Programming? Options

[Maccabee]

I'm going to go against the grain and advise you to steer clear of C++. As a language, it really sucks, actually, and it's a pain in the ass to use well. Moreover, it's a pain in the ass to use as a learning language, because it has so many pitfalls. If you want something that's like C++ and basically fulfills the same goals, but is not painful to use, I'd suggest Java.

However, as a starting language, I highly recommend Python. It's easy to learn, and it allows you to ease your way from simple concepts to more advanced concepts at your own pace. It also doesn't require an explicit compilation step, so it's easy to change programs "on the fly" in order to try new things, or just see what difference a simple change makes in a program. It also has a really nice interactive interpreter, which means you can just fire up the interpreter and start entering little programs to see what they do -- and get immediate feedback. Finally, you can write desktop or web applications in Python easily. My own website is, in fact, written in Python.

Ruby is also a pretty decent starting language, for many of the same reasons as Python. I think Ruby has a slightly higher learning curve than Python, but it's still easier to understand than C++.

In the end, though, the biggest reason to choose Java, Python, or Ruby over C++ is because they have more creative, bad-ass names.

Cool, then I think i will steer clear of C++ cause i tried to start learning but I got lost at the compilers...
here I come google!
O! So python is like a program? You cant just learn it and type it up in notepad like html/css? Sounds cool. Ill prob start learning next weekend.

[illriginal]

Once you're done learning programming there's one thing I advise you to get into... and you won't regret it if you want to get into a Computer career.

L.A.M.P.

Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP. This is godly for a Web Server Administrator. Web Hosting companies will pay top dollar for your services if you have mastered L.A.M.P.

[Maccabee]

I know linux, I dont know apache or mysql and I know php.
Im wondering when we talk about "knowing" these things do you mean just like understanding or being fluent?
Becuase I can just sit and type html or css and I can type the basics of php like using includes, and strings and variebles but im not fluent becauses its a much larger language. So when you talk about knowing apache do you mean...understanding and getting the idea? Or that and knowing the basics or being fluent.
Cause it seems with much larger languages there are often things that you dont neccesarily have to do manually.

[Maccabee]

...I have no clue.
I know linux as an operating system.
Which is the most important part right?
Atleast Im familiar so I can work in any environment.

[illriginal]

I know linux, I dont know apache or mysql and I know php.
Im wondering when we talk about "knowing" these things do you mean just like understanding or being fluent?
Becuase I can just sit and type html or css and I can type the basics of php like using includes, and strings and variebles but im not fluent becauses its a much larger language. So when you talk about knowing apache do you mean...understanding and getting the idea? Or that and knowing the basics or being fluent.
Cause it seems with much larger languages there are often things that you dont neccesarily have to do manually.

Literally being fully knowledgeable in all aspects of it. If you only know the basics and you get into a company, they might require that you know things off hand that you might not know, which wouldn't be good on your part, and they might just let you go.

But there's also other companies who will hire you as long as you know the basics and they would help you progress. If you're fully knowledgeable, they'd be willing to pay top dollar after your "trial period" which could be anywhere from 15 days to 6 months.

I'm pretty well rounded in computers and I only deal with contract work. I always like knowing what exactly it is that I'm getting myself involved with and what exact requirements they need from me during the interview before stepping into their building(s). There's been a couple times where their position was titled one thing and their requirements were completely for a whole other thing.

Nothing is worse than traveling across the country only to go to an interview to find out that the open position was unrelated to the title of the position and wasting flyer miles. So I always request an over-the-phone interview first then decide to go there and meet them personally.

Anyways, IMO, when it comes to computers... never half ass your education the more you know the more valuable you are to any company.

[Maccabee]

Hmm.. One thing I was wondering is... when will I ever need to use a programming language like python? Html/css make websites, php make websites better, pythin does what? Is it for making programs and games? I understand it I guess its just that if I wanted to make a game it would take a lot longer and use a lot more knowledge than it would to make a website.

[mipadi]

Hmm.. One thing I was wondering is... when will I ever need to use a programming language like python? Html/css make websites, php make websites better, pythin does what? Is it for making programs and games? I understand it I guess its just that if I wanted to make a game it would take a lot longer and use a lot more knowledge than it would to make a website.

You can write just about anything in Python (or similar languages), from web applications to desktop applications.

[hi-C]

HTML, CSS, and etc are not programming languages, FYI. If you can't use it to write a program then it's not a programming language.