Having Little Time For Learning - Visual Basic? C/C++? Java?

Hello all. I'm a 15 year old sophomore in an international school located in a Southeast Asian country called Thailand. The technology is very limited here and almost all pieces of equipment is imported. However, it's difficult to find programmers or computer experts who can help you for free. There are several popular computer / development centers where they teach you for a fee. And with this poor country's economy affecting the population, which is divided into rich and poor, with no in-between, it's difficult to find a good amount of money.

Thus, I have decided not to invest any time or money into learning at those centers here. I mean, I am a student and won't be able to concentrate and focus into those lessons while I have school matters to take care of. School work, student council (like student government system), and going to the gym.

Since I don't have much time to spare, and only a small ring of friends, who aren't computer experts (neither hardware nor multimedia), I will have to rely on the web. With my interests centered on computers and multimedia, maybe programming in there, I really wanted to learn at least SOMETHING in the categories.

Right now, I know how to assemble computers (thank God) and a good amount of hardware stuff. But that's all from experience and tinkering with them. Last year, I had a course about using Adobe Photoshop CS (got through half of the book because of insufficient class times and the overwhelming amount of computer illiterate people in the course), Adobe PageMaker 4.0 (not InDesign!!), and Microsoft Excel. Most of it was boring work and I thought it was a bit of wasting our time because when am I ever going to use PageMaker in my life? Creating brochures, posters, banners, letterheads, and business cards... Okay. It MAY be useful (just a bit) but nobody is going to use Adobe PageMaker in 5 years' time. Adobe InDesign would be used but not a lot... Oh, don't think I'm stupid because the course descriptions were like, "Using various, popular software for everyday occasions and duties..." and the course was called, "Desktop Publishing".

I think Photoshop was a good course. This year, they added a course called "Multimedia" and I don't know what they're going to do. The IT director told me that if I liked photography, I should take it. It seems, they're not going to do video editting. They cut it off too.

Alright enough of the boring stuff. What I need help on is this: Having limited time for learning programming languages, what is the best choice? Hmm, maybe I should narrow it down...

Note: I don't even know HTML. However, I am still interested in learning a programming language. Or maybe anything related to computers. But programming seems cool... as well as Photoshopping.

1. Is HTML worth learning?
2. How can you learn HTML? Through a book?
3. What good programming language tutorials are there out in the Net?
4. Is Visual Basic worth learning? What about Basic?
5. Please provide a short description on the following languages: HTML / Basic / Visual Basic / C / C++ / Java / PHP / Asp / Perl
6. How can be programming useful in life (except in job-matters)? I mean, multimedia is for hobbying. Programming for jobs?

Finally, is there anything I should know about programming and learning a programming language?

 

 

 

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Hi cyborgxxi,

A word of advice... take it from one who's been there and done that. If you want to learn something, be it computers or music or anything, if you think you have the discipline to learn it on your own without any distractions and can do a good job about it... you don't have to do a course. The internet will help you out. But if you are the kind of person who gets distracted quite easily like me, I would suggest you go to a course. Even if they don't teach you anything worthwile, since you have the interest yourself it will propel you to learn on your own using any means possible. The benefit of going to a course is that you are forced to spend an hour or so on that particular subject whether you want to or not. It's up to you.

One more thing. If you are going to start something, make sure you complete it... or atleast do it till a point you are competent in it. Don't do it halfway and then change the subject. That's what I did and now I'm in a complete mess. Take up C, it's a very basic and a very useful language. Work at it... learn everything there is to learn about it. Write some applications with it. Then improvise.... learn C++ and master it. After that, move over to VC++ and VB and start developing windows applications. Otherwise... if you want to learn web design... spend some time on it... learn HTML, PHP, MySQL, and all the graphics tools. But don't leave it half done.

Final word of advice, if you are doing something, do it completely. I've rambled a lot, but I hope it helps you. If you need some material or something you can't find on the net, let me know and I'll see if I can get it from alternate sources.

Wish you luck.

 

 

 

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hey cyborg, good to see you around here .

anyways, about learning programing languages, it doesn't really matter which one you start learn first or second, since eventually as you learn more of them, you will begin to realize that they are very similar and most of the time just the syntax changes and in some cases there are exceptions, but otherwise there are pretty similar. for example, C language is almost the same thing as C++ but C++ has incrementation and other things that makes programming easier and efficient. but it doesn't mean you can't program some things in C while you could in C++, it's just it might take longer.

let's start with html, it is a language that is really not necessary for beginners to be learned, since there are editors, such as dreamweaver that let you customize html pages very easily without coding. However, php is not editor friendly, thus, if you want to use some advanced or useful php codes, you'll have to know how to program in php.

if you don't know which one to start with, try going to your local library and see what they offer to borrow. read the books, practice, and ask for help if you get confused or not sure what to do while learning the programming languages.

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1. Is HTML worth learning?
Yes, It hardly takes 2 hours to get to know everything. And 2 months to master the skills (which is not required, thanks to softwares like Frontpage, Dreamweaver, Golive etc.)

2. How can you learn HTML? Through a book?
Search for Joe's Tutorial "So you wanna learn HTML?". That is where I learn't html from.

3. What good programming language tutorials are there out in the Net?
Start off with PHP.

4. Is Visual Basic worth learning? What about Basic?
Depends, Here I am assuming that you want to do something related to the internet. If you want to do programming which does not involve internet much, then VB is good to start.

5. Please provide a short description on the following languages: HTML / Basic / Visual Basic / C / C++ / Java / PHP / Asp / Perl

HTML -> Not actually a programming language. Just a thing like WORDSTAR for creating webpages.

BASIC : Ancient Programming language. No one uses it these days. Just used for general purposes but not any more.

Visual Basic : A powerful programming tool from Microsoft allowing you to create cutting edge software quickly and easily. You can create Graphical Programs in short GUI programs.

C : Structured programming language. Good to start with. You can create a good foundation for programming with C.

C++ : Advanced version of C which is object Oriented. Object Oriented Programming is a new concept where Very complex programs can be easily programmed using Objects. Objects is a bit complicated thing, you better search on the net for a good defination.

PHP, ASP, Perl : All are SERVER SIDE Scripting languages which are used to handle DATA and manage clients who come to your site. Basically they like an Interface. ITs called CGI (Common Gateway Interface). This interface can be programmed using these languages. Your selection depends on the type of server you want to work with, type of programs, your personal likes etx.

6. How can be programming useful in life (except in job-matters)? I mean, multimedia is for hobbying. Programming for jobs?
I would rather say, Follow your interests. Just ask yourself, what you want to do. Because there is a scope in everything. You can be a GOOD programmer or a GOOD designer. What matters is whether you are good or not. If you are not good, you are like other ordinary people who know how to drive, but cannot race. It's only when you are good, you stand out of the crowd and people see n appreciate you. So, there is scope in everything.

If you sharpen your skills in designing, you can be known for good designing and can seek careers in Animation, Web Designing etc. On the other hand, If you are a good programmer, you can look out for jobs in diffrent software companies, research etc. There is no field in which you don't have scope. Programming helps in real life by making your work easier. Programming is nothing but, telling the computers to do something which you would have to do manually. So, there are lots of options.

I hope this was helpful.

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