How to get started in programming

So you decided you want to learn how to write software or "program"? Congratulations you have now entered a world of excitement, frustration, sleepless nights and coffee addiction. Joking aside, programming is a very rewarding (and lucrative) hobby/career. The problem is you need to know how and where to start. Fortunately I have been there too and can guide you through this process.

This article will help guide you in getting started to learn how to program but it doesn't teach you how to program. For that, you should read my article on "How to program" (coming soon).

Step 1: Pick a project

The first thing you have to do is decide what it is you are wanting to learn programming for. For example do you want to build websites? Do you want to make apps for cell phones or perhaps you are wanting to make a point of sale system for your friends startup trinket business. Whatever the reason, you need to make a decision on a project and stick with it. This step is critical in learning how to program because it gives you a goal to write the software for and in turn keeps you focused.

If you don't have a project to work on, you will window up writing small programs that don't really do anything or you won't program at all. It's like saying you want to build a car but don't pick a make and model. You will end up with a garage full of random car parts and no car.

Step 2: Research the language(s) required for the project you are going to do

This is an important step that can lead you down many paths of programming language types. For example, building a website can be done using HTML (with JavaScript and CSS), PHP (with HTML, JavaScript and CSS), Python, Java, and .Net just to name a few. Most programs are written using multiple languages that interact with each other.

For example a simple website can be build with just HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) and it will look decent but very dated. If you want it to look like a professional website with drop down menus and slide shows, you add CSS (Cascading Style Sheet). If you want to add more interaction from the user, you add JavaScript. The point is, each language has its own unique aspects and can do cool things but together they can do some pretty awesome things.

Step 3: Setup your environment

When working with a programming language usually all you need is a text editor and compiler and you can do allot with just these but today we are blessed with IDE's (Integrated Development Environments) that help keep your source code organized and easier to navigate. Depending on the software application you are using, you may have to use a specific IDE supplied by the software environment.

But before you go downloading and installing IDE's I recommend getting a separate computer for this because you are more than likely going to downloading, installing and uninstalling multiple IDE's. This could potentially could slow down your computer if not make it crash because most of the IDE's out there are open source and could potentially effect your operating system. Another option would be to download a virtual machine and install Linux on the virtual machine.

Another good thing to do is if you are not a fast typing person, you may want to get better at typing as you will be doing this allot with writing source code. It's not a mandatory step but it would be helpful.

Step 4: Getting started

OK so you have your project in mind, the programming language you are going to use and your IDE is setup and ready to go. Now lets start writing that source code! Oh wait, you still don't know how to program yet. This is where you will start your journey on learning how to program.

First start with some simple text based programs to get you familiar with the language and the programming environment. A good place to get some learning tools is at a college bookstore. Speak with the staff there about old textbooks they may have. Allot of times, a professor will change their textbook from one semester to the next leaving an access inventory of books that the bookstore cannot sell and will usually sell them at a reduced price.

These are the small programs I recommend getting started with.

Computer programming projects:

1. Simple command line calculator
2. Complex command line calculator
3. Simple calculator with a user interface (window)
4. Complex calculator with a user interface (window)
5. Command line cash register system that calculates sales tax and discounts
6. Command line inventory management system
7. Command line cash register system that works with your inventory management system
8. Cash register system with user interface
9. Inventory management system with user interface
10. Cash register system that works with your inventory management system with a user interface

Website programming projects:

1. Simple HTML based website
2. Complex HTML based website with tables, video, pictures and etc.
3. Take your complex HTML based website and add CSS code to the layout and text
4. Make a CSS drop down menu
5. Make a CSS slide show
6. Add JavaScript to the website to enhance the drop down menu and the slide show
7. Setup a PHP server
8. Convert your HTML site into a PHP site
9. Setup a MySQL server
10. Create a blog site

Step 5: Start your project

By now you should have most of the tools and knowledge you need to start your project. Once you get started on this project and start adding more complexity to it, you will find you will be learning more and more as you go on. This is what programming is all about, research, learn and do. That is the only way you will learn how to program is by researching the problem you are having, learning how to correct it and then do it!
Remember programming is fun and rewarding but it can be very frustrating at times as well. Stick to it and keep learning. As an experienced programmer I can tell you first hand, that programming is an ongoing learning experience and you will keep learning as long as you keep programming but most importantly, HAVE FUN!