[Servant of Eru]

Well, I'm looking to take some online college courses...and I've been interested in computers for as long as I can remember...soooo...I figured it's high time I learned how to encode my own programs. Plus I hear that if you learn to be good at it there's some serious money to be made. So I've got a couple of questions...first and foremost...which coding formats are the most useful to know? I figure I'm gonna want to learn at least several...so which ones are best? After that I need to ask which OS is better for programming, Unix or Linux, if so which version...or would I be altogether better off just sticking to Windows since I already know it fairly well already? My dad's offered to pay for them, I might as well get started.

Thanks in advance for any help recieved.

Jimmy.

[lynch]

Go with Linux and be sure to install the entire development package. There are several programming savvy folks here. They can tell you better than I.
lynch

[codejockey]

A few thoughts ...

Unix and Linux are very similar (far more similar than, say, Windoze and Linux). This shouldn't be surprising, since Linux was developed as a re-implementation of Unix (with a lot of BSD, Xenix and other variants thrown in). Either Unix or Linux would serve very well as a base for learning programming. Linux distributions are plentiful, cheap and readily available; Unix distributions are fewer, more expensive and harder to find.

Your real decision is between Windoze and Linux (or Unix). Do you ultimately want to write software that runs under Windoze? If so, learn programming under Windoze, because you will need to understand how to use the services provided by the O/S in your programs. Do you want to write software that runs under Linux/Unix? If so, learn programming under Linux/Unix, for exactly the same reason.

Your choice of programming language is just that -- your choice. In general, Linux/Unix supports more languages than Windoze (and cheaper!), but you can learn a language on either O/S. I'd recommend learning at least one scripting/interpretive language and one object-oriented language, regardless of the environment you choose. Scripting/interpreted languages on Windoze include WSH, perl, DOS "batch" and others; on Linux/Unix, you should definitely consider shell scripting (for your preferred shell), python (also object-oriented), perl and tkl (in roughly that order). For object-oriented languages on either platform, consider C++ and java.

If you want to extend or improve the Linux/Unix kernel, write device drivers or develop software for embedded systems, you must learn C (which will also help you with C++ and java, even though C is not object-oriented). If you want to become a system administrator, concentrate on scripting languages such as perl, ksh/bash and WSH. If you want to become a web developer, consider learning technologies such as mySQL, php, .NET and asp.

The bad news is that there's too many choices. The good news is that you almost can't choose a bad one. Whatever language or environment you choose will provide the opportunities to develop your programming skills -- and a lot of what you learn will transfer to other environments. The hardest part is to start.

Hope this helps.

[Servant of Eru]

Sort of. The reason I was asking was because I was thinking about doing it for a career. So perhaps a better question would be which software types are buisnesses more interested in hiring coders for, and is it likely to change in the near future?

Thanks for all the help,

Jimmy

[codejockey]

Well, I may not be interpreting your last question correctly, but it sounds like you are asking whether there are more jobs for Windoze or for Linux/Unix coders (roughly). I don't know for sure, but based on my experience, I'd guess there are more Windoze (and Windoze-related) jobs. Will it stay that way? Probably for awhile, I'd guess -- and certainly long enough for you to find out whether programming is for you (there are plenty of other types of computer-related jobs if programming turns out not to be a fit).

Hope this helps.

[cnimbus]

While there might be more Windows-related jobs, there are also more people who know Windows to fill them. Why not install dual-boot Windows and Linux? That way you can learn both, if you like. When taking courses, it it generally easier if you use whatever the instructor is using. Many prefer Windows-based development environments, other instructors base their coursework on UNIX or Linux environments.

[coachdan32]

As far as what OS to learn on, I agree with another post - if you want to develop Windows programs, learn on Windows. Which affords you the best opportunity for employment depends on your area. Numbers would say that there are more Windows users than anything else, but there are also more Windows programmers too. On the flip-side, there are less Linux programmers. It's a coin toss.

What languages should you learn? In short, as many as possible. C++ is in high demand all the time and is probably the most powerful, but is also one of the most difficult to learn. VB is also pretty highly sought after and is probably that easiest to learn. I agree that you should learn from the scripting family too, either PHP, javascript, or vbscript. Your choices will be best decided by what you want your area of focus to be.

[Servant of Eru]

Originally posted by cnimbus:
While there might be more Windows-related jobs, there are also more people who know Windows to fill them. Why not install dual-boot Windows and Linux? That way you can learn both, if you like. When taking courses, it it generally easier if you use whatever the instructor is using. Many prefer Windows-based development environments, other instructors base their coursework on UNIX or Linux environments.

Exactly what I was thinking I was gonna do any way Cnimbus. Thanks for the suggestion, but since T3 doesn't exactly support anything other than Windoze, I was already planning on building a new rig in the name of job advancement! (Heck, anything to build a new rig right? )

I'll do my best to follow up on all the replies here. I was figuring on at least starting with an online course, can anyone recommend a good one, or is it not worth my time and I should go with a live instructor if at all possible? I know that it's better to have a live person, but in my area, it would be more convenient to hook up to a class online. If it's not a worthwhile endeavor though, I guess I could probably find a ride to a local JC.

[redwyzard]

No one has ever gotten fired for installing Windozes. But everyone who as it needs to keep it up todate, all the darn secuity hole, worms. Linux (Unix) is more secure. To look at jobs in your area at a look at www.dice.com or even go to yu local library an look to the occupational handbook, I think there website is www.bls.goc/oco

[B3gbie]

If you've not done a lot of programming before, 'try before you buy'. I work with a group of Windows developers (and do some development myself), and it isn't a job I (personally) could do on a full time basis. It takes a lot of patience, often there are large projects with little gratification for long periods of time. Also, a great deal of programming work is maintenance, reworking other peoples code.

I'm not saying don't do it, most of the chaps who do it full time that I know enjoy it, but if you're starting out learning about IT on a professional level, look at lots of IT roles and make an informed decision.

I apologise for sounding like an old fart!

Also, remember the experience is different depending who you work for, this is only from my personal experience!