I agree with this post that perhaps java is a good language to learn- well structured and with lots of applicable concepts to other languages to help you move on to C, or Perl etc. Also there are many many books on java which are excellently designed for the beginner. Finding an equally good book on python will be somewhat harder, although no doubt they do exist.
Perl has several little features which may hinder you from coding properly in other languages, although it is a fairly friendly language to work with. Its slightly poor structure, if I may call it so, does not really help a beginner learn programming techniques he may apply to other languages. But I'd say Java's the way to go, with no discredit to other languages of course. Its just it worked nicely for me, so I can only go on my own experience.
Also I do think that although not a popular choice, with the right tuition, C is an excellent beginners language as the concepts of any language are presented well with it, and I really don't see what's wrong with starting with it. I'd definitely recommend Java or C, both of which are widely used so there's lots of opportunities to get help if you need it, there's thousands of reference books, and if you get really desperate, ask one of us nice/.y people too:)
I think certainly in the UK a mass suicide would have been very possible if they stopped showing Big Brother on the TV and net. Oh no, that would have left me rejoicing because not only am I freed from the torment of who was going to win, but also I would finally have the solitary life with just me and my pal puter for ever... too bad it didn't happen really isnt it?
As the PC in the home becomes almost as common place as a television, it is reasonable for one to expect the rate of demand to decrease. Indeed perhaps to a certain extent it will, however I do believe that with technologies still rapidly improving, the need to replace and update them will escalate significantly. The most common use of computers in the home is by the teenager who plays TFC repeatedly, whilst supposedly doing his English essay. Then you have the 7 year old child who plays educational Disney games, and finally you have the parents trying to be up with technology, perhaps keeping invoices and writing the occasional letter of complaint. An average family therefore can survive quite happily with a family computer, being several years old but still catering for their every need. In offices and businesses however the need to use a reasonably new system is somewhat more important. It is necessary to use up to date software, and for even a small business to appear relatively high-tech, even if the expense of the system does not prove cost effective.
And then there is me. The 16yo geek who loves messing around with me ole sinclair, so long as there's the latest computer nicely set up next to it, with the fastest processor I can afford, new this that and the other, and generally nicely flashy looking. Computers can be likened (please don't cringe, I know they are vastly superior...) to cars. Almost every family has at least one car, the norm now being two. Now you go and look out on the road and see what types of cars there are: The old banger which falls apart and chugs along in the most delightful ancient manner; the 5 y/o Nissan which does its job justly and will be replaced with an equally sensible but still fairly decent car just as soon as the teenagers refuse to be seen in it any longer, ; and the new jaguar hot off the production line.
Now something tells me that the jaguar is more a status symbol and the driver really does not require it to be quite so wonderful, but nevertheless he still has it, he still gets a new one every year, and still pays out a fortune just to be seen in an up to the minute car. Computers are the same. The car industry is doing just fine. So computers will do the same. Why be pessimistic? Computers are wonderful, amazing, just gorgeous things. I think it will be a long time in the future before demand for them stops.
--APL is a natural extension of assembler language programming;...and is best for educational purposes.--
Email: waterbiscuit@nerd.co.uk
RedHat are getting far too much criticism for the 7.0 release. Yes it is buggy, but that's what you'd expect from a.0 release. If people want a less buggy version, simply wait for another to come out. If the whole point of linux for you is to use slightly more imperfect distros and software, and you enjoy seeking out these bugs and informing redhat of them in a helpful manner then you shouldn't complain of the numbers of them. Finding bugs is fun. Yes admittedly slightly annoying if you actually want to do something proper and you find one, but ultimately you cannot expect a perfect system, and many people use linux for the fact you can find bugs and report them, thus helping everyone for future releases. It's like trial and error, and on a.0 version like this there is naturally more error.
I suggest if people can locate these bugs they report them to RedHat in a sensible and uncomplaining fashion, as then they will be more willing to work harder for their users. Simply complaining doesn't help at all. Constructive suggestions will always be welcomed, and it is our duty as linux users to help improve and fix bugs for future, and ultimately better distros.
