[ale] [OT] First Programming Language for Adult??

[chip]

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...
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.

If you're in the Atlanta (assuming you are) there's quite an active Python
Meetup Community, welcoming to beginners and pros.

--chip


On Thu, May 29, 2014 at 3:17 PM, Tom Freeman <tfreeman at intel.digichem.net>wrote:

>
> 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.
>
> 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.
>
> 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.
>
> 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.
>
> (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.)
>
> The multipart question here seems to be:
> 1) Is there a proper solid resource for building some programming skill
> that I should have know about and don't?
> 2) Did I suggest a moderately reasonable approach in the eyes of people
> who _actaully_ program?
> 3) Is there probably a better approach I should have known about?
>
> Thanks to all for the use of their bandwidth.
>
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-- 
Just my $.02, your mileage may vary,  batteries not included, etc....
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