Software & Application Development

[iBlueBox]

I really want to get into Software & Application development, but where is the best way to start for beginners?

Edited by HotelUser (Forum Super Moderator): Thread moved from "Technology Discussion" as I feel it's more suited here.

[Jam]

LearnDirect

[Flisker]

Set yourself a project and then use online tutorials or help resources for tip on how to do elements of your project You will slowly but surely pick up the language that way.

[Trinity]

I really want to get into Software & Application development, but where is the best way to start for beginners?

Edited by HotelUser (Forum Super Moderator): Thread moved from "Technology Discussion" as I feel it's more suited here.

Do you have any experience at all with any programming languages or even just HTML? If not, I suggest you learn some basic HTML. I know it's not software development, but it can help you learn about structuring and stuff. After that, I suggest you take a look at PHP. Again, not exactly what you're after, but it's a brilliant introductory language to get you used to using code and to help you realise all of the magic goodness that goes on in the background of websites and software.

Anywho, 'software and application development' is a bit vague. Are you looking to develop mobile apps (for iphone/android and whatnot), desktop software (in which case you'd need to decide if you want to build cross platform programs and bla bla lots of other stuff), web apps (I hate that term)?
I guess you could eventually do all of them, but it's best to pick one place to start with, get a solid foundation and then you'll find learning the new skills very easy. Do you have any ideas for applications that you want to create yet?

Once I know a few more details about what you actually want to do, I'll try to recommend a good language to start with and point you in the direction of some helpful guides and stuff.

La la laaaa. General tips that should apply to all programming languages - read other people's code and try to understand what they've done and why, don't be afraid to show other people your code (post a lot on here as you learn) so they can give you tips, keep coming up with new ideas that are outside of your programming comfort zone and master them. Lastly, always remember, your code sucks. Keep reading over every line of code that you're written and say to yourself, "this could be done better, cleaner, faster", then go find out how to improve it.

I'm pretty sure that last general tip applies to forum posts too, every sentence I've typed could be better written, but I'm bored of typing now, so I shall stop.

[Homosexual]

In terms of developing, I'd say try SDK's like Adobe Air, which tie in with web-dev too.

[Dentafrice]

Some people may agree / disagree... but I suggest you start with HTML, and slowly proceed to PHP.

PHP is a GREAT language that shares a lot of it's basic syntax with other languages. Once you've semi-mastered PHP, or have a basic understanding of the syntax, proceed on over to C#. C# is a language that differs from PHP, but still retains some of the *basic* syntax, easy to migrate over to with little to no knowledge of C#.

After C#, you can expand your knowledge even further to Java, as they have a lot of the same principals (may disagree.. but it's not a big learning curve after PHP and C#). PHP uses -> between methods and classes, and C# and Java use .

PHP:

$class_name = new MingleFramework();
$class_name->echo("Hey Der", true); 

C# / Java

MingleFramework mf = new MingleFramework();
mf.echo("Blah", true); 

[MrPinkPanther]

I'd disagree with the above guys. In my opinion if you want to go into desktop programming then start with desktop programming (which is what I assume what you mean by software). Sure PHP and HTML will help you with structuring and some of the concepts are the same but unsurprisingly there is a great deal of difference between web based programming and desktop programming too. What language I would recommend is based what kind of thing you're looking to do. For example if you want to learn programming concepts then something like Java might be appropriate whereas if you think that will bore you and you'll lose interest then something like Objective-c might be more appropriate because developing for a device like the iPhone is arguably more enjoyable and interesting.

[Dentafrice]

Why should you start with desktop programming first? Undoubtedly data types will confuse him the first time he tries anything. It's much easier to learn a method/function structure in PHP, then learning what static, void, and actually putting return data types in method declarations means.

I think he'd be better off learning something like PHP before he started off with desktop programming. I think if he started out with desktop programming he's going to be more confused to start with, than he would with web.

I'm just saying this because this is how I did it, and it worked great for me.. and learning a language is pretty simple now.

[Trinity]

If you decide to go with C# like Caleb suggested, you should watch these videos:


They're made by Caleb and I found them very helpful

I'd disagree with the above guys. In my opinion if you want to go into desktop programming then start with desktop programming (which is what I assume what you mean by software). Sure PHP and HTML will help you with structuring and some of the concepts are the same but unsurprisingly there is a great deal of difference between web based programming and desktop programming too. What language I would recommend is based what kind of thing you're looking to do. For example if you want to learn programming concepts then something like Java might be appropriate whereas if you think that will bore you and you'll lose interest then something like Objective-c might be more appropriate because developing for a device like the iPhone is arguably more enjoyable and interesting.

Yes, there are many differences, but in my experience desktop programming has a much steeper learning curve than HTML and PHP. If he learns the basics of HTML&PHP then he should find starting desktop programming much simpler, his interest in developing will... develop (YEAHHHHH. I'm sorry.) and he'll be less likely to let the difficulties of learning a desktop programming language stop him.


Edit: Yeah, what Caleb said.

[Dentafrice]

Hahaa woah those videos are old! Wow. Haha I'm going to watch them now for craps and giggles, thanks for posting those +REP.