just to get yourself started.
The first thing I’d recommend is to choose a language and grab one of the free online tutorials (I’ve linked to a couple below) and work your way through it. Python and Ruby are both very capable languages that are easy to pick up. Which you’ll prefer is largely a matter of taste, so it’s worth exploring them both for an hour or two before making up your mind.
Learning Python
If you’re new to programming I’d recommend that you start with the official Python Tutorial first and see how you get on. Also take a look at Zed Shaw’s Learn Python the Hard Way – which takes a slightly different approach – and see which works for you. Zed’s book is a work in progress, but a substantial amount of it is already available.
If you’ve already got some programming experience then I’d definitely recommend Mark Pilgrim’s Dive into Python. I read it many years ago and learnt a lot very quickly.
Learning Ruby
You can try Ruby immediately in your web browser at http://tryruby.org/.
I learnt Ruby from the pick axe book (so called because of the pick axe on the cover). It’s also known as Programming Ruby, and is now in it’s third edition. The original version is available for free online.
If you’re new to programming I’d recommend the Learn to Program tutorial, which has since been expanded and converted into a book.
If you fancy a highly entertaining read, whilst learning Ruby as you go, make sure you check out Why’s Poignant Guide to Ruby. It’s free. Do it.
Articles on Learning to Program
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Learning Erlang with the Pragmatic Programmer Screencasts
18 June 2008I’ve been meaning to get around to playing with Erlang for a while now. Tonight I set aside 30 minutes to watch the first of the Pragmatic Programmer’s Erlang Screencasts by Kevin Smith: Erlang By Example.
Each screencast is very reasonably priced at $5 a piece. I bought the first one, in which you learn how to build a simple chat system. I downloaded it immediately, excited to think that in only 30 minutes time I’d know lots more about Erlang than I did when I woke up this morning.
