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macOS Am I too old to start programming?

WhiteIphone5 said:
Awesome!!
What language did you first start with?
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He is right professional programming is one of the best ways to learn. I have learned more in the pass year than I did during all the stuff from school and before hand. School gave me the foundation.

I have been programming professionally at 1 year and I am 30.

Now my history was I was 14 I did some in Pascal in HS and then a few years later for degree 1 in VB.net. After that it was a several year break before I went back to school for CS (degree 2). School did Java, I took C# as an elective and I have not programmed in either one of those 2 since I left school.
 
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dan1eln1el5en said:
When I saw the headline, I thought it was a 78 year old and I would still have said no.... 20...you might be too young :p
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I once met a retired postman who, at the age of 65, decided to buy himself a computer and start programming. Went straight to assembler code and produced stuff that had a gang of twenty-your-olds (including me) with mouths gaping wide open.
 
I think C is still the most portable language... could be wrong now though.

I would say if you're in love with the machine,
learn to program for that platform right off the bat.
iOS presents some difficulty there, but at least the simulator is free.
How many platforms I've written for where everyone
programming for the platform said "This isn't the platform to learn on" = 3.
The Sony Playstation Portable, Canon Digital camera, and Apple iPhone.
There's probably an old C64 at some garage sale that you're allowed to learn on.

If the machine doesn't matter, then something easy to set up and start
testing example code.
You can gain understanding of how software works with almost any language.
Even if it's BASIC, you still learn programming,
then you can almost instantly write working programs in C long before discovering
any additional opportunities that C provides.
In a nutshell, anything written in BASIC is very easily ported to C,
but not the other way round.
 
Tander said:
C.

before that I have not touched any other language.

When I was younger (Around 15 or so ) I started with C but due to leaving the country and life in general I never looked at programming in any real great depth, but always had an interest in it.

I did IT support for seven years and last year I had finally had enough and decided that it was time for a change.

So, I started with Objective-C first and found it difficult as there was C syntax I did not know and that the book I was reading did not explain in any detail as it assumed the reader (me) knew some C skills (I didn't)

So, I took a step back and went to C - I ams till going through my C book (learn C on mac - 4th edition by David Mark's) very good book.

Once I have completed the book I will go back to Objective-C and progress from there.

I was offered a job as a junior dev with the intention of the company "brining me up to scratch" on iOS development and I just couldn't say no.

That chapter of my life starts next week and I cannot wait. :cool:
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good luck on your journey!
 
Some retired (65+ years old) grandparents have learned to program computers just fine. How soon before you're that old?

I'd start with an easier programming language (Python or Scratch for kids seems to be more in vogue than Basic or Logo these days). Learning a 2nd or 3rd programming language, such as C or Objective C or ARM/NEON assembly language is much easier after you get good at solving problems using your first programming language.
 
firewood said:
Some retired (65+ years old) grandparents have learned to program computers just fine. How soon before you're that old?
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George Marsaglia (google for the name) was posting some seriously good code on Usenet at the age of 86.
 
I think you're focussing too much on the language as a skill. You need to understand the theory and structures behind programming, which you'll learn in tandem with a suitable language. As mentioned above, Stanford's introductory courses are a great start.

If I can make one recommendation based on the languages mentioned in this thread: do not learn PHP as your first language. It's a horribly inconsistent and broken language that does not encourage good habits. I say this as somebody who develops in PHP and can recognise from my background (C++ and Java) the flaws in the language.
 
WhiteIphone5 said:
i just finished the first lecture/intro
it seems they're using XP, does it matter that the video is old?
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No, it doesn't matter. The language is the same still. The tools and developing environment might be slightly different but you can adapt easily enough.
 
Tander said:
No, it doesn't matter. The language is the same still. The tools and developing environment might be slightly different but you can adapt easily enough.
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video quality is horrible, but hey its free. i can barely see what he is typing..
 
WhiteIphone5 said:
video quality is horrible, but hey its free. i can barely see what he is typing..
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IDK about this specific class, but as I recall for the iOS programming course from Stanford, they give a URL where you can find the files that they typed during the lecture so you can go back and read over them on your own machine.
 
great topic. I just started learning a couple of weeks ago. My end goal is to develop some helpful iOS apps. Nothing major or in an effort to make fortunes. Just something I've wanted to try.

