Easiest programming/scripting language

[Xires]

@IamMe, I want to do a lot with programming, as a white/grey hat "hacker". I want to build my way up from knowing absolutely little to no hacking and programming skills to being an advanced programmer. I want to build OS's from dirt (scratch), be a security expert, specialize in penetration testing. I cant lie about me wanting to crack a password or two. I want to start off with the easiest language and go from there (or whatever suits me best in specifically what I want to do.) After all I do have Kali Linux 2.0 which is loaded with hacking tools, but don't know how to use any of them yet.
I've never heard of it until now.

The Quieter You Become, The More You Are Able To Hear. -Kali Linux

Staff note: Stop double posting, use the modify button.

Do NOT look for 'easy', look for 'versatile'.  If you're wanting to do all of those things, particularly that which requires lower-level experience(systems level development, for operating systems), then you should start with C.  You should start with C anyway, but really..you're basically asking directly to learn C.

C is used for basically everything.

• Your OS is coded in it(as most are).
• System libraries are coded in it.
• In searching for major vulnerabilities, you'll need to know C.
• Most programming languages that are popular today are related to C.
• Most of the technology that's used on the Internet is designed around BSD sockets, which are implemented in C.
• You WILL need to learn it to achieve your goals.

Python is 'okay' and all, and it may give you a bit of a jump into 'immediate satisfaction', knowing that you can accomplish something relatively quickly.  But, ultimately, your best bet is to learn C first and branch out from there.  With a solid understanding of C, every other programming language is easier to learn, because you've learned the root.  It's kinda like learning Latin and then being able to more easily understand languages that evolved from Latin.  There are some differences between languages, obviously, but the similarities that exist make the differing syntax easier to learn.

[Josiah23]

Do NOT look for 'easy', look for 'versatile'.  If you're wanting to do all of those things, particularly that which requires lower-level experience(systems level development, for operating systems), then you should start with C.  You should start with C anyway, but really..you're basically asking directly to learn C.

C is used for basically everything.

• Your OS is coded in it(as most are).
• System libraries are coded in it.
• In searching for major vulnerabilities, you'll need to know C.
• Most programming languages that are popular today are related to C.
• Most of the technology that's used on the Internet is designed around BSD sockets, which are implemented in C.
• You WILL need to learn it to achieve your goals.

Python is 'okay' and all, and it may give you a bit of a jump into 'immediate satisfaction', knowing that you can accomplish something relatively quickly.  But, ultimately, your best bet is to learn C first and branch out from there.  With a solid understanding of C, every other programming language is easier to learn, because you've learned the root.  It's kinda like learning Latin and then being able to more easily understand languages that evolved from Latin.  There are some differences between languages, obviously, but the similarities that exist make the differing syntax easier to learn.

C sounds great! I just bought a $17 book called "Learn Python the Hard Way" by Zed A. Shaw[emoji16] which is pretty handy.

Edited: I'm confused now on which one to learn first[emoji20] , some say Python and others say C. Python is easier to learn, but C is used for "basically everything" and will make other programming languages easier.

[Xires]

K, *most* people say Python for a few reasons:

• It's 'easier'; meaning there's less to deal with like data types, memory management, etc.  Python abstracts most of the lower-level concepts so you don't have to worry about it.
• You can develop a bit more rapidly; meaning you can see farther-reaching effects from lesser code.  This is, again, due to the abstraction.
• You get more 'immediate' results; meaning you get to skip processes like compilation since, as a scripting language, you can run the code directly.
• Python is popular amongst younger crowds and there's a lot of documentation concerning specific things that people intend to do, which means less time spent designing and more time just *doing*.

Reasons to skip Python for now and instead learn C:

• You cannot write an OS in pure-Python.  Python is inappropriate for a kernel, a bootloader, a memory manager, low-level hardware interaction, etc.
• Learning Python does not help you understand common exploit types like buffer overflows, heap overflows, format string vulnerabilities, off-by-one, etc.
• Learning Python does not help you understand dynamic libraries, how they're created, how they're used, how they're loaded, etc.  This information is essential for certain security exploits and patches.
• Learning Python does not help you understand major vulnerabilities in systems-level code.  Most notably, RCE issues in major Windows libraries, any kernel-based local privilege escalation vulnerabilities, race conditions in 'secure' privileged processes, etc.
• You will have to learn C to understand any of the above concepts anyway.
• Learning C will help you understand the creation and use of common data structures.  This information can lead to a better understanding of the operation of many technologies that you take for granted; routers, databases, web browsers, games, etc.
• Learning C makes it easier to learn: C++, C#, Python, PHP, Ruby, Java, Go, Awk, Perl, etc.
• Because it's the right thing to do.

