Learning Computer Sciences

[WSwanson1422]

Hello, I am a High School student who is interested in learning about computer programming. I was wondering if there was a good way to begin learning, and also what language to learn. Also, how could I begin to make my own programs? I would like to learn how to make small games or possibly other applications. Any advise is helpful. Thanks!

 

[aevm]

If you want to work as a computer programmer, learn SQL first of all, then either C# or Java. Those are the skills in demand now.

I know writing games sounds glamorous, especially when you're young, but the truth is there aren't that many jobs developing games. Lots of them are in sweatshops too - you wouldn't enjoy them. Also, game development usually requires excellent math skills.

To learn them, start with books from the nearest public library, if you can find anything published in 2013. Things change fast in programming. Reading a 5-year old book can actually hurt more than it helps.

 

[WSwanson1422]

If you want to work as a computer programmer, learn SQL first of all, then either C# or Java. Those are the skills in demand now.

I know writing games sounds glamorous, especially when you're young, but the truth is there aren't that many jobs developing games. Lots of them are in sweatshops too - you wouldn't enjoy them. Also, game development usually requires excellent math skills.

To learn them, start with books from the nearest public library, if you can find anything published in 2013. Things change fast in programming. Reading a 5-year old book can actually hurt more than it helps.

Thanks for the help, the only reason I mentioned games was because I simply wanted to learn how to actually make something work, not necessarily because that is the specific field of programming I want to go into. Being in high school there isn't really a whole lot I can do in programming at home other than making things such as games. Thanks anyway for the help!

 

[aevm]

Why not, writing games is fun. I wrote a little Tetris game myself when I was your age.

Download Visual Studio Express 2013 for Windows Desktop and play with it. Make a Windows Forms app or a console app in either C# or VB.Net. There are tutorials and samples. IN general, VB is a little friendlier, but C# is the one you really want on the resume.
http/www.visualstudio.com/downloads/download-visual-studio-vs#d-express-windows-desktop

Or you could learn to write apps for the iPad. This however requires a Mac and an iPad, not just a PC.
https/developer.apple.com/ipad/sdk/

There's also Java, still very popular. (Java+SQL) or (C#+SQL) are both good combinations to have on your resume.

Or you could learn C, if you're interested in writing very fast and efficient code, e.g. for device drivers. Mind you, this is a tough job.

 

[WSwanson1422]

Why not, writing games is fun. I wrote a little Tetris game myself when I was your age.

Download Visual Studio Express 2013 for Windows Desktop and play with it. Make a Windows Forms app or a console app in either C# or VB.Net. There are tutorials and samples. IN general, VB is a little friendlier, but C# is the one you really want on the resume.
http/www.visualstudio.com/downloads/download-visual-studio-vs#d-express-windows-desktop

Or you could learn to write apps for the iPad. This however requires a Mac and an iPad, not just a PC.
https/developer.apple.com/ipad/sdk/

There's also Java, still very popular. (Java+SQL) or (C#+SQL) are both good combinations to have on your resume.

Or you could learn C, if you're interested in writing very fast and efficient code, e.g. for device drivers. Mind you, this is a tough job.

Great thanks! on another note, you wouldn't happen to know of any good free resources that I could use to learn a language like C# would you?

 

[aevm]

Here's a decent tutorial:
http/www.homeandlearn.co.uk/csharp/csharp.html