Learning a programming / scripting language for fun - resources? Suggestions?

[matteekay]

Hey all!

My wife and my days typically end with an hour or so on the couch after the kids go to bed and the chores are done. Usually this means something playing on the TV as a decompression method but I'm constantly looking for something I can be doing (I sorta lost interest in shows/movies over the last year). Lately I've been thinking about learning a development language for fun. I'm not a total newb - I wrote ActionScript and Lua as part of my job for years - but I'm perfectly happy to start from zero with something like JavaScript or maybe even C/C++.

Are there any fun / interactive sites or resources that people would recommend? I wouldn't mind a small fee, and I'm not concerned about coming out this with a certificate or anything. I enjoyed the problem-solving aspects of scripting and thought it might be fun to dive back in a little.

Thanks!

[OpusX]

CodeAcademy and W3Schools will be easy places to go from zero to somewhere.

[Tracker]

google has an app called grasshopper that teaches some basic java fundamentals

[ghilliesuit]

Do you have any projects you'd like to work on specifically?

I highly recommend getting a Raspberry Pi 400. It offers everything you are looking for and a whole lot more. Take a peak and dont be afraid to ask questions.

for reference the Raspberry Pi supports many languages, but Chief among them is a language called python.

[matteekay]

Do you have any projects you'd like to work on specifically?

I highly recommend getting a Raspberry Pi 400. It offers everything you are looking for and a whole lot more. Take a peak and dont be afraid to ask questions.

Actually, we picked one up for my son so I'll probably be playing with that.

[ghilliesuit]

Actually, we picked one up for my son so I'll probably be playing with that.

Awesome. Might I recommend also purchasing and Adafruit T cobbler Plus. Combine that with a breadboard and some components and your son will be Off to the Races.

[snoopay700]

Solo Learn is a good one that can be used on mobile or PC.

[kevdupuis]

Do you have any projects you'd like to work on specifically?

I highly recommend getting a Raspberry Pi 400. It offers everything you are looking for and a whole lot more. Take a peak and dont be afraid to ask questions.

for reference the Raspberry Pi supports many languages, but Chief among them is a language called python.

I saw a couple of references to the Pi 400 online and figured why not. Hopefully it'll arrive this week, wonder what kind of damage I can do with it?

[ghilliesuit]

I saw a couple of references to the Pi 400 online and figured why not. Hopefully it'll arrive this week, wonder what kind of damage I can do with it?

Nice. You can definetly do some damage! There is a very friendly supportive community for Raspberry Pi. Tons of YouTube videos. And your Pi400 starter kit will come with a book to get you started in some basic stuff.

Just a heads up to anyone who does get a Raspberry Pi400 - it does not come with components for your breadboard. You will need to get a resistor, LED, switch/button and a buzzer to complete the projects. I mentioned previously about getting a TCobbler Plus and forgot that is already included in the Pi400 kit.

[Spider!]

for reference the Raspberry Pi supports many languages, but Chief among them is a language called python.

my coder son uses a lot of python, and has my youngest using it also. My youngest started with Java in high school. Probably for the cheap tools and broad environment.

I was glad to find out python was still kicking.

[ford]

As has been mentioned, CodeAcademy isn't a bad resource. I also have used Lynda to learn languages in the past like objective-C and was really happy with their lessons even though there is a paywall.

If you're looking for a suggestion on languages to learn, at my work I have to be familiar with Java, Javascript, SQL, Ruby, and Python.

By far my favorite language to program in is Ruby. As someone who comes from a background NOT in computer science the language takes the bullshit out of programming. Sure, it's not the fastest or most popular but I love it =P

I'd take javascript as a second choice.

If you have a Mac Ruby is probably already on your computer. Just type in `irb` in Terminal and go from there.

[russc]

Personally, the most fun I've had with programming has been with C on microcontrollers and for basic simulations/calculations. It's no-nonsense and bare bones. Really easy to follow the logical path of a program. Conveniently, a ton of the syntax translates over to Arduino, TI. and ESP32 IDEs, which tend to be based on C++.

You can also run C IDEs on pretty much anything...you could mess around with it on a Windows 95 machine, a Linux box, or even pocket calculators like the Casio FX-890P.

[ghilliesuit]

my coder son uses a lot of python, and has my youngest using it also. My youngest started with Java in high school. Probably for the cheap tools and broad environment.

I was glad to find out python was still kicking.

Very cool. Glad to hear they are into the coding thing. The cool thing about today is there are so many free tools and places to learn. Whether its Python, Javascript, C++, whatever. There is something for everyone and every application.

[ghilliesuit]

Personally, the most fun I've had with programming has been with C on microcontrollers and for basic simulations/calculations. It's no-nonsense and bare bones. Really easy to follow the logical path of a program. Conveniently, a ton of the syntax translates over to Arduino, TI. and ESP32 IDEs, which tend to be based on C++.

You can also run C IDEs on pretty much anything...you could mess around with it on a Windows 95 machine, a Linux box, or even pocket calculators like the Casio FX-890P.

You really cant go wrong with learning C or C++. Its how I got started too, and it helps learn and appreciate other languages. Especially all the stuff other languages do for you implicitly. Curious what kind of Arduino projects you got involved in?

[Ratzkie]

Circuit Python is sort of a niche language, but its easy and fast to learn. It's the... short hand form of the short hand form of python I think?

Circuit Python runs on the Adafruit boards (cheap and good quality, with tons of addons and project writeups!), and it took me 2 hours to learn and code almost my entire project, about 125 lines. Their boards are tiny but powerful. I'm using an M0 to control a mech marker and turn it into an electronic with several modes (semi, reactive, FA, burst), with an input for the trigger, an output for the etha board im controlling, and a programming button to change modes.

You cant go wrong with c++, and you can write all kinds of little games to play. took a class on it in college, and came away with a couple games i still bring up when i want to kill time now and then.