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Silvy · 09-13-2003, 01:48 AM

Programming is in fact dividing a problem into a series of tasks, and ordening that series into a sequence and language a computer will understand.

The root of programming is thus: the problem.
You first need a problem to solve. Then if you have that problem, you need to find a way to tell the computer how to solve it.

So if you would say: I do not know how much 4324 time 6756 is, you could write a program to calculate that for you.

I challenge you: pick any programming language, and by memory write a program that calculates the above and presents the result. If programming is truly a blur to you, you won't be able to do that right away.
You'll probably have to look stuff up, but that's ok, because at exactly that point you are learning something.

(more advanced: have the program ask you for two numbers and let it calculate the multiplication)

Learning is thinking about the actions you are doing. (and why, and what result you think they'll have, etc).

Next: learning complex programming procedures. That will take some practice and many retries over exactly the same example. Try it out, change it, what does it do, and why in this manner. (take loops, backtracking and such for example) These subjects don't prove their merit unless you have (on your own) come across problems that these things solve.

You'll learn programming when there is no easy way of finding out how to do it. (by trial and error, and by really analysing a programming hurdle)

Lastly: the guru will not really advance you in programming unless he/she is willing to teach you. Programming is finding a solution after trying really hard. Having a guru do it for you removes the need to try really hard resulting in forgotten techniques.

Does the guru explain things to you? Ask you if you would do the same (ie make you think about the problem) or just hack away and leave saying 'sure' 'uhuh' and the like. The first type helps, and the second obviously does not except maybe give you some ideas for future use.

Sorry for the long post, but I hope it helps you. I'm a moderate programmer myself, and have many times tried learning a new language, but I have always stranded on the lack of a reason/problem. I hope a new project I've started with a friend of mine will get me started on C++ because I've been wanting to get to know the language for a long time.

Good luck!

09-13-2003, 01:48 AM	#3 (permalink)
Silvy paranoid Location: The Netherlands	Programming is in fact dividing a problem into a series of tasks, and ordening that series into a sequence and language a computer will understand. The root of programming is thus: the problem. You first need a problem to solve. Then if you have that problem, you need to find a way to tell the computer how to solve it. So if you would say: I do not know how much 4324 time 6756 is, you could write a program to calculate that for you. I challenge you: pick any programming language, and by memory write a program that calculates the above and presents the result. If programming is truly a blur to you, you won't be able to do that right away. You'll probably have to look stuff up, but that's ok, because at exactly that point you are learning something. (more advanced: have the program ask you for two numbers and let it calculate the multiplication) Learning is thinking about the actions you are doing. (and why, and what result you think they'll have, etc). Next: learning complex programming procedures. That will take some practice and many retries over exactly the same example. Try it out, change it, what does it do, and why in this manner. (take loops, backtracking and such for example) These subjects don't prove their merit unless you have (on your own) come across problems that these things solve. You'll learn programming when there is no easy way of finding out how to do it. (by trial and error, and by really analysing a programming hurdle) Lastly: the guru will not really advance you in programming unless he/she is willing to teach you. Programming is finding a solution after trying really hard. Having a guru do it for you removes the need to try really hard resulting in forgotten techniques. Does the guru explain things to you? Ask you if you would do the same (ie make you think about the problem) or just hack away and leave saying 'sure' 'uhuh' and the like. The first type helps, and the second obviously does not except maybe give you some ideas for future use. Sorry for the long post, but I hope it helps you. I'm a moderate programmer myself, and have many times tried learning a new language, but I have always stranded on the lack of a reason/problem. I hope a new project I've started with a friend of mine will get me started on C++ because I've been wanting to get to know the language for a long time. Good luck! __________________ "Do not kill. Do not rape. Do not steal. These are principles which every man of every faith can embrace. " - Murphy MacManus (Boondock Saints)