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Everyone wants to be a programmer and design their own web based startups. 1WD is your one stop resource for web design, programming, inspiration and everything else that’s related. So, we thought why not compile a one stop article for those who are beginning to learn coding. Without further ado, let us all learn how to program.
There is quite a bit of information in this article that you may find useful, I highly recommend bookmarking it for later reference.
This is an interesting development actually, similar to when blogging started becoming popular. There was a chunk of people who wanted to start a blog of their own because it looked like anyone could do it. Similarly, these days there seems to be a rush towards non-programmers wanting to learn how to program.
There are so many different programming languages that sometimes it’s hard to figure out where to start. This is what I think:
Programming, like everything else, is easy once you know what you’re do. You just need to start programming to learn how your language of choice works. Once you’ve made some mistakes and had some success it will start to come easier to you.
Actually, you should have an answer to this question. You have learned programming and now you want to create your own web application. Then why think? Just pick anything and DIY (Do It Yourself). Sound good? Go ahead, create a chess program in your programming language or a calculator. Just code something!
Enough talking. Let us all get rolling now. Here are some of the best resources that you can use to learn programming:
Gosh! How many times will I have to tell you this. ANY! Just check out any of the resources listed in this article and start learning how to program. Let me know if you found the resources beneficial.
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Salman Siddiqui is an alpha geek, design guru and seasoned WordPress critic. Writing, for him, started out of ego but it has become the most luring and enlightening career option of his life. He is walking that extra mile for his freelancing dream.
Friday, June 15th, 2012 10:07
Can I use Adobe Dreamweaver only to develop PHP web applications or its better to do it with a editor?
Thanks
Friday, June 15th, 2012 18:33
Ama, Dreamweawer usually put’s a bit too much unnecessary code, but it’s great to help for beginners. I would suggest to use advanced code editor, not Dreamweaver one you can. Hope it helps!
Tuesday, May 8th, 2012 08:22
[off the flow]
If someone asks me, “which language do you choose for your new project?” or “What are the criteria for selecting a programming language for software solutions?” then I simply give this answer:
“Selection of a programming is dependent on the software company’s standards(Which type of programmers they have in their team), client’s BUDGET, and requirements.”
For example, if a client want a custom firewall to be developed on their bank, the software company may go for JSP for this software because it has high security concerns.
[A nice slide on further explaination about language selection is here: http://www.slideshare.net/dnene/programming-language-selection]
Monday, May 7th, 2012 18:45
I recommend to use C++ and Java, with C++ you have the power to do anything you want and with Java you have the power of the portability.
I’m a PHP programmer who knows something about Python and I really recommend that languages, with PHP you can do awesome web apps (like wordpress) and with Python you can do software and web apps (with django).
I don’t code using Ruby but I see cool projects that use it, some day I will start with it :)
Monday, May 7th, 2012 12:10
Well, The only thing i want to say is C is Mother language of all language,And guess who is father? Yes It’s HTML
Monday, May 7th, 2012 07:35
Learning to code is an challenge but like most things in life some people are born to code and you need to find out early on if your natural skills and aptitude suits coding.
Monday, May 7th, 2012 11:56
True! Especially when you dream of being the next 14 year old who launches his own million dollar startup.
But, this does not mean that you cannot learn coding. Anything is possible with the sort of tools and guidance available these days..
Sunday, May 6th, 2012 06:35
I agree php is quite easy to learn. Even for someone like myself who is not a brilliant programmer. And you can get some really good websites up and running quickly using php.
Saturday, May 5th, 2012 07:20
Sorry, but this article is a joke, isn’t it ? Seriously, C/C#/C++ is a language nobody who does websites never ever needs, python is an old, exotic language nobody needs & uses and Ruby is probably the most unintuive, nerdy, stupid thing ever. Why are all the people commenting positive on this article ? I mean, 1stwebdesigner is a killer blog, but this article simply leads people in the totally wrong direction.
