[Guide] Which Language To Start With

[namespace7]

1. It is powerful in relation to a specific problem if it can be used to solve that problem effectively and efficiently.

2. There is little difference theoretically. A scripting language IS a programming language because it IS a type of programming languages. In many cases you can use both scripting and compiled programming languages to achieve the same result. However, each programming language has its strengths and weaknesses and hence some are better then others for a specific task. For example it is better to use a scripting language like PHP to write a web application for your website and to use a compiled language like C++ to create a console video game.

3. If you want to learn C++ you can use one of many C++ IDE's like DevC++ or Eclipse or Visual Studio 2012 if you want to build windows-only graphical applications. Just google free C++ IDE and you will get a ton of results.

4. I personally don't use Visual studio so I wouldn't know if it supports java. But don't worry, there are TONS of free software that will enable you to compile, link and debug programs in any language. Check out Eclipse, Netbeans, DevC++.

Good luck and don't hesitate to ask any other questions.
Just one tip: don't spend countless days trying to find the best language or programming environment. Just get a good book on a programming language, download a free IDE for that language and start learning. And then just practice, practice and one more time practice. Don't jump from one thing to the next like a frog before learning at least enough to do something useful.

[Daemon]

@rasenove
Check out the tutorial for the IDE, I posted codeblocks and I would recommend that one for C++ and it comes with the GCC compiler included. And no, visual studio does not support java, you would need eclipse or something for that. Check the Visual Studio documentation to see what all it supports, thats something you can find yourself man

As for the rest, namespace7 said it all. Thank you namespace7

[techb]

Discussion up until now TL;DR.

I started with Python, which is great for anyone. But I would really recommend starting with C. I really wish I started with C, but for PC level stuff, Python is a good intro language. So Python if your half serious or want to get into something quick, but C for those who are really serious.

[Kulverstukas]

Damn. Why isn't this stickied yet?

* Kulverstukas saved the day!

[0poitr]

I think, IDEs hinder or just hide the natural way to code and compile. They sure make things quite easier with auto completion and stuff but the classic way to code in a text editor and then compiling it with a standalone compiler is just, well.. classic. Unbeatable. I've seen my friends code in IDEs, press a button and tada! a terminal opens up for input. They never get to know how it actually happens. Preprocessing, compiling, linking .. they miss it all.

So, I'll recommend anyone to code in a simple text editor which supports syntax highlighting and auto-indentation. e.g. vim, scite, notepad++
For compilers, there's the industry standard gcc (*nix) and minGw (win).

As for me, I've started learning to code in C and am genuinely loving it. I know a bit of bash and autoIt. But programming in C is a different joy altogether.

[namespace7]

I think, IDEs hinder or just hide the natural way to code and compile. They sure make things quite easier with auto completion and stuff but the classic way to code in a text editor and then compiling it with a standalone compiler is just, well.. classic. Unbeatable. I've seen my friends code in IDEs, press a button and tada! a terminal opens up for input. They never get to know how it actually happens. Preprocessing, compiling, linking .. they miss it all.

So, I'll recommend anyone to code in a simple text editor which supports syntax highlighting and auto-indentation. e.g. vim, scite, notepad++
For compilers, there's the industry standard gcc (*nix) and minGw (win).

As for me, I've started learning to code in C and am genuinely loving it. I know a bit of bash and autoIt. But programming in C is a different joy altogether.

Very good advice. Its very important to understand how the source actually turns into binary and how all the libraries are included and so on.
All beginners who are starting out should do this.

However once you starting working on big projects with thousands of files and several devs then IDE is the only way to go. But of course for short little programs there is no advantage of an IDE over a text editor with syntax highlight and separate compiler.

[6NavI]

learning C++ but every time i write codes involving <strings>, they compile very well and build well......but on running the code it, windows explorer notifies me that the program has "stopped working". Can some one help me out here

[rasenove]

learning C++ but every time i write codes involving <strings>, they compile very well and build well......but on running the code it, windows explorer notifies me that the program has "stopped working". Can some one help me out here

make a post of your problem and give up some code snipts so we can see whats wrong. Dont post it here tho, make a new topic in the c, c++ board.

[6NavI]

thanks......@rasenove

[xXGreenXx90]

Thanks for informative tutorial!  Is there any good site to start learning programming on because my college classes don't start for another year.  Also how do you remember code without forgetting it over a period of time?  I began with PHP and I had trouble remember is unless I practiced for 5 hours a day.

[Kulverstukas]

Thanks for informative tutorial!  Is there any good site to start learning programming on because my college classes don't start for another year.  Also how do you remember code without forgetting it over a period of time?  I began with PHP and I had trouble remember is unless I practiced for 5 hours a day.

http://evilzone.org/general-galactica/coding-language-knowledge-getting-rusty/

[Traitor4000]

I disagree that javascriot only does little things. It is a very powerful language. It is especially interesting to use for client side attacks via xss etc. Look in to javascriot it can do more than you think.

[Reynald]

i ever heard ppl talking about low-level language and high-level language
and they said if you mastered the Low-Level language , you will be trully understood computer and all of it's work
is it true?

[jes9ter]

Gj and thx on the guide namespace7. It really helped me start.