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Ask Slashdot: How To Get Started With Programming? [2017 Edition]
Reader joshtops writes: I know this is a question that must have been asked -- and answered -- on Slashdot several times, but I am hoping to listen from the community again (fresh perspective, if you will). I'm in my 20s, and have a day job that doesn't require any programming skills. But I want to learn it nonetheless. I have done some research but people have varied opinions. Essentially my question is: What is perhaps the best way to learn programming for my use case? I am looking for best possible resources -- perhaps tutorials on the internet, the right books and the order in which I should read/watch them. Some people have advised me to start with C language, but I was wondering if I could kickstart things with other languages such as perhaps Apple's Swift as well?
If you're in your 20's, the train has already left the station on this. The time to learn programming is when you are young, say 8-18 years old, and you have the curiosity and time to really dig into it. At this point in your life, your learning patterns and brain has already started to become set and you'll never be able to catch up or compete with the people who understand the language natively. Instead, focus on something easier like graphic design or web development or IT support if you feel you must be in the tech industry, but be warned all of these jobs have relatively short shelf lives and you'll likely be back to doing something differnent by the time you are in your mid-40's. If your lifestyle can support this then by all means go for it.
Python is dangerous. It harms the mind so completely that it may be impossible for someone learning using Python to later learn a proper programming language.
Its use ought to be outlawed.
Don't use Python. Certainly don't use Python as a beginners language!
Your program might refuse to run due to an error that is literally invisible. Seriously.
Anyone here will tell you: I can print-out a copy of a non-working python program, show it to a python expert, and they'll certify that the program is correct and without error. They could then type-in that program and demonstrate that the program does, in fact, work correctly. All due to an INVISIBLE error in your original electronic copy of your program!
Then there's this bullshit:
it teaches better habits
What a load a crap! The only habit it "teaches" is to indent code. You'll do that on your own in every other language because it benefits you directly. You may even discover the shortcut in your idea that automatically does that for you! (Python advocates, naturally, never found that shortcut.)
They do adhere to a style they call 'pythonic' like it's some bizarre cult. Here's a hint, pythonistas: Calling bad style 'pythonic' doesn't magically make it good.
Some of the worst code I've ever seen has been written in python. Python uses seem to believe that because their code is properly indented, that it is objectively easy to read. That's completely false. There's a lot more to readability than indentation. Pythonistas refuse to face reality.
Fuck python.