If you want to learn coding, learn the language that fits the platform you want to work with:
You do websites ? Learn PHP [75% of sites run on PHP] or Java (20%). PHP is easy to learn, Java is hard (not the language, but the annoying things around, even after 10 years of coding it’s hard to set up a Java IDE).
You want to do mobile stuff ? Learn PHP and strenghten your html/css/js skills. I would recommend Java to start with, but it’s simply too hard to get into it. If you know the PHP stuff, specialize on a platform (iOS, Android, etc) and learn the language therefore (Cocoa, Objective-C, etc).
You want to desktop stuff ? Learn Java/PHP or/and get deep into js/html/css. Most desktop apps will run in emulated browser windows in 5 years.
You want to create Games ? Learn C#/C++ or – if you don’t want to do the big games – learn JS/HTML5 !
Seriously, learning a language is a big thing that needs years, so you shouldn’t waste your time with things you ll never need.
Cheers
Saturday, May 5th, 2012 19:06
Which IDE for PHP?
Friday, May 18th, 2012 03:06
I use Aptana Studio 3 for PHP development, quite cool, based on eclipse and it is open source.
Sunday, May 6th, 2012 01:24
Finally, someone found it wrong :)
Chris – The first programming language that I learnt was BASIC. This was around 14 years back. Then came C, C++, Java, PHP, Python, Ruby and sooo many of them. You know what happens WHENEVER anyone suggests me a new language? I don’t feel afraid because I know that the basic flow of the language is going to be the same. It will be the syntax which will change. So, when I say learn any language then I really mean it. One can directly start with JAVA and this a good advice but even if someone starts with C or C++ then he/she will get an idea of how things were done back then. And, trust me even today some Forture 50 IT industries use C,C++ to deliver projects to their clients. I have friends who work in such IT industries so I know these facts.
The idea of this article was to motivate readers for programming and to let them know that the first step is to start. Rest will easily come as a byproduct.
By the way, I can use python and shell scripting to create scripts at my webserver level which keeps a track of when my website when down, when it came up, with what PID, what was the old PID. I can also you the functionality of “wget” command to keep track of when my website stops working and use “sendmail” service to instantly send a mail to me on my smartphone. I have done such stuff so I know it. Even shell scripting and python can be worth it.
No programming language that you learn will ever be a waste. None of it … :)
Also, you are right when you say that it takes years to learn a programming language but with the sort of tools/information available these days…it can be an easier task for many.
Monday, May 14th, 2012 01:12
yeah..!
I agree with you in response of Chris. The person who well hand over C/C++ can learn any language and very easily. Coz these are the basic of Languages.
So, follow this Article if you want to learn something.
Wednesday, June 13th, 2012 10:39
Lavie,
Then according to you, the way to go is: html, css, jquery, and php… Maybe Java…
Wednesday, June 13th, 2012 18:57
Ama, sorry to jump in, but I agree to Lavie. HTML and CSS is must have in starting skill set and jQuery and Php will help you to land even better jobs :) I would say – do not push so much on quantity though. Learn HTML and CSS really well and you’ll do very good just with it. Add too many skills and you will struggle to keep up with changes and learning all little details!
Wednesday, June 13th, 2012 19:39
Thanks Dainis for the good advise..
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 16:36
This was a wonderful article to read. Very interesting. Hey for anyone that is interested in computer help please visit my website.
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 16:09
When i read this article the first website i think was: http://programming-motherfucker.com/
Sunday, May 6th, 2012 01:27
I am sure Google’s Algorithm will never let this website come up on the top for keywords related to “coding” and “programming” because of that other keyword which they use. lol
Anyways, and amazing website that is. Bookmarked! :)
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 15:42
Good article! Thanks for this – I had all these languages in a “to-learn” kind of list and had no clue which one to dive into first….C it is!! (=^_^=)
Sunday, May 6th, 2012 01:28
How has the journey been? C seems to be the language since stone age :P
I remember creating a HUGE programming for my chess project in my high school..
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 14:08
nice article, thank you… :)
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 12:01
Simple. Informative.
Great compilation of resources here to get any beginner started.
