• Coding
  • What's a good beginner coding language, and where to start?

Yes Samer, I'll try out Python and Ruby.

Ruby looks very very simple.
I'm not going to start preaching about the 'proper' way to start, there have been good advice and terrible ones in this thread.

The only language you should be focusing on now is C/C++.
arithma wroteMy first language was Logo, and perhaps it was the most enjoyable language I've played with (it was a long time ago, and everything was utter and complete joy)
I'm still using Logo till now , I just play with it sometimes when I'm bored .
Yeah I used logo when I was 10. They taught it to use in my old school (in Qatar). Schools here need to implement coding languages.
My ooooooold school used to teach us PC logo, after we finish our teacher used to give us time to play Jazz.(rofl)
Update: I'm liking Python more and more.
Thanks for everyone ;D. When I get good at it, I'll try to learn more languages
My first language was Logo, and perhaps it was the most enjoyable language I've played with (it was a long time ago, and everything was utter and complete joy)
rez2ala, we used to take it in the 7th grade and I used to love it although I didn't know it was sort of an intro to programming back then, but I used to like to find solutions for drawing shapes using the turtle.
4 days later
start with javascript.
u need to learn to program before u learn a programming language. javascript is excellent for a beginner (if only it wasn't case sensitive)
elzalem wrotestart with javascript.
u need to learn to program before u learn a programming language. javascript is excellent for a beginner (if only it wasn't case sensitive)
No it is not.

You do not use document.getElementById("whatever") in any other language. He should just stick to Python, he's actually liking it which is good.
Kassem wroteYou do not use document.getElementById("whatever") in any other language. He should just stick to Python, he's actually liking it which is good.
i didnt mention DOM manipulation, he doesn't need it.
if he wants to output anything, there's document.write() .
javascript is close to many other languages, u can even write JS using on ur cell phone if ur bored and run it insidethe browser. there are numerous JS debuggers that are very easy to use, firebug, opera dragonfly...
i do not know python so i cannot judge it.
You can hardly do anything with javaScript without some kind of DOM manipulation. Except
alert("Hello World");
lol
Great, now what?
rolf wroteYou can hardly do anything with javaScript without some kind of DOM manipulation. Except
alert("Hello World");
lol
Great, now what?
it can do anything Python can do without it's "Standard library". if we're going to talk about add-on libraries, jquery is one of zillions available.
one more thing, you dont say "now what" when you;re talking about a programming language.

the language is just a tool you use to reach a goal. if you say "now what" that means u have no goal, in that case no programming language could do you any good.
To be more precise, the problem with Javascript IMO is that usually input is fetched from the DOM. jQuery uses the DOM. A program usually takes input and returns output. If you want to learn programming, you can do without input, but you usually want to have that option, so as to write example programs.
With javascript, all the input ou can get, as far as I can think, without using the DOM would be an input textbox. That's pretty poor, and might be discouraging. I am assuming that one who wants to start programming would also want to be able to do cool stuff and enjoy it a little.
rolf wroteTo be more precise, the problem with Javascript IMO is that usually input is fetched from the DOM. jQuery uses the DOM. A program usually takes input and returns output. If you want to learn programming, you can do without input, but you usually want to have that option, so as to write example programs.
With javascript, all the input ou can get, as far as I can think, without using the DOM would be an input textbox. That's pretty poor, and might be discouraging. I am assuming that one who wants to start programming would also want to be able to do cool stuff and enjoy it a little.
you have these http://www.w3schools.com/js/js_popup.asp and if u need more input, take an extra step and invest in textarea or form elements. pretty cool things can be done with event listeners.
its true that you cant have a binary input, such as an image or a video to enjoy decoding, some data to decrypt (base64 though) but once you reach that level you're not a beginner leraning to program.

javascript is not a perfect language, but its good enought to start with. it can then lead to many good things from web dev to game dev (Unity) check its usage outside the browser http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JavaScript#Uses_outside_web_pages