Figuring out where to start in programming is alot more difficult now than it was in the '80 due to the explosion in programming choices available (Java, C, C++, vc.net, vb.net,...). Tools may be better (vis. Visual Studio, Eclipse, etc.) but the learning curve for a new programmer to get a "hello world" program running on most platforms is steep to say the least.
I've just picked up Python and after coding in C, C++, and Java it's like a breath of fresh air. No haggling with the compiler over types, simple intuitive syntax and a very helpful interpreter that let's you test code on the fly.
Python is also free, runs on many platforms, has a huge range of modules to choose from and for a beginning programmer it's coding style is very clear (unlike perl).
New programmers can start by defining functions and then explore OO concepts as they gain confidence.
I would recommend "Learning Python" by Mark Lutz as a great starting reference.
Given all the comments this is obviously a topic close to many/.'s hearts - I guess I'm in good company:)
I've given this lots of thought and keyboard navigation is one of the main reason that I'm not using Linux full-time now. Great Keyboard navigation is so important to IS pros and coders because it's essential in attaining great Flow - the feeling that your machine is a living extension of your thoughts or creativity.
I've found a really cool app called Quickkeys by CE Software (http://www.cesoftware.com). Quickkeys is only available for Windows and Mac but I'd love to see it on Linux - Hello!! Anyone from CE Soft reading this?:) Quickkeys has made my life on Windows a bearable and even enjoyable (gasp!) experience and is worth the cost (which is nominal). Here's what I think are the essentials to keeping great flow.
Firstly, I think that it's essential to be able to define the scope of keyboard shortcuts. Some bindings should be system-wide while others should be application specific. Having the ability to define a keybinding's scope also allows you to have the sanest keybindings possible - for example Crtl+n in your newsreader should be "new mail" whereas it should mean "new folder" in your file manager. Sane, application-specific keybindings make being able to remember the combos a lot easier allow you to incorporate them into your muscle memory more quickly.
Setup:
Good resolution is essential (minimum usable res. is 1024 x 768 IMHO)
Ergonomic keyboards are wonderful once you get used to them.
You'll never be able to get away from the mouse completely - getting a good one makes mousing bearable.
Remap the control key!! - I don't know how it ever got stuck down under the shift key. Switching Control with Caps-Lock is the best solution I've found - The Microsoft "kernel toys" package lets you do this on Windows 9x.
Use GNU bash as your command line interpreter.
General Navigation: (Scope: Universal) The best part of my setup is that I've bound the arrow keys to a control key combo UNIVERSALLY which means while writing text or code I never have to reach for the arrow keys. So...
Left = Ctrl + j
Up = Ctrl + k
Down = Ctrl + l
Right = Ctrl + ;
Home = Ctrl + h
End = Crtl + '
I've also got modifier keys bound so that by hitting the Alt key with my thumb while I'm moving with the Ctrl keys I can move right and left by word and up and pageup and pagedown. For example - If I want to move right one word at a time then I do a ctrl+alt+; The shift key can also be incorporated to be able to move and select text without thinking about it and without moving from the home row (yeah!). The best part about these bindings is that because they are universal they work everywhere (in dialog boxes, text files, etc. etc)
Applications (Scope: Application)
here are some of my favorite (and most used) keybindings for apps:
Internet Explorer Ctrl+O pops me up to the address field which is a huge improvement over the "open dialog" because you can edit mistakes on the fly (how many times have you typed "blah.co" and then had to reach for the mouse ?:) Combined with the arrow key bindings above make bringing up a website a breeze (even with all the typos:)
Windows+F6 to F12 keys are all bound to my favorite sites (/. is, of course, Win+F6:)
Outlook 98 Crtl+y is bound to the "go to folder dialog box" which selects the folder names as you type (brilliant!).
Ctrl+m is bound to move mail item to a specific folder it works the same as the above and there's never any dragging items from the inbox to folder and, therefore, no mouse movement.
So here's what I think is wrong with keybindings on Linux:
Netscape Alt- based shortcuts (what's up with that? - ugh!)
Inability to define scope of keybinding (i.e.global vs. application)
Hassle to setup keybindings (find the config file, learn the syntax etc....)
