Tagged Questions
73
votes
11answers
6k views
How can I make sure that I'm actually learning how to program rather than simply learning the details of a language?
I often hear that a real programmer can easily learn any language within a week. Languages are just tools for getting things done, I'm told. Programming is the ultimate skill that must be learned and ...
54
votes
16answers
12k views
I don't know C. And why should I learn it?
My first programming language was PHP (gasp). After that I started working with JavaScript. I've recently done work in C#.
I've never once looked at low or mid level languages like C.
The general ...
42
votes
21answers
6k views
Is it true that once you learn one language most of the rest come easy?
I was told by someone that I should start with Python and then, once I'm fluent in Python, the rest of the languages will be learned quickly. Is there any truth to this?
38
votes
7answers
39k views
How do I learn Python from zero to web development? [closed]
I am looking into learning Python for web development.
Assuming I already have some basic web development experience with Java (JSP/Servlets), I'm already familiar with web design (HTML, CSS, JS), ...
29
votes
12answers
5k views
Any programming language can be mastered easily if the fundamentals of programming are strong. A fact or a myth? [closed]
Is it true that a person with fairly good fundamentals in programming can easily learn any programming language?
Well, when I say programming languages, I refer to the agile and dynamic languages ...
26
votes
8answers
2k views
The “blub paradox” and c++
I was reading the article here: http://www.paulgraham.com/avg.html and the part about the "blub paradox" was particularly interesting. As someone who mainly codes in c++ but has exposure to other ...
25
votes
13answers
5k views
Is it worth to learn Experimental Languages?
I'm a young programmer who desires to work in the field someday as a programmer. I know Java, VB.NET and C#. I want to learn a new language (as I programmer, I know that it is valuable to extend ...
22
votes
11answers
11k views
How necessary is it to learn JavaScript before jQuery? [closed]
In my opinion, when I looked at JavaScript, it looked like not my cup of tea. When I came across jQuery, I loved it. I sat and watched Nettuts+ 15 days of jQuery screencasts, 1 year later and now I'm ...
21
votes
8answers
9k views
Learning Multiple Languages Simultaneously [closed]
When learning new languages, is it better to commit yourself to one language 100% and wait until you've "mastered" it to move on to another, or to work on learning different languages at the same ...
18
votes
14answers
1k views
What Impact Do Scripting Languages Have on Junior Programmers?
I had a discussion with one of my teachers the other day.
We debated the impact that simpler scripting languages (like Python or Ruby) have on junior programmers.
He argued that scripting ...
18
votes
11answers
2k views
How do you learn a new programming language? [duplicate]
I am C++ developer with some good experience on it. When I try to learn a new language ( have tried Java, C#, python, perl till now) I usually pickup a book and try to read it. But the problem with ...
17
votes
8answers
3k views
If one is to learn a new programming language each year, what should the list be? [closed]
In chapter one of "The Pragmatic Programmer" the first learning goal is:
Learn at least one new language every year. Different languages solve the same problems in different ways. By learning ...
16
votes
8answers
1k views
Should a newcomer to Perl learn both Perl 5 and 6?
I have started playing around with Perl 5 lately, and it seems very interesting. I would like to spend some time learning it more in depth when I can.
My question, since Perl 6 is slowly taking place ...
15
votes
12answers
886 views
Is it worth reading the language specification?
I'm wondering if it is worth reading language specifications/standard documents (e.g. The Java Language Specification) if you aren't going to write a compiler/interpreter for the language or something ...
15
votes
10answers
652 views
Your Approach to Learning Language(s)? [closed]
This question is geared specifically towards finding out what techniques you employ when faced with learning a new language - feel free to skip to the last paragraph for the straight-forward question.
...
15
votes
2answers
1k views
Beautiful Erlang Code
I'm trying to learn more about Erlang than the toy projects I've been playing with. To this end, I'm reading through Programming Erlang and some of the archives from Armstrong on Software.
