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Learning to program can be tedious if you start with a low-level language. C++, Java, and assembly language may run faster on a computer and be in higher demand on the job market, but they aren't a great starting point for learning to program; especially for language oriented folks like writers.
I started with BASIC on an old Commodore 64. Because the commands were more like human language, it allowed me to learn the logical concepts of programming (loops, variables, etc.) without having to deal with language struggles. Also, it really helped a decade later when I had to write VBA macros for Word. Languages like C and Perl made a lot more sense after I had a good grounding in how computer programs functioned.
Visual Basic and Python are great places to start if you want to learn to program.
Assembly language is still beyond me. If anyone can recommend a good assembly book for beginners, I'd be grateful!
--- On Mon, 1/26/09, Ed <hamonwry12 -at- hotmail -dot- com> wrote:
> Subject: RE: Programmer/Writers
> To: "'Gene Kim-Eng'" <techwr -at- genek -dot- com>, techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Date: Monday, January 26, 2009, 9:25 AM
> I became a writer because I *can't* program. I've
> tried, keep trying, and it
> just doesn't make sense in my head. I can read and
> mostly understand
> others'code, and I can write HTML and CSS in my sleep,
> but when it comes to
> writing actual code, I don't understand why a few lines
> that seem to make
> sense in my head won't do what I want them to do.
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