Switching between apps is a pain in all WM except KDE which copies Win95 (they really did a great job of alt+tab in windows)
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Figuring out where to start in programming is alot more difficult now than it was in the '80 due to the explosion in programming choices available (Java, C, C++, vc.net, vb.net, ...). Tools may be better (vis. Visual Studio, Eclipse, etc.) but the learning curve for a new programmer to get a "hello world" program running on most platforms is steep to say the least.
I've just picked up Python and after coding in C, C++, and Java it's like a breath of fresh air. No haggling with the compiler over types, simple intuitive syntax and a very helpful interpreter that let's you test code on the fly.
Python is also free, runs on many platforms, has a huge range of modules to choose from and for a beginning programmer it's coding style is very clear (unlike perl).
New programmers can start by defining functions and then explore OO concepts as they gain confidence.
I would recommend "Learning Python" by Mark Lutz as a great starting reference.
I've given this lots of thought and keyboard navigation is one of the main reason that I'm not using Linux full-time now. Great Keyboard navigation is so important to IS pros and coders because it's essential in attaining great Flow - the feeling that your machine is a living extension of your thoughts or creativity.
I've found a really cool app called Quickkeys by CE Software (http://www.cesoftware.com). Quickkeys is only available for Windows and Mac but I'd love to see it on Linux - Hello!! Anyone from CE Soft reading this?
Firstly, I think that it's essential to be able to define the scope of keyboard shortcuts. Some bindings should be system-wide while others should be application specific. Having the ability to define a keybinding's scope also allows you to have the sanest keybindings possible - for example Crtl+n in your newsreader should be "new mail" whereas it should mean "new folder" in your file manager. Sane, application-specific keybindings make being able to remember the combos a lot easier allow you to incorporate them into your muscle memory more quickly.
Setup:
Good resolution is essential (minimum usable res. is 1024 x 768 IMHO)
Ergonomic keyboards are wonderful once you get used to them.
You'll never be able to get away from the mouse completely - getting a good one makes mousing bearable.
Remap the control key!! - I don't know how it ever got stuck down under the shift key. Switching Control with Caps-Lock is the best solution I've found - The Microsoft "kernel toys" package lets you do this on Windows 9x.
Use GNU bash as your command line interpreter.
General Navigation: (Scope: Universal)
The best part of my setup is that I've bound the arrow keys to a control key combo UNIVERSALLY which means while writing text or code I never have to reach for the arrow keys. So...
Left = Ctrl + j
Up = Ctrl + k
Down = Ctrl + l
Right = Ctrl + ;
Home = Ctrl + h
End = Crtl + '
I've also got modifier keys bound so that by hitting the Alt key with my thumb while I'm moving with the Ctrl keys I can move right and left by word and up and pageup and pagedown. For example - If I want to move right one word at a time then I do a ctrl+alt+; The shift key can also be incorporated to be able to move and select text without thinking about it and without moving from the home row (yeah!). The best part about these bindings is that because they are universal they work everywhere (in dialog boxes, text files, etc. etc)
Applications (Scope: Application)
here are some of my favorite (and most used) keybindings for apps:
Internet Explorer Ctrl+O pops me up to the address field which is a huge improvement over the "open dialog" because you can edit mistakes on the fly (how many times have you typed "blah.co" and then had to reach for the mouse ? :) Combined with the arrow key bindings above make bringing up a website a breeze (even with all the typos :)
:)
Windows+F6 to F12 keys are all bound to my favorite sites (/. is, of course, Win+F6
Outlook 98 Crtl+y is bound to the "go to folder dialog box" which selects the folder names as you type (brilliant!).
Ctrl+m is bound to move mail item to a specific folder it works the same as the above and there's never any dragging items from the inbox to folder and, therefore, no mouse movement.
So here's what I think is wrong with keybindings on Linux:
Netscape Alt- based shortcuts (what's up with that? - ugh!)
Inability to define scope of keybinding (i.e.global vs. application)
Hassle to setup keybindings (find the config file, learn the syntax etc....)
Switching between apps is a pain in all WM except KDE which copies Win95 (they really did a great job of alt+tab in windows)
:)
ok this post is getting way too long