I would ...
14
votes
6answers
866 views
How often do you expand your skill set? [closed]
In the ever changing world of programming, how often to you catch up on a new language or technology? I have heard it said that one should learn a new language yearly. Is that always true?
14
votes
14answers
1k views
If you had to go back and re-learn your skill set, how would you do it? [closed]
My younger brother is looking to start programming. He's 14, and technically-inclined, but no real experience programming. He's looking to me for guidance, and I don't feel as if my experience is ...
14
votes
7answers
5k views
The advantages & disadvantages to be had from using a Web Framework?
This question is focused on extracting the advantages and disadvantages of using Web based Frameworks: such as Cake PHP, Zend, jQuery, ASP.NET). This question is completely language agnostic. Let me ...
13
votes
8answers
1k views
Is it worth being computer languages polyglot?
You can often hear that programmers should learn many different languages to improve themselves. I still go to school and don't have big programming experience (a little more than year). But what was ...
12
votes
16answers
12k views
Assembly as a First Programming Language?
How good of an idea do you think it would be to teach people Assembly (some variant) as a first programming language? It would take a lot more effort than learning for instance Java or Python, but one ...
11
votes
8answers
1k views
Is writing software easier than reading and understanding it from scratch? [closed]
Me and a friend of mine were discussing yesterday about differences between writing a large C++ software and understanding it as a new recruit.
Is it possible that since a software gets done one line ...
11
votes
6answers
3k views
Should I learn Javascript before Coffeescript?
I'm a reasonably experienced programmer trying to learn web developement. I'm trying to develop a client-side web application which uses svg or canvas for graphics. I've decided I'd like to write ...
11
votes
4answers
878 views
Non-English-based programming languages [closed]
The University of Antioquia in Colombia teaches its introductory programming courses in Lexico, a Spanish-based, object-oriented .NET language. The intent is to teach programming concepts in the ...
10
votes
16answers
1k views
What 3-4 languages provide the best variety in style? [closed]
I'm looking to broaden my development repertoire. Simply, if you had to pick 3-4 languages to learn that offered the most diverse variety in styles and thought processes, what would those languages ...
10
votes
9answers
723 views
How have you got chances to learn multiple languages?
I read A programmer should concentrate on at least how many languages?, and I found out that I don't know languages in number 2, 3 of first answer. I want to learn more languages to increase my ...
10
votes
5answers
789 views
Is it ever too early to learn a new language? [closed]
Personal context: I've been learning C++ formally the last 6 months at university. Prior to this I dabbled in JavaScript for a year. Now I am considering learning Python during a month off school.
By ...
10
votes
1answer
1k views
In general how do Event Handlers work?
This is a general topic, How do Event Handlers work?
This means behind the scenes - what happens when they are created.
I have a rough idea - but would like to have it confirmed.
9
votes
4answers
3k views
Are there currently any modern, standardized, aptitude test for software engineering? [closed]
Background
I am a working software engineer who is in the midst of seeking out a new contract for the next year or so. In my search, I am enduring several absurd technical interviews as indicated by ...
9
votes
4answers
706 views
How are undocumented functions discovered?
I've always wondered how do you find undocumented / private API ?
Example the Apple undocumented / private API, Play Station, Windows Phone 7, Win32 Kernel, Windows API, hidden callback, etc...
...
8
votes
6answers
956 views
Should I focus on being deep or broad
I have been a professional developer for just over half a year and have been amazed at how big the world really is out of college. I have continued to learn in my free time but I am wondering where ...
8
votes
14answers
627 views
How do you feel that it is time to move and learn another programming language? [closed]
How do you decide that now is the time to go and try another programming language? How long do you think does it take for every programming language to grasp?
8
votes
5answers
3k views
What are the advantages of Ceylon over Java? [closed]
Looking for the recent and powerful upcoming programming languages over net, I came across Ceylon. I dropped in at ceylon-lang.org and it says:
Ceylon is deeply influenced by Java. You see, we're ...
