Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : Computer Learning -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: White Bear who wrote (25915)	2/25/2002 2:37:19 PM
From: Kayaker	Respond to of 110653

I can download a compiler and a debugger from Borland. That might work out fine. However, you will picking a particular programming language (Pascal I assume) which is not that widely used. Also, learning to program can be a frustrating experience if you don't have some assistance. If it were me, I'd be inclined to finance a good beginners programming class somewhere. Then he'll have exposure to broader programming concepts, different languages, and some support as well. Just my 2¢.

To: White Bear who wrote (25915)	2/25/2002 3:53:22 PM
From: Bicycle	Respond to of 110653

Hint about learning to program... Go to the library and look through the books written for beginners and select one that looks like it's been well used. This helps in a couple of ways. A good book will kept beside the computer and used, while a poor or mediocre one will be simply skimmed and set on the coffee table. Computers and languages are evolving constantly, and this adds complexity. An older book, written during simpler times, may be more focused on the fundamental principles, and better serve beginners. Some languages are easier to learn. Some are obsolete. BASIC (Beginners All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) was designed for beginners and is probably a good choice to begin with. Pascal, written by N. Wirth, a teacher, was designed as a language to express more advanced programming ideas in post secondary classrooms. Fortran (Formula Translation) and Cobol (Common Business Oriented Language) are best avoided. As well, assembly language, specialized languages and object oriented languages are not for beginners. Another thing, be sure to get a book aimed at microcomputer users and not mainframes. Better yet, the type of computer he will be using. (A PC book will frustrate Mac users.) You'll want the programming examples to run on his system. Read the comments posted by readers to Amazon. You'll get honest opinions from people who have hands-on experience with the book you're considering. Bye4Now, FD.