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

[Ed Cashin]

Why compete?  Because there are plenty of jobs, and excellence is more fun
than mediocrity.

I have been thinking about that after a plan 9 kernel expert said something
similar.  I'm afraid that if I chose something based on an aversion to
competition instead of passion for it, I'd wind up sad when I got ready for
work every day.



On Thu, May 29, 2014 at 6:27 PM, JD <jdp at algoloma.com> wrote:

> 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.
> >
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-- 
  Ed Cashin <ecashin at noserose.net>
  http://noserose.net/e/
  http://www.coraid.com/
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