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 11:15
Seriously though – which do I start with? :-P
I’m sort of joking, but let me rephrase the question and see if you change your answer “start anywhere.”
If a total noob such as myself has a specific idea for a project they want to learn to code for, might that influence their decision on where to start? Do certain languages work better in certain situations? For instance, if I wanted to create chess app for iPad with better 3d graphics (because all the free ones kind of suck) – any recommendations on where to begin?
Or does it still really not matter?
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 16:31
I’ll hijack Salman’s post and comment! If it’s my choice, I’ll definitely go for C#! Quite a lot of mobile games are written in C#. I’m not really sure what the difference is among the lot, but I’m just jumping on the wagon. And you mentioned 3D, why not try Unity3D? It has built-in support for C# and JavaScript and others if you want to build a serious game.
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 17:57
“If a total noob such as myself has a specific idea for a project they want to learn to code for, might that influence their decision on where to start?”
- Yes.
“Do certain languages work better in certain situations?”
- Yes.. some languages are built for web design… others desktop applications.. some for specific hardware and others to use in conjunction with another application.
“if I wanted to create chess app for iPad with better 3d graphics (because all the free ones kind of suck) – any recommendations on where to begin?”
- Yes, start by doing some research!
if you want iOS development – start poking around their website!
https://developer.apple.com/devcenter/ios/index.action
You’ll see that ipad apps are generally one of three languages: Objective-C, C, or C++. Right there you took a general concept and now have a language selection. I would then toodle over to your local book store and find something that says “making an ipad application with X”.. more than likely objective-c. Pick it up and follow along!
Side note I came across this article from alltop, and I mostly hang out at ‘http://www.dreamincode.net/’.
Saturday, May 12th, 2012 01:18
I had the same questions which is why I started my website Prognoob.com. I think a good place to start is look at the languages and then look at the resources for that language. For example as a beginner I took a course that required us to use Haskell. There were hardly any beginner resources for Haskell. I feel like I didn’t learn as much because there were little resources I had outside of the class. For a language like Python and Ruby there are tons of resources for beginners.
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 10:43
I just happened to run into this article and I just started learning C yesterday, guess I’m on the right track (I hope so). This is a perfect inspirational article.
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 10:28
In my opinion, if you want to learn object oriented programming you should skip C and go for C++ or Java. If you want to learn programming for the web then Php or Javascript would be most useful. Ruby is still immature compared to the others…
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Christian Lavie
Saturday, May 5th, 2012 07:20
Sorry, but this article is a joke, isn’t it ? Seriously, C/C#/C++ is a language nobody who does websites never ever needs, python is an old, exotic language nobody needs & uses and Ruby is probably the most unintuive, nerdy, stupid thing ever. Why are all the people commenting positive on this article ? I mean, 1stwebdesigner is a killer blog, but this article simply leads people in the totally wrong direction.
If you want to learn coding, learn the language that fits the platform you want to work with:
You do websites ? Learn PHP [75% of sites run on PHP] or Java (20%). PHP is easy to learn, Java is hard (not the language, but the annoying things around, even after 10 years of coding it’s hard to set up a Java IDE).
You want to do mobile stuff ? Learn PHP and strenghten your html/css/js skills. I would recommend Java to start with, but it’s simply too hard to get into it. If you know the PHP stuff, specialize on a platform (iOS, Android, etc) and learn the language therefore (Cocoa, Objective-C, etc).
You want to desktop stuff ? Learn Java/PHP or/and get deep into js/html/css. Most desktop apps will run in emulated browser windows in 5 years.
You want to create Games ? Learn C#/C++ or – if you don’t want to do the big games – learn JS/HTML5 !
Seriously, learning a language is a big thing that needs years, so you shouldn’t waste your time with things you ll never need.
