Good starting program Language newbie

Fold Zandura · 12-01-2003, 06:35 PM

What is a good general programing language to learn?
I use Mandrake. I was interested in Python, Perl or C is anyone of these easy to learn that the other? It is not for anything specific, just to learn.
Thanks

akurtis · 12-01-2003, 06:39 PM

I took a class a my high school regarding c++ and must say that perl is much easier, not to mention that the perl forums were youcan post are amazing. With CPAN supporting perl (CPAN is a module database) i would say it is probably the easiest to learn. I dont know about python, ive looked at it and it looks very similar to perl. Webmonkey has some great perl tutorials.

Alex

contrasutra · 12-01-2003, 09:16 PM

Well, im a python guy, so i'd recommend that.

Python has by far the easiest syntax to read. It also does so much for you, so you dont have to get your hands messy, as you do with something like C.

Also, Python has an extremley rich module library included in the standard distribution. There is a module for anything you would want to do.

There are some great tutorials at python.org.

Fold Zandura · 12-03-2003, 08:36 PM

Thanks. All I have to do now is decide which one. Python or Perl. I know Mandrake comes with a Python editor IDLE I think it is called. I'm sure I can download something for Perl as well.

akurtis · 12-03-2003, 10:05 PM

im pretty sure mandrake has a perl compiler as well. Perl scripts are written in a notepad like application, then just run using the perl compiler program

Good luck
Alex

oulevon · 12-04-2003, 12:15 AM

When I started to program, I came across this http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/hacker-howto.html#skills1
It gives some good reasons as to why Python is a good starting language.

Dominik · 12-05-2003, 12:54 AM

Hi,

I practised some C and fortran when studying, never have done big thing...few experience

Decided to go in an OO and after read some docs choose python one week ago...I really can do good things now.

python has a very clear syntax no {} , no pointers, memory alloc is dynamic
python is a REAL OO language... PERL is not

you'll find some doc at the www.python.org

bye

BSlack · 12-05-2003, 03:12 AM

Well, I think Python is the best choice for beginners.
Have a look at:
Learn how to program from How to become a hacker, it have some good hints on this subject.

But if you want understand what happen behind the wall you'll have to learn C one of this days

mjolnir · 12-05-2003, 11:19 AM

Check out scheme from MIT Open Course Ware.

oulevon · 12-06-2003, 01:14 AM

Personally, I'd stay away from Scheme or any other Functional Programming language until you have a good grasp of a traditional Procedural or Object-Oriented programming language. But if you are going to use Scheme, DrScheme is a good interpreter and it comes with a nice graphical interface. The Little Schemer, and The Seasoned Schemer are good books to check out too. I believe both are by Friedman and Felleisen.

Dominik · 12-06-2003, 02:44 AM

Hello,

As I can't solve my tkinter modules & new python version problems on my redhat 9 I think to install slackware 9.1

The point is that i need win2k to browse because my dsl modem has no linux driver...

...The dual boot with NT system seems particularly tricky according to the 7.1 info, is that the same with the 9.1 ?

Is that ok installing xemacs (redhat furnished it in the pack) or missing-libraires problems will drive me crazy ?

thanks