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

[JD]

My considered opinion on "how to learn to program" is here:
http://blog.jdpfu.com/2011/10/19/how-to-learn-to-program
It also has links to respected resources to actually learn this stuff.

I'd also say that there is a vast difference in learning to program to get
things done and learning to program for a day-job.  For a day job, I would avoid
all the languages that everyone else in the world (especially China/India) are
learning.  Why compete with 2+ billion other people?

On 05/29/2014 03:17 PM, Tom Freeman 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.
>