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Don't know where to start programming, please help!


Zetasis
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Alright so I would like to start learning how to program but I honestly have no idea where to even start. I would like to start with something that is somewhat easy to start off with, offers alot of support, and has an actual game engine I can practice on. I'm pretty much a complete newbie when it comes to programming so please be very clear and "dumb it down" if you feel it will help.

Thanks guys.
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Well I'm very new to programming myself and only know the basics also but I have a few tips that may help. I don't have any recommendations on what language to use based on how I really only know Java basics right now. I purchased a book on it and every chapter is well written, explained, and every line of code has an explanation of what it is and what it does. I wouldn't suggest video guides based on how they try and keep the video short and don't fully explain everything (in most cases). But if reading isn't your thing it's always worth a shot.
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Hey, I'm somewhat new, well, new to VB, I'd suggest either VB 2010 and up or C+, C++, or C#, and try to make a simple game engine, don't worry about the combat, just learn graphics, resizing, stuff like that, trust me, you learn a lot doing it.

What I DON'T recommend would be learning VB6 or JavaScript and then trying to learn all sorts of things, those languages should be dead by now, VB6 isn't that good anymore and JS is such a pain it's not worth it.

Go simple and learn simple, try some tuts online.

[http://www.codecademy.com/learn?choice=language](http://www.codecademy.com/learn?choice=language)

[http://www.w3schools.com/sitemap/default.asp](http://www.w3schools.com/sitemap/default.asp) (I prefer this site, it has a lot more to choose from)
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> Alright so I would like to start learning how to program but I honestly have no idea where to even start. I would like to start with something that is somewhat easy to start off with, offers alot of support, and has an actual game engine I can practice on. I'm pretty much a complete newbie when it comes to programming so please be very clear and "dumb it down" if you feel it will help.
>
>  
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> Thanks guys.

Learn to use Unity + C#.
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Read [[this]](http://www.amazon.com/Object-Oriented-Thought-Process-Developers-Library/dp/0321861272/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1407434318&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Object-Oriented+Thought+Process) before you do any programming and understand it.

Then go [[here]](http://www.csharp-station.com/tutorial.aspx) and learn the basics of C#. This is most of the work.

Once you understand how C# works, I would either choose to pick up another language or follow XNA tutorials to get a decent sense of how game programming works.
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> Read [[this]](http://www.amazon.com/Object-Oriented-Thought-Process-Developers-Library/dp/0321861272/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1407434318&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Object-Oriented+Thought+Process) before you do any programming and understand it.
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> Then go [[here]](http://www.csharp-station.com/tutorial.aspx) and learn the basics of C#. This is most of the work.
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> Once you understand how C# works, I would either choose to pick up another language or follow XNA tutorials to get a decent sense of how game programming works.

I'm going to have to disagree. Learning the C# syntax is nothing compared to learning the different OOP design patterns, etc.
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> C# is OOP by design and extremely easy to learn. Knowing C# can make learning C/C++ & Java easier than others like VB.

Yes, C# is a language that _strongly _encourages the use of OOP principles; however, you can easily avoid this through the use of globals and various other bad design choices.

I've seen tons of people butcher C# innumerable times, including myself.
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> Yes, C# is a language that _strongly _encourages the use of OOP principles; however, you can easily avoid this through the use of globals and various other bad design choices.
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> I've seen tons of people butcher C# innumerable times, including myself.

It doesn't matter what language you're using, any novice will make mistakes. I just personally prefer C# for the syntax, by all means I started with VB6 but looking back I wish I didn't considering that in all of my professional experience I've seen mostly C#/Java jobs and to me, C# is easier simply because Microsoft has way better tools for development.
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> It doesn't matter what language you're using, any novice will make mistakes. I just personally prefer C# for the syntax, by all means I started with VB6 but looking back I wish I didn't considering that in all of my professional experience I've seen mostly C#/Java jobs and to me, C# is easier simply because Microsoft has way better tools for development.

I never said C# isn't a good starting point. I was just disagreeing with your opinion that the syntax is more difficult to learn than the design patterns.
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> I never said C# isn't a good starting point. I was just disagreeing with your opinion that the syntax is more difficult to learn than the design patterns.

Oh okay, well then I think we both misunderstood each other lol >.< I never said it was more difficult, I was just saying that jumping into programming/tutorials is going to be a lot more work than reading a book about design patterns. Practicing includes implementing these patterns, etc…
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> Oh okay, well then I think we both misunderstood each other lol >.< I never said it was more difficult, I was just saying that jumping into programming/tutorials is going to be a lot more work than reading a book about design patterns. Practicing includes implementing these patterns, etc…

Ah, that makes sense.
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Thanks for the replies guys but but one thing I am looking for is a language to start learning that already has a game engine to practice on that also offers a good amount of support. Someone has told me to try out Slick2D which is java I think. Does anyone else have any other suggestions?
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> Thanks for the replies guys but but one thing I am looking for is a language to start learning that already has a game engine to practice on that also offers a good amount of support. Someone has told me to try out Slick2D which is java I think. Does anyone else have any other suggestions?

C# + XNA has a TON of support.

