EmerilLIVE

Don't start with C or C++, that is your first mistake. Python, PHP, Perl, Ruby, or possibly Java(in that order) are better languages to learn first. These are so-called higher level languages, C++ is not. The high level the language, the less you have to be concerned with lower level resource management. Memory management and pointers are what make C & C++ difficult as first languages, they will waste a lot of your time that should be spent learning the fundamentals of programing, which are language independent. The key is you are trying to learn the logical processes used to solve computing problems, and a language is just a way of implementing that solution. Here are a couple links on Python.

Wikibooks Non-Programmer's Tutorial for Python

Official Python Website Non-Programmers Tutorial links

The fastest way to learn programming is to program, the more the better.
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Gen

Agreed, don't start with C++. If I had a chance to start over I would start with something much more simple. C++ is not bad to learn syntax or the basic funalmentals of programming, but does get complicated when you try to do more complex task.

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Licht

I highly suggest starting with C#, i have written a guide for those on OCN to help them learn the language. Theres also a wealth of knowledge on MSDN.

MSDN's learning section.

My guide to C#.

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rabidgnome229

I agree. I would say learn Java, then learn C (not C++), then learn python/perl. Java is an excellent introductory language that is portable, has a very well documented API, and is a powerful and painless intro to Object Oriented Programming. C will then take you into the more gritty details of programming and make you really think about memory usage/management. I say learn C and not C++ because once you know java and C, you know C++. Jumping into C++ rather than C will shield you from the system a little bit more and dilute the conceptual gains that C gives. I would hold off from learning a scripting language like python or perl until after you have developed good programming practices from the more traditional languages.

Of course sometimes the best way to learn is simply to pick up a project that interests you and learn whatever language will best facilitate that project

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mortimersnerd

I learned C++ for the beginning and it was a real pain learning the 'programming process'. For a starter language, how about TI Basic to get concept of the programming thought and process.

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