8
votes
5answers
3k views
Creating a New Scripting Language For the Learning Experience?
Is creating a scripting language for my own personal learning experience worth it?
The reason I ask is that there are so many programming languages available already, I know mine will never have any ...
8
votes
6answers
2k views
Which programming language is the best to start learning/teaching about programming [closed]
As this question is closed, let me do an attempt that actually meets all 6 requirements.
At our faculty, there's for the moment a big change in the classes "informatics". We used to teach Java, but ...
7
votes
5answers
637 views
Is it necessary to have an Android device to learn programming for the Android?
Is it necessary to have an Android device to learn programming for the Android? Currently, Java is my primary programming language.
7
votes
2answers
426 views
What's a good math textbook to have on my desk while studying Haskell? [closed]
I just started learning Haskell and it seems like you can't get too far in the language without being comfortable ( or at least exposed ) to certain branches of mathematics. Unfortunately I have major ...
7
votes
3answers
599 views
How can I maintain proficiency in multiple languages?
How can I maintain proficiency (if not expertise) in multiple languages?
In any large organization it seems necessary to know more than one language. For example, this week I've looked at if not ...
7
votes
1answer
188 views
Learning a new language using broken unit tests
I was listening to a dot net rocks the other day where they mentioned, almost in passing, a really intriguing tool for learning new languages -- I think they were specifically talking about F#.
It's ...
7
votes
5answers
317 views
Learning a new language and framework, should I spike a project, or first ground myself in the language fundamentals?
I've got substantial J2EE experience, have worked with Grails, and am comfortable with several languages (Perl, PHP, Smalltalk). I've decided to try a new project using Ruby on Rails. For those who've ...
6
votes
4answers
2k views
Is studying more than one programming language as a beginner confusing?
Intuitively it seems like this might be the case. Is there real research or authoritative anecdotal data (yes, please) supporting (or contradicting) this theory?
6
votes
4answers
418 views
How to be an agile programmer? [closed]
I am a trainee in development sector. My Boss says that i should be an agile programmer.
I went through through the net and found some interesting things about agile programming. Being a newbee how ...
5
votes
4answers
1k views
I'm so jealous of middle-aged developers. Are we unlucky? [closed]
First of all, I couldn't decide the right words for title after reading How old is "too old"? question. I still can't decide with old, middle-aged, expert or professional.
As you know, ...
5
votes
1answer
628 views
What languages are the kids of today actually programming in? Does anyone have real data?
Back in the 80s colleges were teaching Pascal because it is easy to learn, while myself and many others like me were learning BASIC because it was not only easy to learn but accessible and also ...
4
votes
9answers
833 views
Choosing a Programming Language [closed]
i've taking part in some conversations around here and it seems like choosing a programming language is an event like, wether you like coca-cola or pepsi, you cant like both. Sometimes its even worse, ...
4
votes
7answers
279 views
What do you believe is a better of method of learning languages: using books or jumping straight into a project? [closed]
Do you find that it is better to learn through reading books or to just jump straight into a project and pick up what you need to know using the web, or some combination of both?
4
votes
7answers
654 views
OS knowledge when learning a computer programming language
I am curious, has the knowledge of the inner workings of an operating system helped you in understanding a computer programming language? It may have helped you figure out programming faster than ...
4
votes
3answers
288 views
Learning About Languages [closed]
I'm interested in learning more about programming languages. In particular, I'd like to look at some of the new developments in programming languages (even the really obscure ones that only academics ...
4
votes
4answers
428 views
How to stay focused on learning a language with so many other possibilites?
What do you do to stay focused when learning a new language with so many other interesting languages out there?
4
votes
5answers
1k views
Do I need to go back and learn HTML 5 and CSS 3? [closed]
I have been working on learning as much as I can before starting college to change my career, and I noticed on the w3schools site that there is now html and html 5, css and css 3. Do I need to go back ...
