<div dir="ltr"><div>One thing I'd add is that some languages are more "fun" for an individual. So whatever she picks, ensure she's having fun. Otherwise programming is a drag.<br><br></div>+1 to Go as well. However, after Python and Javascript. Go is the up and coming C.<br>
<br>Leam<br><br></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, May 29, 2014 at 3:40 PM, Ed Cashin <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:ecashin@noserose.net" target="_blank">ecashin@noserose.net</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr">Wow. The real answer would be a great book or series of books.<div><div class="gmail_extra"><br></div><div class="gmail_extra">
But because you know I'm not going to answer with a series of books, I suppose a highly condensed summary of my own biases and perspectives will be welcome.</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br></div><div class="gmail_extra">I like your idea of introducing python and Java next, for these reasons:</div><div class="gmail_extra"><br></div><div class="gmail_extra"> * Learning any language is good. You gain insight into how intelligent people who are not you think about solving problems, and you improve your ability to learn programming languages and idioms. This meta skill is significantly more valuable than any specific skill.</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br></div><div class="gmail_extra"> * Python is hugely popular, with mature and well used libraries and sets of documentation. It is a great representative of a dynamic scripting language.</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br></div><div class="gmail_extra"> * Java is highly popular but is kind of clunky. It is great to know it, but it's also good to be aware that people are using things like Scala to use the JVM without so much clunk. (Again, this is a biased personal perspective.)</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br></div><div class="gmail_extra">For going beyond, I might suggest Go. It is not wildly popular and is very different in other ways from the other two. Its designers are smart people with broad backgrounds, and as a language, it is exceptionally current in its design goals.</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br></div><div class="gmail_extra"> <a href="http://golang.org/" target="_blank">http://golang.org/</a></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br></div><div class="gmail_extra">It has an online "tour" that can be used as an educational tool.</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br></div><div class="gmail_extra">I'm assuming you know about Code Academy. I'll go out on a limb and assert that everyone needs to know Javascript today, and it's pretty easy to pick it up there. Douglas Crockford's lectures will help tighten up a casual introduction to Javascript if serious use is imminent.</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div class="">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>
</div><div><div class="h5"><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></div></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><br><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br> Ed Cashin <<a href="mailto:ecashin@noserose.net" target="_blank">ecashin@noserose.net</a>><br> <a href="http://noserose.net/e/" target="_blank">http://noserose.net/e/</a><br>
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