I found several ebooks for "beginners" in Obj-c, which really meant having prior experience in another language then moving to Obj-c. Even Obj-C for dummies stated the same thing.

I searched for true beginner books and found a couple. The first was Programming in Obj-C by Stephen Kochan. It's a good book, but didn't really set up the terms with easy examples right away. So i ventured to the bookstore and found the big nerd ranch iOS book, and the book recommended a different book if you are indeed new to programming. Of course it was the big nerd ranch Obj-C programming. Having gone through the first few chapters, I'm much more drawn into this book than the other. What I found helpful is the message forum for the big nerd ranch book kind of gives some personal help based on their specific lessons that may not be achieved by some of the other books. I know help is always a google search or macrumor post away, but I liked how I could search for my specific question in an area specific to that book and lesson.

The nerd ranch book says it's for Obj-C, but the author starts with C to get some basics down. He states the C is only high level to get started, not to bog you down with C and he's been pretty accurate so far.

So that would be my advice is check out one of the books I used. I found myself re-reading sections over and over in Programming Obj-C, unlike the nerd ranch book where it just makes sense quicker for me.

If you want to information share during the process or share some successes (which at our level are very basic) PM me. Good luck.
 
ArtOfWarfare said:
IDK about this specific class, but as I recall for the iOS programming course from Stanford, they give a URL where you can find the files that they typed during the lecture so you can go back and read over them on your own machine.
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I see. I'm a bit confused on the Karel program thingy, I'm gonna go to my windows machine, as on the rMBP looks ugly lol

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Scrub175 said:
great topic. I just started learning a couple of weeks ago. My end goal is to develop some helpful iOS apps. Nothing major or in an effort to make fortunes. Just something I've wanted to try.

I found several ebooks for "beginners" in Obj-c, which really meant having prior experience in another language then moving to Obj-c. Even Obj-C for dummies stated the same thing.

I searched for true beginner books and found a couple. The first was Programming in Obj-C by Stephen Kochan. It's a good book, but didn't really set up the terms with easy examples right away. So i ventured to the bookstore and found the big nerd ranch iOS book, and the book recommended a different book if you are indeed new to programming. Of course it was the big nerd ranch Obj-C programming. Having gone through the first few chapters, I'm much more drawn into this book than the other. What I found helpful is the message forum for the big nerd ranch book kind of gives some personal help based on their specific lessons that may not be achieved by some of the other books. I know help is always a google search or macrumor post away, but I liked how I could search for my specific question in an area specific to that book and lesson.

The nerd ranch book says it's for Obj-C, but the author starts with C to get some basics down. He states the C is only high level to get started, not to bog you down with C and he's been pretty accurate so far.

So that would be my advice is check out one of the books I used. I found myself re-reading sections over and over in Programming Obj-C, unlike the nerd ranch book where it just makes sense quicker for me.

If you want to information share during the process or share some successes (which at our level are very basic) PM me. Good luck.
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I definitely will. I'm starting JAVA first, but will also get your recommend book. Maybe have said to start with C as java is based on C as well. I'm a bit unsure as I haven't really started the Java course on iTunes U. I have all summer long to learn, and after that too but I have too much time during this time and I want to make the most out of it. I don't want to waste time by deciding. How's C? Why not JAVA?
 
WhiteIphone5 said:
I see. I'm a bit confused on the Karel program thingy, I'm gonna go to my windows machine, as on the rMBP looks ugly lol

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I definitely will. I'm starting JAVA first, but will also get your recommend book. Maybe have said to start with C as java is based on C as well. I'm a bit unsure as I haven't really started the Java course on iTunes U. I have all summer long to learn, and after that too but I have too much time during this time and I want to make the most out of it. I don't want to waste time by deciding. How's C? Why not JAVA?
Click to expand...

having dipped my toes in Obj-c and gone back to C, I get a better picture of what Obj-C was trying to accomplish now. While working with Obj-C I was simply copying text line by line. With C I can apply some thought to it and some cause and effect, more so than I could with Obj. I can really see and understand what is being asked in the sample problems in C more than in Obj-C as well.