Slashdot Mirror
I agree with this post that perhaps java is a good language to learn- well structured and with lots of applicable concepts to other languages to help you move on to C, or Perl etc. Also there are many many books on java which are excellently designed for the beginner. Finding an equally good book on python will be somewhat harder, although no doubt they do exist. Perl has several little features which may hinder you from coding properly in other languages, although it is a fairly friendly language to work with. Its slightly poor structure, if I may call it so, does not really help a beginner learn programming techniques he may apply to other languages. But I'd say Java's the way to go, with no discredit to other languages of course. Its just it worked nicely for me, so I can only go on my own experience. /.y people too :)
Also I do think that although not a popular choice, with the right tuition, C is an excellent beginners language as the concepts of any language are presented well with it, and I really don't see what's wrong with starting with it. I'd definitely recommend Java or C, both of which are widely used so there's lots of opportunities to get help if you need it, there's thousands of reference books, and if you get really desperate, ask one of us nice
I think certainly in the UK a mass suicide would have been very possible if they stopped showing Big Brother on the TV and net. Oh no, that would have left me rejoicing because not only am I freed from the torment of who was going to win, but also I would finally have the solitary life with just me and my pal puter for ever... too bad it didn't happen really isnt it?
As the PC in the home becomes almost as common place as a television, it is reasonable for one to expect the rate of demand to decrease. Indeed perhaps to a certain extent it will, however I do believe that with technologies still rapidly improving, the need to replace and update them will escalate significantly. The most common use of computers in the home is by the teenager who plays TFC repeatedly, whilst supposedly doing his English essay. Then you have the 7 year old child who plays educational Disney games, and finally you have the parents trying to be up with technology, perhaps keeping invoices and writing the occasional letter of complaint. An average family therefore can survive quite happily with a family computer, being several years old but still catering for their every need. In offices and businesses however the need to use a reasonably new system is somewhat more important. It is necessary to use up to date software, and for even a small business to appear relatively high-tech, even if the expense of the system does not prove cost effective.
...and is best for educational purposes.--
And then there is me. The 16yo geek who loves messing around with me ole sinclair, so long as there's the latest computer nicely set up next to it, with the fastest processor I can afford, new this that and the other, and generally nicely flashy looking. Computers can be likened (please don't cringe, I know they are vastly superior...) to cars. Almost every family has at least one car, the norm now being two. Now you go and look out on the road and see what types of cars there are: The old banger which falls apart and chugs along in the most delightful ancient manner; the 5 y/o Nissan which does its job justly and will be replaced with an equally sensible but still fairly decent car just as soon as the teenagers refuse to be seen in it any longer, ; and the new jaguar hot off the production line.
Now something tells me that the jaguar is more a status symbol and the driver really does not require it to be quite so wonderful, but nevertheless he still has it, he still gets a new one every year, and still pays out a fortune just to be seen in an up to the minute car. Computers are the same. The car industry is doing just fine. So computers will do the same. Why be pessimistic? Computers are wonderful, amazing, just gorgeous things. I think it will be a long time in the future before demand for them stops.
--APL is a natural extension of assembler language programming;
Email: waterbiscuit@nerd.co.uk
RedHat are getting far too much criticism for the 7.0 release. Yes it is buggy, but that's what you'd expect from a .0 release. If people want a less buggy version, simply wait for another to come out. If the whole point of linux for you is to use slightly more imperfect distros and software, and you enjoy seeking out these bugs and informing redhat of them in a helpful manner then you shouldn't complain of the numbers of them. Finding bugs is fun. Yes admittedly slightly annoying if you actually want to do something proper and you find one, but ultimately you cannot expect a perfect system, and many people use linux for the fact you can find bugs and report them, thus helping everyone for future releases. It's like trial and error, and on a .0 version like this there is naturally more error.
I suggest if people can locate these bugs they report them to RedHat in a sensible and uncomplaining fashion, as then they will be more willing to work harder for their users. Simply complaining doesn't help at all. Constructive suggestions will always be welcomed, and it is our duty as linux users to help improve and fix bugs for future, and ultimately better distros.