Getting into Coding this Summer

[gray929]

    Alright, so this summer I am going to learn 2-4 languages. I have no idea if that is a lot or a little so don't think of me as some smart arrogant kid if thats a lot to learn in one summer. But, I will have a lot of time spending 2 weeks in Florida with nothing to do. Anyways, I went to the local bookstore to buy a few books but I really didn't know which languages to buy. I want to know how to code for Proboards and then for a website. Like code a layout. I don't want to know how to code any games or programs. So, what languages should I look into? I wrote down all the languages they had for books. I think book is the best way for me to study so if you know any good ones, let me know. I also will look at Aarons tutorials. I started reading one of them and as stupid as I am, it was coming pretty easy to me, the first few parts of it. So, great job Aaron!

- ASP.NET 3.5
- HTML
- XML
- JAVA
- SQL
- RUBY
- C#
- C++
- ADO.NET
- PYTHON
- PERL
- PHP
- CSS
- MYSQL
- AJAX
- APACHE
- ORACLE
- VISUAL BASIC

Alright sorry for the long list. I don't know much about most of these languages but I know to code for Proboards I should look at Java, HTML, PHP, and CSS. If I study those four languages, would I be able to do what I want? Or, do you recommend other languages? I heard Oracle is a good one to know. =/ Kinda clueless here.

Thanks for any help, I really appreciate it dudes.

[Schubaltz]

Well, for ProBoards, there are three key languages to learn. HTML (for structuring content [i.e. tables, textareas, and forms]), CSS (for styling content), and JavaScript (for manipulating content [i.e. dynamic effects]).

And to clear up any later confusion: Java (unlike JavaScript) is a more general-purpose language commonly used to create web applications like calculators and animations (and cooler stuff that Andrew might have to fill you in on).

I'd also recommend PHP or Perl (for cgi scripts) to you, but it's likely the formentioned three will have your hands tied for quite a while.

[gray929]

derfleurer said:

Well, for ProBoards, there are three key languages to learn. HTML (for structuring content [i.e. tables, textareas, and forms]), CSS (for styling content), and JavaScript (for manipulating content [i.e. dynamic effects]).

And to clear up any later confusion: Java (unlike JavaScript) is a more general-purpose language commonly used to create web applications like calculators and animations (and cooler stuff that Andrew might have to fill you in on).

I'd also recommend PHP or Perl (for cgi scripts) to you, but it's likely the formentioned three will have your hands tied for quite a while.

I didn't know Java and Javascript were different languages. Why do they make it so confusing? Then yeah, I don't want to learn Java because that's not what I am interested in.

Yea, the first three seem like a good start. Thanks Aaron. I will check those out.

Now what do PHP and Perl allow me to do? I don't really know what .cgi scripts are. Is that more for websites rather than Proboards? And would I use those three languages you first mentioned on a website?

[Schubaltz]

Well, the backend ProBoards system is written in Perl. Not that you can make use of it yourself, but it's an insight. And PHP is just a really user-friendly way to write server-side code and communicate with databases.

Client-side: Code that is interpreted by the browser.
Server-side: Code that is run through a server.

[gray929]

Do I need to know one language before I move onto another? Or does the order not matter. If it doesn't, have any recommendations on which is easiest to start with or would be a good building block? I guess the one at a time approach would be best.

[Schubaltz]

Well, like I said, HTML structures content, CSS styles it, and JavaScript manipulates it. So, you'll first want to be able to create structure (like forms, tables, links, dropdowns, etc). You'll then want to learn to style that structure (borders, background images, link hover colors, font sizes, etc.). After you've got a hold on that, you'll likely want to get into JavaScript (such with creating more interactive rollovers than can be accomplished with CSS).

Now, once you get into HTML, you'll find that you can style your content without any need of CSS. This is completely fine, and in fact, i'd recommend you learn to do it with HTML first. Once you get into CSS you'll learn why it's the better alternative.

[gray929]

Aight thanks aaron. Seems like I'll have my hands full for a while. Know any good books? Or did you learn to code all online?

[Schubaltz]

All online. And mostly from webmonkey.com.

[Virtuoso]

Since SSD is teh lame, a word of advice: don't do JS until you grasp HTML. I would have become 1337 months earlier if I took Aaron's advice and learned HTML fully before I started JS.

[gray929]

virtuoso said:

Since SSD is teh lame, a word of advice: don't do JS until you grasp HTML. I would have become 1337 months earlier if I took Aaron's advice and learned HTML fully before I started JS.

Thanks for the heads up. I'm sure that will save me soe time in the future.