Cheers
Kimi
Sunday, May 6th, 2012 02:24
totaly agree with you
Ama
Wednesday, June 13th, 2012 10:39
Lavie,
Then according to you, the way to go is: html, css, jquery, and php… Maybe Java…
Dainis Graveris
Wednesday, June 13th, 2012 18:57
Ama, sorry to jump in, but I agree to Lavie. HTML and CSS is must have in starting skill set and jQuery and Php will help you to land even better jobs :) I would say – do not push so much on quantity though. Learn HTML and CSS really well and you’ll do very good just with it. Add too many skills and you will struggle to keep up with changes and learning all little details!
ama
Wednesday, June 13th, 2012 19:39
Thanks Dainis for the good advise..
Rachael
Saturday, May 5th, 2012 19:06
Which IDE for PHP?
Sabsy
Friday, May 18th, 2012 03:06
I use Aptana Studio 3 for PHP development, quite cool, based on eclipse and it is open source.
Salman Siddiqui
Sunday, May 6th, 2012 01:24
Finally, someone found it wrong :)
Chris – The first programming language that I learnt was BASIC. This was around 14 years back. Then came C, C++, Java, PHP, Python, Ruby and sooo many of them. You know what happens WHENEVER anyone suggests me a new language? I don’t feel afraid because I know that the basic flow of the language is going to be the same. It will be the syntax which will change. So, when I say learn any language then I really mean it. One can directly start with JAVA and this a good advice but even if someone starts with C or C++ then he/she will get an idea of how things were done back then. And, trust me even today some Forture 50 IT industries use C,C++ to deliver projects to their clients. I have friends who work in such IT industries so I know these facts.
The idea of this article was to motivate readers for programming and to let them know that the first step is to start. Rest will easily come as a byproduct.
By the way, I can use python and shell scripting to create scripts at my webserver level which keeps a track of when my website when down, when it came up, with what PID, what was the old PID. I can also you the functionality of “wget” command to keep track of when my website stops working and use “sendmail” service to instantly send a mail to me on my smartphone. I have done such stuff so I know it. Even shell scripting and python can be worth it.
No programming language that you learn will ever be a waste. None of it … :)
Also, you are right when you say that it takes years to learn a programming language but with the sort of tools/information available these days…it can be an easier task for many.
Eric
Monday, May 14th, 2012 01:12
yeah..!
I agree with you in response of Chris. The person who well hand over C/C++ can learn any language and very easily. Coz these are the basic of Languages.
So, follow this Article if you want to learn something.
Fajar
Friday, May 4th, 2012 11:38
nice article, thank you… :)
Mohammed Uddin
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 16:36
This was a wonderful article to read. Very interesting. Hey for anyone that is interested in computer help please visit my website.
Dave Mellett
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 10:28
In my opinion, if you want to learn object oriented programming you should skip C and go for C++ or Java. If you want to learn programming for the web then Php or Javascript would be most useful. Ruby is still immature compared to the others…
Jeremy Keith Hammond
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 11:15
Seriously though – which do I start with? :-P
I’m sort of joking, but let me rephrase the question and see if you change your answer “start anywhere.”
If a total noob such as myself has a specific idea for a project they want to learn to code for, might that influence their decision on where to start? Do certain languages work better in certain situations? For instance, if I wanted to create chess app for iPad with better 3d graphics (because all the free ones kind of suck) – any recommendations on where to begin?
Or does it still really not matter?
Kei
Saturday, May 12th, 2012 01:18
I had the same questions which is why I started my website Prognoob.com. I think a good place to start is look at the languages and then look at the resources for that language. For example as a beginner I took a course that required us to use Haskell. There were hardly any beginner resources for Haskell. I feel like I didn’t learn as much because there were little resources I had outside of the class. For a language like Python and Ruby there are tons of resources for beginners.
Rean John Uehara
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 16:31
I’ll hijack Salman’s post and comment! If it’s my choice, I’ll definitely go for C#! Quite a lot of mobile games are written in C#. I’m not really sure what the difference is among the lot, but I’m just jumping on the wagon. And you mentioned 3D, why not try Unity3D? It has built-in support for C# and JavaScript and others if you want to build a serious game.
jeremy
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 17:57
- Yes.
