Howdy Isaac -- If you're willing to go for that 2nd language already, I recommend Python, which comes on your MDK CDs. If you've got the full install for that, you'll find IDLE under Applications | Development. IDLE is a GUI shell allowing you to interact with Python in a command line environment, which is great for learning, and is something C and Java natively don't have. With some additional work, you can install modules that take you into a more graphical programming mode, but for starters you could just learn the language, which comes with a tutorial. Python is written in ANSI C and extensible thru that language, so you'll still have reason to come back to your C knowledge. The concepts you pick up will help you with Java and other languages too. I've used Python with Povray to get some fun graphics, e.g. see http://www.inetarena.com/~pdx4d/ocn/numeracy0.html Kirby At 03:32 AM 8/27/2001 -0400, Isaac Curtis wrote: >Hey All, > >As I think I said in my other email, I am just finishing Kernighan & >Ritchie's "The C Programming Language" 2nd edition and I also lifted a >copy of "Learning the Bash Shell" (O'Reilly) tonight that I'm starting to >get into. My question/request is that I'm very excited to be learning >these new things but I don't really know what to do with myself now. I'd >like to have some relatively novice-level code to read and maybe some >suggestions for beginners projects to help flex my new muscles. > >1. What are some open-source programs that someone of my experience level >could look at and try to tinker with that will help me to understand more >about programming? > >2. Since I'm starting to learn bash as we speak, what are some tasks that >would be helpful and a little bit challenging for me to try to figure out >how to automate with a script? > >3. Last and *certainly* not least, what are some fun things I can do with >what I know? Call me a newbie, but I don't yet see the gaming application >of C. I used to write neat text-based games in QBasic when I was a little >kid and I'd like to learn how to do more complex ones and maybe even >graphical ones with my new bag of tricks. Any suggestions on where to >turn for a start? Any current games whose code I could look over? > >4. Ok, so this is the real last one: Once I start pushing my C a little >further I'd like to expand into another language. I know the two most >common suggestions will be Java and C++, and I know that everyone will say >eventually I need to learn both. Well, which will give me the most >immediate satisfaction? Does it make more sense to learn one before the >other? Just looking for a few suggestions, I know these debates can get >pretty testy. If it makes any difference, I'm really aching for something >I can apply to some sort of game programs, even very simple ones. > >Thanks as always for your time, >Respectfully, >Isaac > > > >"While the popular understanding of anarchism is of a violent, anti-State >movement, anarchism is a much more subtle and nuanced tradition then a >simple opposition to government power. Anarchists oppose the idea that >power and domination are necessary for society, and instead advocate more >co-operative, anti-hierarchical forms of social, political and economic >organisation." > > - L. Susan Brown, "The Politics of Individualism", www.infoshop.org/faq > > > > >Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? >Go to http://wwww.mandrakestore.com
Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://wwww.mandrakestore.com
