RE: Learning to code on the cheap

[Chris <cud -at- telecable -dot- es>]

One good approach for super-beginner level is to start with JavaScript. 
 You get your basics of control flow (loops), functions, and variables. 
 Nothing scary.  The dev environment is free, and it's easy to learn. 
You can make some decent fireworks.  But I assume you're beyond that 
level.  That's how I teach kids to program.

If you're really interested in compiled programming, and moving beyond 
scripts, and aren't interested in VisualBasic (too expensive, or not 
related to what you need), I suggest Java for three reasons.  In the 
first place, Java and C++ concepts are quite similar at a certain level 
- the knowledge transfers fairly well.  Second, you won't get bogged 
down with memory errors that "mysteriously" crash - Java simplifies that 
whole area.  Third, as already pointed out, free tools.  But Java might 
not be where your company is going.

For me the biggest barrier to programming was learning the programming 
environments.  They're like overkill word processers...  Once you get 
one, you hate to learn another because you suffered so much for the 
first one.  There's also a learning curve in knowing what pieces of the 
language core libraries to include, what they mean, etc.  And how to 
build and include your own...  Project management and modularization at 
some level.  All this is probably as daunting (if not more) as the 
fundamental logic of your code.  And if you're talking about C++ that 
uses the Windows user interface (MFC, Win API), you're entering into 
another realm of complexity that has to do with application frameworks 
and APIs - Java does that with Swing, I think.  It's where you become a 
specialist, and can start working with the grownups.  At some level you 
may need to know this stuff if you're expected to use code as your basis 
for documents.  You need to at least recognize it when you see it, and 
know where to look for the meaningful stuff.  But all this is 
specialized - it depends on your OS, dev environment, and language.  I 
have relied heavily on "Inside Visual C++" by Kruglinski, but it's way 
out of date already (for VC++ 5.0).  It got me into MFC and COM - 
important for what I do.

I'm rambling...  At some level you will need to choose a language, 
environment, and purpose to guide you to a deeper understanding of one 
small area of a vast domain.  Where is your company going?  Head in that 
direction.  What programming tools do your developers use?  Learn them - 
even if you have to buy them.  Buy a developer dinner, and get a 
hands-on tutorial in project setup.  (Spend another dinner on learning 
their version management system.)  That plus a basic understand of the 
language's paradigm, plus the language docs (reference/tutorial), and 
you're on your way.
--
Chris Despopoulos, maker of CudSpan Freeware...
Plugins to Enhance FrameMaker & FrameMaker+SGML
http://www.telecable.es/personales/cud/
cud -at- telecable -dot- es


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