<div dir="ltr">My vote is for python. Seems a bit easier to slide into than Java, in my personal opinion. Very active community and tons of libraries available to do lots of things. There's a huge amount of documentation, tutorials, and examples available for free (or pay) that satisfy beginner, intermediate, and advanced programmers. Classes, books, videos, blogs, etc...<div>
I also like python in that once you get the hang of it, you can begin tackling real-world problems almost immediately, unlike a lot of "learning" languages.</div><div><br></div><div>If you're in the Atlanta (assuming you are) there's quite an active Python Meetup Community, welcoming to beginners and pros.</div>
<div><br></div><div>--chip</div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, May 29, 2014 at 3:17 PM, Tom Freeman <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:tfreeman@intel.digichem.net" target="_blank">tfreeman@intel.digichem.net</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><br>
My apologies for using up people's bandwidth for something not really linux, but this list is the best resource I know of for access to computer people with an insane breadth of backgrounds and opinions. And they are willing to share.<br>
<br>
A few days ago my daughter asked for an opinion as to a computer language for her to learn. No, she doesn't have a project in mind, which would have at least focused the discussion a little bit. She is a university librarian, however, should that have any bearing on the discussion. She has access to a moderate amount of materials for "Alice", which apparently her school uses for programming introduction.<br>
<br>
My advice, which should be considered highly flawed, was to take advantage of the "Alice" materials as a first, quick step. Follow that with perhaps either some work in Python or Java, with the Java due to her constant involvement in tiny web projects.<br>
<br>
If the Python or Java settles, and the itch continues, I was suggesting a second language, possibly data base oriented for the library work, or something derived from either FORTH or LISP for the mind expansion properties. As yet another alternative - cshell(?) since she prefers the macintoy.<br>
<br>
(I had a relative utterly in love with FORTH and very good at it also. Unfortunately, he thought _everybody_ should program in it... Not a very successful idea unfortunately.)<br>
<br>
The multipart question here seems to be:<br>
1) Is there a proper solid resource for building some programming skill that I should have know about and don't?<br>
2) Did I suggest a moderately reasonable approach in the eyes of people who _actaully_ program?<br>
3) Is there probably a better approach I should have known about?<br>
<br>
Thanks to all for the use of their bandwidth.<br>
<br>
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</blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br>Just my $.02, your mileage may vary, batteries not included, etc....
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