Reasons that I dispense this advice:

• I am a systems-level developer with experience writing operating systems, system libraries, kernel patches, kernel modules, libraries, drivers, bootloaders, service daemons, etc.
• I have exploited kernels, libraries, drivers, bootloaders, service daemons, etc.
• I have patched all of the above.
• I have learned C, C++, Perl, Python, Ruby, PHP, Java, JavaScript, Go, Awk, Pascal, VB, C#, Delphi, Lisp, Lua, C--, Brainfuck, Haskell, Ada, Forth, HLA, RPG, TCL, Verilog, Objective-C, ASM, and more.
• I have taught C, C++, Perl, Python, PHP, Java, C#, ASM and more.
• Systems-level development is my preferred area of focus, including embedded systems and operating system code.
• I have never known someone who started with C to regret it.
• I have known some who started with Python and ended up having difficulty with other languages.  A few have even given up.

Trust me.  If you're serious about your goals/aspirations, start with C.

[vanity]

Some very good pros and cons there and quite the list of known languages you have. Almost got the "brainfuck" one by me... nearly missed it. Really though I enjoyed reading these. Thank you.

[Josiah23]

Sheesh, you learn 27+ languages? I feel like it's going to be a long ride trying to learn C, but I guess I could trust you in learning C first. Thank you for the pros & cons list too, it was very helpful.

[P!X3LTR0N]

Thanks for the helpful information, I'll definitely check out those website. I'll try to put  around 10 hours into Python the days I'm off. @insert-name-here, I'm a somewhat fast learner, it depends on how badly I want to learn it, and in this case, I want it bad.

I give you a week, maybe two. Depending on how fast you fail. Because saying you will devote 10 hours every time you are off is just not normal. You look like Kali is your idol, great.


Thank god your posts don't have that quote any more. Now I only need to see it once every time you spam shit.


Edit: fuck its in the post above mine. Could you remove that shit?

[iTpHo3NiX]

Captain here,
This thread is shit with the exception of Xires input
*flies away*

Btw, Xires I'm kind of surprised you took the time to write that, I know you can obviously see the OP won't accomplish anything whether it be python or C...

[0E 800]

I am convinced to learn C. Thank you Xires for an enlightened response.

Should be stickied so we can reduce the amount 'What programing language should I learn to be 7337?' type of questions.

I also find the kali quote to be offensive and insulting to the eyes.

[ptales]

Thanks for that great post, Xires. Take that tasty cookie, you deserve it.
Actually, I didn't start out with Python, either, but so many people recommend it as the first language to learn I actually thought it would work even better that way. Thanks to your post, I'm glad I did it the other way around.


(I'm just mediocre, though, but I'm working on that.)

[kenjoe41]

If i hadn't done anything like C yet, that moved me in alot of ways.

Though you know our view as C++ programmers about C. We loves the niceness of C++ while still getting the lowlevel access. Like a captain in StarTrek.

Come to my level ptales

[Xires]

Captain here,
This thread is shit with the exception of Xires input
*flies away*

Btw, Xires I'm kind of surprised you took the time to write that, I know you can obviously see the OP won't accomplish anything whether it be python or C...

As you know, even when you're truly serious and devoted to learning a language, you face pretty constant discouragement.  Things don't appear to make sense just yet, you keep forgetting simply syntax things like semicolons or case-sensitivity, you can't remember those library calls correctly, etc.  There's plenty of discouragement already to be had...I felt no need to add to it.  If the OP, or anyone, decides to quit before reaching their goals, so be it; but I will not be one of the many reasons they felt they could not do it.  Sometimes that's enough for someone to keep trying.

[Xires]

Some very good pros and cons there and quite the list of known languages you have. Almost got the "brainfuck" one by me... nearly missed it. Really though I enjoyed reading these. Thank you.

Are you implying that brainfuck is not a real language?

[Josiah23]

I give you a week, maybe two. Depending on how fast you fail. Because saying you will devote 10 hours every time you are off is just not normal. You look like Kali is your idol, great.


Thank god your posts don't have that quote any more. Now I only need to see it once every time you spam shit.


Edit: fuck its in the post above mine. Could you remove that shit?

I believe it's gone now, but your giving me a week or two to fail? OK, I'm not going to stop learning it until Ive mastered or at least know a good chunk of it. It could be Python, Ruby, C, C++, C#, Java, SQL, PHP, and so on... 12 hours down today, 9,988 more hours to go.

[Xires]

+1 cookie for determination.  Keep it up.  You can never learn too much(unless it's that your parents have a cam site).

[Josiah23]

+1 cookie for determination.  Keep it up.  You can never learn too much(unless it's that your parents have a cam site).

Thanks for the cookie, even though I'm not sure what that is. you have 140, I and I'm at -6

Edited: -8 now :/

Edited again: I see where It says "steal a cookie", but I don't steal. :/