Where to start

[mzdrojowy]

ok so I would like to get into programming..... where to start , where to start ...
im currently using ubuntu linux 9.4 so I have access to the gcc and the g++ compilers and the python shell and python IDE ...
I feel im not ready for a IDE as I would like to concentrate on learning a language and not a GUI in which to write said language in. So I'm leaning toward the python shell ( typing "python" at the command prompt) or coding in KATE and compiling via the command line using gcc or g++
My question ? well ...Where to start ... C,C++ , or Pyhton
also I'm a first year computer science student and I would like to lean toward software development so any and all advice is welcome
thank you :D

[drhowarddrfine]

Learn C. Learning assembly is better at first, though. Use the vi/vim editor. Python is not a shell language. bash is a shell language.

If you're a CS student, aren't they going to teach you this stuff?

[mzdrojowy]

first I want to thank you for your reply which I found helpful. Second yes as a student they are going to teach me ALOT of programming but it's comming later than sooner , so I wanted to get a jump on it , plus Im turning real geeky lol and I'd rather do computer science stuff than party anymore ... :eek::thumbsup::D

[oracleguy]

Learn C. Learning assembly is better at first, though.

While knowing assembly can certainly be beneficial, there is no reason to necessarily start there. Learning the basics of programming by learning C or C++ would work just fine and might be less painful.

On Linux if I am not using an IDE, I do like to use Kate, it is a really nice tabbed text editor.

[oesxyl]

Learn C. Learning assembly is better at first, though. Use the vi/vim editor. Python is not a shell language. bash is a shell language.

If you're a CS student, aren't they going to teach you this stuff?
op said "python shell" not "shell language python", :)
and there is a python shell, :)

best regards

[cs_student]

I started out by learning python, then moving to C and java. If you decide to learn python, I suggest you take a look at pygame (http://www.pygame.org/news.html). Being able to make games while learning a programming language makes a lot more interesting and gives you a wider variety of things to explore.

Whatever language you learn, find a forum that is dedicated to that language (or that has wide support for it). Try to help others with their problems and see solutions to other peoples problems (this is a great way to learn).

You can also take a glimpse at one of E.S.R.'s infamous articles (http://catb.org/~esr/faqs/hacker-howto.html).


cs_student

[Spookster]

This has been discussed a million times. Instead of writing another long winded rant i'll just point to a recent discussion

http://www.codingforums.com/showthread.php?t=175782