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OT: Getting started into programming/other...
Agent Davis:
Hey guys. I've always been interested in technology and computers and such, as are most people in this hobby. At school I'm a Political Science and Criminology major and it just isn't possible for me to change my major to CIS (Computer Information Systems) due to time left here and other factors.
However, I'm interested in learning about programming and other areas of computer technology. What is a good way for me to get started into this sort of thing, other than the traditional means of majoring in it in college? I'm especially interested in areas like computer security and stuff like that, but also programming in general.
I'm just looking for a little direction but I have no idea where to start and I was hoping someone here could give me some ideas. Thanks guys.
Howard_Casto:
If your interested in computers in general then CIS might not be an appropriate fieild to study. I'm majoring in cis right now, and I'm thinking of going back to get another degree in IT (information technologly) simply because a cis degree is 65% business and only 35% computer-related courses.
As for stuff to get into... there's some classes you must take....
Any form of basic or visual basic should be taken first for a nice entry level programming course. After that I would recommend c++ For general computing knowledge you need to take a networking class, and operating systems class, and your favorite type of database class. Everything else is just fluff, those are the classes you truely need and want.
Lilwolf:
I would say go into java instead of basic... Why? Much better language. Yeah! VBasic sucks! nobody in their right mind uses it..
yeah...just got back from a party and a little drunk... Startin' fights and <censored>
All languages are 90% the same. Symantics are the only differences. Some have better tools or better libraries that come with it to make things easier. But as a programmer, the languages don't make any difference.
Consider java (really) because the tools are free (1) and it's a great language. It's a real object oriented language (not like anything microsoft has ever come out with) but not a completely 100% OOL like small talk (that has it's own problems, like ever errror is a runtime error since an object is an object, and you dont' know until runtime if the object can do what you want). Java has both worlds, that you can deal with an object as a random object and do stuff, but the compiler will catch as many bugs as it can.
But mainly because its free :)
Lilwolf:
One more thing. The best development platform for java (thats free) is jbuilder. You don't need the J2EE version (enteprise version) but the free one has all but the easy borland database (but has the java database stuff) and the Enterprise java stuff.
Great IDE
ArcadeFX:
I have a BS is CIS. I had to take COBOL, VB, C, C++. It was about 75 percent programming. I would concur with Lilwolf. Start with JAVA righ away if you can. VB suck. Once you get conformatable with JAVA everything else will be pretty easy.