Edit:

Also, a friend of mine (Budweiser) recommended that you check out _Visual C# 2012 Step by Step _by John Sharp.
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Learn [Python 3.4.1](https://www.python.org/downloads/release/python-341/) and [pygame](http://www.pygame.org)

Python is

* Highly [employable](http://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=python&l=)
* The [top language taught in introductory CS courses](http://www.javaworld.com/article/2452940/learn-java/python-bumps-off-java-as-top-learning-language.html)
* Very [easy to get started with](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hello_world_program_examples#Python)

Python also works way better than mono on non-Windows Operating Systems.
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I always had thought Zetasis was a programmer.

Oh well.

On the topic, C# is really a great language to start out.

Don't listen to whoever said "make a simple game engine" like this guy below:

> Hey, I'm somewhat new, well, new to VB, I'd suggest either VB 2010 and up or C+, C++, or C#, and try to make a simple game engine, don't worry about the combat, just learn graphics, resizing, stuff like that, trust me, you learn a lot doing it.
>
>  
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> What I DON'T recommend would be learning VB6 or JavaScript and then trying to learn all sorts of things, those languages should be dead by now, VB6 isn't that good anymore and JS is such a pain it's not worth it.
>
>  
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> Go simple and learn simple, try some tuts online.
>
> [http://www.codecademy.com/learn?choice=language](http://www.codecademy.com/learn?choice=language)
>
> [http://www.w3schools.com/sitemap/default.asp](http://www.w3schools.com/sitemap/default.asp) (I prefer this site, it has a lot more to choose from)

If you are new to programming, trying to make your own game engine is a BAD idea. Since you are new, you are prone to pick up bad programming habit from designing a "game engine". Instead, just learn the language, once you think that if given a piece of code, you can analyze and understand it, go ahead and look up open source game engines, just look at each of it, try to understand what they are doing, learn about their advantage and disadvantage, learn about what they did that is good and use it.

And also

Well *, I just started making a Javascript game after a few year of C# experience. I guess because this guy said it's dying I should stop working on the game and go cry

Edit:

As for Game Engine, I think Netgore is decent as an Open Source Game Engine (feel free to argue though).
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Most of the statements here I strongly agree with, but at the end of the day, do whatever appeals to you.  Ultimately, what you're going to learn just starting off, is the logic and methodology behind development. Once you know that, the syntax will vary from language to language, but the logic remains essentially the same. That is why it's easier for developers to pick up new languages so quickly, the process of developing the application remains the same, but your syntax changes ;)
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> Learn [Python 3.4.1](https://www.python.org/downloads/release/python-341/) and [pygame](http://www.pygame.org)
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>  
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> Python is
>
> * Highly [employable](http://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=python&l=)
> * The [top language taught in introductory CS courses](http://www.javaworld.com/article/2452940/learn-java/python-bumps-off-java-as-top-learning-language.html)
> * Very [easy to get started with](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hello_world_program_examples#Python)
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>  
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> Python also works way better than mono on non-Windows Operating Systems.

Say python one more time and I will bite your head off.
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It does not matter what language you learn pick anything (not python). Once you know the basics of it any language is pretty easy to pick up. C# is a good place to start. C++ will probably make any other language easy to learn. But it may be a bit tougher at first. I did not get far into the programming books. They were very boring and try. Though do provide some good basic learning. 

As General said I would try Unity and C#. You will have more fun making a small game and exploring the code in small sectioned snippets. C# is pretty big these days as well and similar to c++.

Going from c++ to c# is a breeze.

Going from c# to c++ can have you running into a lot of problems. Mainly pointers.
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> It does not matter what language you learn pick anything (not python). Once you know the basics of it any language is pretty easy to pick up. C# is a good place to start. C++ will probably make any other language easy to learn. But it may be a bit tougher at first. I did not get far into the programming books. They were very boring and try. Though do provide some good basic learning. 
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> As General said I would try Unity and C#. You will have more fun making a small game and exploring the code in small sectioned snippets. C# is pretty big these days as well and similar to c++.
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> Going from c++ to c# is a breeze.
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> Going from c# to c++ can have you running into a lot of problems. Mainly pointers.

> Say python one more time and I will bite your head off.

I agree with Marsh in general ([except the C++ bit](http://article.gmane.org/gmane.comp.version-control.git/57918)) but why not Python? It's a very easy to learn popular language, I'd like to hear what arguments people have against it.
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> Ok, I was saying make a game engine because you have to do so much with it, the amount of crap you learn doing it is good if you need to learn a language and how it's all put together, I'm sorry that I learn by doing, not sitting reading a book that is boring as heck.

I think you missed my point.

When I said don't make a game engine, there are alot of thing you could do instead of reading book. You can code a clone of tic tac toe, you can code a clone of flappy bird. I said don't make a game engine not because you aren't learning anything, but because of possibility of developing bad habit/practice such as writing really long code that can be refractor into smallers code. If you wanna learn by code something, that's great, I'm just suggesting not do a game engine on your own.

Again man, what work for you doesn't mean it work for other, and what work for me doesn't mean it work for other neither,

Hence they are all suggestions
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> I think you missed my point.
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> When I said don't make a game engine, there are alot of thing you could do instead of reading book. You can code a clone of tic tac toe, you can code a clone of flappy bird. I said don't make a game engine not because you aren't learning anything, but because of possibility of developing bad habit/practice such as writing really long code that can be refractor into smallers code. If you wanna learn by code something, that's great, I'm just suggesting not do a game engine on your own.
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> Again man, what work for you doesn't mean it work for other, and what work for me doesn't mean it work for other neither,
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> Hence they are all suggestions

I understand what you are saying, 'm just giving what works for me. Try programming a game if you don't like how I put what I said.
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