Ask HN: Starting with programming?

Re:Ask HN: Starting with programming? by wyclif on Saturday March 26, 2011 @03:59AM (#2371617)

If you're really starting from zero, I'd recommend Python. The first book I'd recommend would be Zed Shaw's Learning Python the Hard Way. Again, this is for a raw beginner; if you've already written some rudimentary code and know how to use a text editor, the first half of the book will drive you crazy because of the drilling. If you can skip to the end of that book and you're not challenged, try How To Think Like a Computer Scientist (the Python edition). Both of these books are free online.

This question (or a variation of it) has been asked before on Ask HN, so do a search and read those archived posts.

My best advice is to get some HTML, CSS, and JavaScript under your belt. That will give you a good foundation. Then move on to a good, dynamic functional language like Python or Ruby.

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Re:Ask HN: Starting with programming? by BrainScraps on Saturday March 26, 2011 @04:09AM (#2371627)

I'm doing Python the Hard Way and I think it's a great book. Dive into Python is good as well.

If you're slightly off-kilter like I am, you might enjoy a delicious combination of Why's Poignant guide to Ruby and Rails for Zombies. Good stuff, although Rails for Zombies can be a bit maddening if you're a beginner.

Cheers!

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Re:Ask HN: Starting with programming? by wyclif on Saturday March 26, 2011 @05:05AM (#2371697)

I really miss _why, especially his blog.

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