- Yes.. some languages are built for web design… others desktop applications.. some for specific hardware and others to use in conjunction with another application.
- Yes, start by doing some research!
if you want iOS development – start poking around their website!
https://developer.apple.com/devcenter/ios/index.action
You’ll see that ipad apps are generally one of three languages: Objective-C, C, or C++. Right there you took a general concept and now have a language selection. I would then toodle over to your local book store and find something that says “making an ipad application with X”.. more than likely objective-c. Pick it up and follow along!
Side note I came across this article from alltop, and I mostly hang out at ‘http://www.dreamincode.net/’.
Malik
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 10:43
I just happened to run into this article and I just started learning C yesterday, guess I’m on the right track (I hope so). This is a perfect inspirational article.
Michael
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 12:01
Simple. Informative.
Great compilation of resources here to get any beginner started.
Cuanq Gigabyte
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 14:08
nice article, thank you… :)
Alex Kuznetsof
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 16:25
Amazing article, i like the manner.
Salman Siddiqui
Sunday, May 6th, 2012 01:26
Thanks :)
Tony Silva
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 16:09
When i read this article the first website i think was: http://programming-motherfucker.com/
Salman Siddiqui
Sunday, May 6th, 2012 01:27
I am sure Google’s Algorithm will never let this website come up on the top for keywords related to “coding” and “programming” because of that other keyword which they use. lol
Anyways, and amazing website that is. Bookmarked! :)
Rean John Uehara
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 18:02
+1 for Pulp Fiction!
Cat
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 15:42
Good article! Thanks for this – I had all these languages in a “to-learn” kind of list and had no clue which one to dive into first….C it is!! (=^_^=)
Salman Siddiqui
Sunday, May 6th, 2012 01:28
How has the journey been? C seems to be the language since stone age :P
I remember creating a HUGE programming for my chess project in my high school..
Ama
Friday, June 15th, 2012 10:07
Can I use Adobe Dreamweaver only to develop PHP web applications or its better to do it with a editor?
Thanks
Dainis Graveris
Friday, June 15th, 2012 18:33
Ama, Dreamweawer usually put’s a bit too much unnecessary code, but it’s great to help for beginners. I would suggest to use advanced code editor, not Dreamweaver one you can. Hope it helps!
Darssh
Tuesday, May 8th, 2012 08:22
[off the flow]
If someone asks me, “which language do you choose for your new project?” or “What are the criteria for selecting a programming language for software solutions?” then I simply give this answer:
“Selection of a programming is dependent on the software company’s standards(Which type of programmers they have in their team), client’s BUDGET, and requirements.”
For example, if a client want a custom firewall to be developed on their bank, the software company may go for JSP for this software because it has high security concerns.
[A nice slide on further explaination about language selection is here: http://www.slideshare.net/dnene/programming-language-selection]
Stephen Martin
Sunday, May 6th, 2012 06:35
I agree php is quite easy to learn. Even for someone like myself who is not a brilliant programmer. And you can get some really good websites up and running quickly using php.
Chris Horner
Monday, May 7th, 2012 07:35
Learning to code is an challenge but like most things in life some people are born to code and you need to find out early on if your natural skills and aptitude suits coding.
Salman Siddiqui
Monday, May 7th, 2012 11:56
True! Especially when you dream of being the next 14 year old who launches his own million dollar startup.
But, this does not mean that you cannot learn coding. Anything is possible with the sort of tools and guidance available these days..
Álvaro Carneiro
Monday, May 7th, 2012 18:45
I recommend to use C++ and Java, with C++ you have the power to do anything you want and with Java you have the power of the portability.
I’m a PHP programmer who knows something about Python and I really recommend that languages, with PHP you can do awesome web apps (like wordpress) and with Python you can do software and web apps (with django).
I don’t code using Ruby but I see cool projects that use it, some day I will start with it :)
saurabh saxena
Monday, May 7th, 2012 12:10
Well, The only thing i want to say is C is Mother language of all language,And guess who is father? Yes It’s HTML