What is a good programming language for beginners?

Question

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Best ways to teach a beginner to program?
What is the easiest language to start with?

What is a good programming language for beginners? I am 15 and had learned C++ before never got into it though? But is this like learning a new language? like having to do it over and over and every day having new stuff to learn ?

Answer 1

Python. There's a very good introduction called Dive into Python. Additional How to think like a computer scientist is full programming introduction course made with Python. Highly recommended.

Answer 2

Depends on the age of the person learning, what aspect of programming you want to learn and what kind of application the learner wants to write. But here are some things to consider:

• Sequential programming is easier to learn than object oriented but it can only get you so far nowadays.
• Dynamically typed languages are more forgiving for beginners than statically typed languages.
• Functional languages often do too much behind the scenes and a beginner might not understand how things are being done. Declarative might be better for beginners.

Answer 3

Again?! PYTHON!

Answer 4

cobol.net or python.

Answer 5

The University of Minnesota's first language is Scheme, it is great language for learning core concepts in programing (recursion etc...), then moving on to a powerful industry standard like Java and basic data structures. This is the 1901 and 1902 computer science courses.

Of course if you're a young developer not yet to the stage of studying books all day an night :'( tear... Then pick one that is easy to pick up quick and produce results you think are cool. I myself learned HTML, JavaScript, and then PHP when i was in middle school. Web sites where very interesting to me and it got me hooked. Just find what you like and get hooked, you'll learn more and more as oppurtunities arise.

Answer 6

From a guy that has never had a computer science course in his life...

I learned on ASP Classic (3.0) ...VB Script. There were also some batch scripting thrown in for flavor. I then moved into VB6. Toss in some SQL via Access...and then on to SQL Server. Can't work on the web without some javascript exposure. I also did some Lingo and various forms of Action Script (its fun to move things about the screen!). I worked with ColdFusion for a while. I attempted VB.NET when it first came out but didn't find it very marketable so I moved into C# where I have been ever since.

VB Script is still something that you can play with on any windows computer. Just rename a .txt file to .vbs and you are off and running in that world. Double click it to see it run. Doesn't get any easier than that!

Answer 7

PHP, there are lots of jobs out there that require it and it is easy to learn.

Answer 8

At first, try to learn a markup language such as HTML instead. HTML( or XML for that sake) is not a programming language but it will surly make the commands you give to a computer, strict.

After HTML:

Python for sure. I know I know you heard it much of the time but some few strong points:

• How to Become a Hackerby Eric S. Raymond suggest that you should drool into Python as it is a well-designed language.
• Eric again, on his article "Why Python" explains to ease and power of Python. When you do Python, programming is less of a head ache but fun.
• Python lets you quickly learn it. The learning curve is very suitable for beginner of programming as well as pro programmer in other languages.
• Not to mention( as it won't be as fancy for you ) Python is free (free as in freedom not as in free beer). That means you don't have a proprietary company ruling the language.
• Python makes you do big things in small time: Python is an productive language. It will help you concentrate on the logic of the program rather than obscure syntax.
• The things you achieve after months of practice in tough languages( like C/C++ ), for example, GUI, Internet connectivity, Image processing, are usually covered sooner and with more ease in Python.
• Python is portable. Perhaps the one of the most important thing why I love it the most. You make a program in Windows, you copy it on Linux and it runs as is very smoothly. ( This point has few exceptions but most of them doesn't hurts).

• Python has a good supportive community. I am not saying that other languages do not, but Python's community takes it to another level.

• At last "No one can be told how Python feels, you have to see it for yourself"

Edit: I forgot to mention about the learning resources:

• Go with "How to think like a Computer Scientist" If you have never programmed before (yes it is free).
• Use "Dive into Python" if you are already familiar with some other famous programming languages like C++.
• "Programming Python" is the advance book( though the best ) for learning Python. (non free)
• "Learning Python" is for beginner. Quite comprehensive. (non free)

Answer 9

Lisp - because if you can understand this, you can understand anything :-)

Answer 10

You can try hackety hack http://hacketyhack.org the coder's starter kit by _why.

Alternatively, you can try ruby. There is this strange ruby book "_why's poingnant guide to ruby" that you may find interesting (at least because of the pictures and comics and... weirdness).

You can start doing some 'visual' programming as well with programming languages such as Processing or ContextFree or ruby driven Shoes.