I've been programming in Java for a couple of months and I personally think it's damn EASY! But I was think about what the ret of you think about it. So how long did it take you to become compitent at programming and was it easy to get to that level of compitence?

Programming is easy.

Nothing says I'm a programmer than writing a 'Hello World' program.

It's the really nitty gritty stuff that is difficult to learn, writing algorithms, solving problems, dealing with the user interface.

Unfortunately, programming is an art form, and what one person will do another will shun.

Every programmer has his / her own style of writing. It all depends on what they've written, and where their experience lays.

Learning how to program isn't really any different from learning in general.

I don't think its too hard, I think it all depends on how much you put into it is what you are going to get out of it.

I don't think its hard. I'm amazed by the number of posters that can't even read the directions (required functions, variables, etc...)

Learn to read, write, and do simple arithmetic and you can teach yourself anything else.

I was actually going to post a new topic of discussion about learning methods.

I have been coding for over 8 years, mostly scripting with HTML, CSS, JavaScript and PHP.

I have taken several classes on C++, C Programming, Java, and also self teaching myself the likes of Python, PHP etc.

I can basically code a web page in my sleep HTML is a second language for me as with CSS.

However I have a hard time working with C, C++ and JAVA. I have been seriously cramming C/C++ down my throat reading over 3-4 books at a time and I cannot grasp it or get comfortable with it. I can read for days and still cant grasp much of it. I mean I know C/C++ but I can not seem to master it.

I am wondering what are the best ways to teach yourself to learn. It seems as I get older my attention span gets shorter, I have ADHD as it is. Until I learn a good method to teach myself good learning techniques I will have to struggle making sense of these 800+ page books that might as well be written in Chinese for me.

Well, It all depends on the language IMO.

Personally i suck and forget things I Started with VB.NET and i agree that is very easy but i tried C++ and yes Hello World is easy but its the rest that do you.

I suck at programming and its only my curiosity that spurs me on. But i go to college next month and with proper tuition not crappy ebooks from the net i think i'll pick it up soon enough

I am doing : http://www.wigan-leigh.ac.uk/0304/sec_Sear...il2.asp?CID=285

I work my way through books. Read a chapter--implement examples in the book. then implement my own twist. Verify that it works. Repeat if I still don't understand the concept. go online for supplemental information. So on and so forth.

Then again, there are many learning styles. Mine is reading.

Reading like I said is easy, but maybe instead of just working with the examples I should create a mini program of my own liking to make sure I am comprehending the lesson being taught.

I found it easier to learn when I was blowing 45,000.00 on a piece of paper.

That's how i would go about it. A spin off of the idea of that chapter is a good way to put it.

I have been cramming 3 books on C/C++ right now.

C++ for Linux in 21 Days
Game Programming All In One
C Programming FAQ


Once I get comfortable in C/C++. Finish my basic card game and another easy game or two. I will apply the knowledge to JAVA as well - as much as I hate that language a lot of employers seem to be hiring for it and I am sick of being unemployed right now.

My Web Development skills don't bid as well as JAVA and .NET or even C++ Developer offers.

This post has been edited by Nykc: 7 Aug, 2008 - 07:18 AM

I've ordered these two books, should arrive soon:

Book written by the C++ creator himself

and

Low level memory things in C++

After I go through them I shall proclaim their awesomeness or epic failures.

I almost purchased Stroudstrup's books as well.

It came highly recommended

I was flipping through it, the guy knows his shit.

lol - its his language, I wish he would write some of it in English! Jibberish can be so hard to translate.

So true

As for me I don't think it is hard but it depends on how much time you put into it.

The way I do it: Read each chapter, do the exercises, implement your own rewrite, and test if it work, so for me it is lather,rinse, and repeat until I understand how to do it.

I never really kept to uch to the books. I read a chapter and if I didn't understand it, looked on the nternet for snippets, sort explanations aswell as other things. Or I'd jsut leave it for aslong as needed and then when I come back, hay-presto! I understand it with great ease!

I probably don't know nearly as many languages as some of the people here at dreamincode, but from my experience, having taken college courses in Java, the object-oriented languages I know use the same logic - and usually the same syntax for basic stuff (if..else/while/etc...) and the rest is just getting to know the ins and outs of the rest of the syntax... I am going to be teaching myself C++ soon, I use mostly the internet (tutorials and what not) and learn by doing, thats what works for me.

programming is easy..some hard work is required.