[WEB4LIB] How to learn programming

[Chris Gray]

As Darryl Johnson said, use the medium that works best for you.

It sounds like the problem you're having may be from reading books that
present a lot of information but few exercises.  For a beginning programmer,
exercises can be crucial because they give you simple programming tasks but
you learn the material in a different way when you actually use it as
opposed to just reading about it.  If your going to use books, look for
something with a lot of exercises.  Unfortunately, all the Perl books I know
don't include exercises so I can't recommend specific ones.  Harvey and Paul
Deitel write a series of basic "How to Program" books that are highly
regarded.  You might look at their book "Internet and World Wide Web: How to
Program" which also comes in a multimedia kit "Complete Internet and World
Wide Web Programming Training Course".

For a good book for the beginning programmer that explains a lot of the
basic general concepts behind programming and gives more advice on how to
learn, I'd recommend "Complete Idiot's Guide to a Career in Computer
Programming" by Jesse Liberty.

For the "right stuff" also check out Eric Raymond's "How to Become a Hacker
FAQ" http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/faqs/hacker-howto.html for a less
commercially oriented view than Liberty's of how and what to learn.

Chris Gray
Library Systems
University of Waterloo

-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib at webjunction.org [mailto:web4lib at webjunction.org]On
Behalf Of Cory Stier
Sent: Wednesday, July 05, 2000 2:51 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: [WEB4LIB] How to learn programming

In recent months, it's become more and more apparent to me that the ability
to program using Perl and other scripting languages will be of benefit to
me. It's also an area I'm interested in learning more about. I've read many
different books lately on Perl (including Learning Perl and Programming
Perl). I find that I'm able to understand how Perl works, but I run into
trouble when I try to apply my understanding of Perl to create a program. I
don't have any formal training in programming, so that's a big part of the
problem. I am a web designer, so I do have experience with HTML, SQL
databases, and ColdFusion, but I would like to add some CGI programming to
my list of skills.
I would like to hear your opinions regarding the following questions:
1.) What is the best way to learn "how to program"? Classroom instruction?
Books?
2.) Can anyone recommend a good book on "how to program" for the complete
beginner?
3.) Any other advice for a beginner who's interested in learning how to
program?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Cory Stier
Electronic Resources Librarian
Athabasca University Library
1 University Drive
Athabasca, Alberta, Canada
T9S 3A3

Phone: (780) 675-6486
Toll-free: (800) 788-9041 ext. 6486
In Calgary: 263-6465 ext. 6486
In Edmonton: 421-8700 ext. 6486
Fax: (780) 675-6477
E-mail: corys at athabascau.ca