iOS Should I learn any other language before learning LUA?

[quantic]

I'm interested in programming an app using Corona, which I think is based on the LUA programming language. I was wondering if I should learn C/objective C before I start learning LUA in order to make the learning LUA easier and less frustrating.

Also, can you guys please recommend a good book for beginners? I would like a book that hopefully teaches you how to plan applications (conditional and loop statements) and something that has sample problems and possible solutions at the end of each chapter (optional).

Thanks in advance

 

[Menneisyys2]

I'm interested in programming an app using Corona, which I think is based on the LUA programming language. I was wondering if I should learn C/objective C before I start learning LUA in order to make the learning LUA easier and less frustrating.

Also, can you guys please recommend a good book for beginners? I would like a book that hopefully teaches you how to plan applications (conditional and loop statements) and something that has sample problems and possible solutions at the end of each chapter (optional).

Thanks in advance

While I don't have experience with Corona programming (unlike with iOS / Android / WP, as far as current mobile OS'es are concerned), I'd say learn Obj-C first. It's not very hard. However, I would not learn C - it's unnecessary for a beginner 99% of the time. Later on, you can (and should!) learn it. Now, however, it'd only confuse you.

I think multiplatform wonders like Corona should only be used by experienced programmers knowing the underlying, supported platforms very well.

 

[xArtx]

I'm interested in programming an app using Corona, which I think is based on the LUA programming language. I was wondering if I should learn C/objective C before I start learning LUA in order to make the learning LUA easier and less frustrating.

Also, can you guys please recommend a good book for beginners? I would like a book that hopefully teaches you how to plan applications (conditional and loop statements) and something that has sample problems and possible solutions at the end of each chapter (optional).

Thanks in advance

If the actual goal is learning LUA, I don't see how learning C would help achieve that goal, or serve in any way to make LUA less frustrating.

 

[Meir David]

hi dude

It depends on the particular non-developer in question.

Some people will utterly block on any programming language at all.

Some will easily grok many languages and basic programming concepts. There is no silver bullet for putting the power of programming in the hands of someone who is untested on it.

 

[xArtx]

hi dude

It depends on the particular non-developer in question.

Some people will utterly block on any programming language at all.

Some will easily grok many languages and basic programming concepts. There is no silver bullet for putting the power of programming in the hands of someone who is untested on it.

Fair enuff... Would LUA not be the thing that you put in the hands of that particular non-developer?

 

[Duncan C]

Fair enuff... Would Lua not be the thing that you put in the hands of that particular non-developer?

Lua is a decent enough language. A little quirky, and loosely typed, but a reasonable language.

If the OPs end goal is to learn LUA, then I would not suggest learning C or Objective C first. It's a long, circuitous route to get to the specific goal of learning Lua.

It might help in the same way that learning 2 languages broadens your understanding of linguistics more than only knowing 1, and learning 3 gives you even deeper understanding. However, learning Latin before learning French will make it take longer to learn French if knowing French is your only goal.

 

[xArtx]

Maybe it was the lousy implementation I wasn't fond of that compiled
to byte code, and then interpreted the byte code when run (which is what I think LUA is)..

The language itself.... I'm not an expert, but in the experience I did have with it,
I think it is too close to C (or at least can be used in a manner too close to C).
There would be a better distinction between asm and C, or BASIC and C.
It looked to me like LUA tries to be both C and BASIC.

I became proficient with BASIC, and then with asm, and then when it came to C,
I immediately started writing C in BASIC. There are only small differences,
once you can address elements of an array, there's your BASIC lookup table, and so on,
but I was writing fully functional programs in C without learning C