Why not Java... Well I had no clue what language to start with honestly. In high school I struggled with two languages (english and german) so I figured I would start with what would get me to my end point (as what someone recommended above), Obj-C. Since iOS and Mac use Obj-C, I didn't see where Java fit in that path. The detour to C was simply a response to the recommendation by the author of the nerd ranch book. So far he is on track with that transition.

After I (if I ever) get a handle of Obj-C and iOS I would like to transition to Android development too. The iOS tools and simulator kit are very nice. Google announced an upgraded Android tool kit today.
 
Scrub175 said:
having dipped my toes in Obj-c and gone back to C, I get a better picture of what Obj-C was trying to accomplish now. While working with Obj-C I was simply copying text line by line. With C I can apply some thought to it and some cause and effect, more so than I could with Obj. I can really see and understand what is being asked in the sample problems in C more than in Obj-C as well.

Why not Java... Well I had no clue what language to start with honestly. In high school I struggled with two languages (english and german) so I figured I would start with what would get me to my end point (as what someone recommended above), Obj-C. Since iOS and Mac use Obj-C, I didn't see where Java fit in that path. The detour to C was simply a response to the recommendation by the author of the nerd ranch book. So far he is on track with that transition.

After I (if I ever) get a handle of Obj-C and iOS I would like to transition to Android development too. The iOS tools and simulator kit are very nice. Google announced an upgraded Android tool kit today.
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I think I'll start with C. I'm gonna follow the guide posted here before. Python then C> obj- c
 
WhiteIphone5 said:
I think I'll start with C. I'm gonna follow the guide posted here before. Python then C> obj- c
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Sounds reasonable enough. I generally recommend learning C from LCTHW (the book whose author suggested you learn Python first) and then Obj-C from Stanford's CS193P course (which also rolls in the iOS SDK and some Xcode.)
 
ArtOfWarfare said:
Sounds reasonable enough. I generally recommend learning C from LCTHW (the book whose author suggested you learn Python first) and then Obj-C from Stanford's CS193P course (which also rolls in the iOS SDK and some Xcode.)
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Thanks!!
I hope the course has good vid quality.
 
WhiteIphone5 said:
I'm 20 years old and feel like its too late as there is tons of programming languages.
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I started at 39 with C. I picked up a C book in 94' when I was 24 and did not understand it. I think as I got older I had a better understanding and a more relaxed approach to learning. You can't rush it. I spent a year just on C and object C before I ever wrote anything that used a GUI.

About everything I have seen uses C from Object C, Java and more. From C it took a few days to get the hang of PHP.

My C book was 'Learn C on the Mac'. But I would have failed again if it wasn't for this forum where I could ask questions.
 
The most successful books on learning to program computers are no longer in print. Back in the days when the Apple II was one of the most popular personal computers (as well as the C64, Acorn BBC, et.al.), zillions of kids (and even some parents) learned to program in Basic just from the books and magazine articles. My local library used to have almost a whole shelf of these books in the children's section. They are no longer there any more... only one lonely book on Python now. Too bad for computer literacy. :(
 
firewood said:
The most successful books on learning to program computers are no longer in print. Back in the days when the Apple II was one of the most popular personal computers (as well as the C64, Acorn BBC, et.al.), zillions of kids (and even some parents) learned to program in Basic just from the books and magazine articles. My local library used to have almost a whole shelf of these books in the children's section. They are no longer there any more... only one lonely book on Python now. Too bad for computer literacy. :(
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It all went digital, for better or worse.
 
dejo said:
Do you know of some online places where similar resources can now be found?
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Learn Code the Hard Way is a collection of similar resources that's online that I rather enjoy. I'm debating the possibility of putting together an iBook on everything I know now that I wish I could have learned when I was in 6th grade... I have a few chapters written but I'm always learning new things that renders what I've already written obsolete... Given that I learn more everyday, I'm not sure if its really feasible to ever write such a book.
 
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