free programming language

[Charles Hallenbeck]

Like Janina said yesterday, I do not like to just say "I agree"
either. But I too have taught programming for over 30 years and I
agree with Ron's very sensible advice below.

Someone once said that you can write good programs in any
language, but it is easier in C than in most others. But you can
also write bad programs in any language, and that too is easier
in C than in most others.

Chuck

On Sun, 10 Mar 2002, Ron Marriage wrote:

> Having taught programming languages for over 30 years, I
> figure to weigh in with my own 2 cents.
>
> First off, if you don't know a programming language now,
> forget about the compilers, IDEs, etc.
> You don't want to learn an IDE you want to know how to
> program.  The skills that you learn will transfer to most
> other languages.
>
> Basic is available in many flavors, pick one, so it's
> interpreted, why should you care.  Believe it or not you
> won't develope the newest MS office suite with it or with
> any language you start out with.
>
> What you can learn though even with an interpreted language
> is logic, methodology, and a background that will carry over
> to more advanced languages, where you will have the chance
> of doing something worthwhile.
>
> Tie yourself to an IDE now and you won't learn programming
> ever.  You also won't develope anything more than what you
> can do by pushing buttons.  An IDE is good only after you
> learn how to program.
>
> Get basic, play with it a while, then try C or some other
> higher language.
>
> Lots of languages out there and most work great for specific
> things. Not eveything is done in C.
>
> After you have some basic skills, decide what it is that you
> want to do.  You might realize then that the language you
> want is much easier to decide upon.
>
> Ron
>
>
>
> Alex Snow wrote:
> >
> > I would use, and want to learn, basic, if there was a free Compiler and/or
> > IDE for basic under winblows.
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Gregory Nowak" <gnowak1 at uic.edu>
> > To: <speakup at braille.uwo.ca>
> > Sent: Sunday, March 10, 2002 2:56 PM
> > Subject: Re: free programming language
> >
> > > How about BASIC?
> > > Greg
>
> --
> ===
> Ron Marriage
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