I need to second this whole-heartedly. I've been "wanting to learn to program" for the last ten years or so. Only in the last four have I started to learn because I took the first step as the previous poster suggested.
Write, or in programming, Program.
The only way to learn is to get started. With the Open Source programming tools available (Ruby, Python, Perl, PHP, C, C++, Java, etc. etc.) you have all the tools you really need.
To get help you will want to find mailing lists or Usenet newsgroups (Google Groups, or your ISPs usenet server). In learning Python I subscribed to the Python Tutors list where you can ask beginning questions without fear of being made fun of. There are PLENTY of resources out there. Find something you want to make or that would make your life a little better (Task Manager, CD Collection Organizer, Alarm Clock, just something) and try to figure out how to program it.
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I need to second this whole-heartedly. I've been "wanting to learn to program" for the last ten years or so. Only in the last four have I started to learn because I took the first step as the previous poster suggested.
Write, or in programming, Program.
The only way to learn is to get started. With the Open Source programming tools available (Ruby, Python, Perl, PHP, C, C++, Java, etc. etc.) you have all the tools you really need.
To get help you will want to find mailing lists or Usenet newsgroups (Google Groups, or your ISPs usenet server). In learning Python I subscribed to the Python Tutors list where you can ask beginning questions without fear of being made fun of. There are PLENTY of resources out there. Find something you want to make or that would make your life a little better (Task Manager, CD Collection Organizer, Alarm Clock, just something) and try to figure out how to program it.
Good Luck!!! =8-)
Will