[Adam] over at lifehacker is putting together a series on the principles of programming called “Learn to code”. They are using Javascript as a basis to teach the fundamentals that would allow you to get stuff done in any similar language, like actionscript. After you’ve got these basics down, even moving to an object oriented language shouldn’t be too difficult. We absolutely love educational resources and hope they continue this series pretty far. They’ve already released part one and part two. We have supplied the video from each after the break, but there’s more info at the links.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98ZkbFwV2ZQ&w=470]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EreUdTEvYO8&w=470]
JavaScript is object oriented?
@Orkie,
No one said that. I said that after learning these basics, moving on to an OO language would be easier.
Python would be a better choice. Easy to teach, read and code.
Not to be mean, but I seriously doubt anyone who reads hackaday on a regular basis needs such an introductory intro to coding. While the tutorial series is nice and perfectly fine for say, my designer friends who want to learn a bit of coding, it isn’t going to do much for anyone interested in the sorts of things hackaday posts.
Also, python is a much better language to start people in for coding.
@Orkie,
Yes, JavaScript is an Object Oriented language.
IE : document.getElementById(‘id’); //You call the method ‘getElementById()’ on the ‘document’ object.
You can also create objects, for example in the JSON way (JavaScript Object Notation)
Peace !
Leave it to Lifehacker to pick Javascript.
Not to be mean, but I read hackaday daily and know nothing about coding, so this type of thing is for me. It’s possible I am the only one, but I would wager that I am not.
@Caleb
No, I meant JavaScript *IS* object oriented. What it is not is class-based. Maybe I should’ve had a “But” at the start of my post.
I don’t think a language is better than an other to learn how to code.
I started with PHP/MySQL myself, then I learnt with ADA language at school and finally, in the order : C & C++, Java, .net Framework.
I used to make some scripts with Python but it’s awful the way you have to keep the indentation…
I’m now web programmer and I assume that the best way to code is to begin with a high level language, oriented for your purpose, if you wanna do websites, go learn PHP, if you want to create professional application, don’t mis the C and C++ for the OOP, you can taste Java too (eternal struggle).
Now if you really want to learn a scripting language, I would go with Perl or Python, with a preference for Perl as it doesn’t differ of the others languages in the way of programming.
Anyone who says JavaScript isn’t Object Oriented doesn’t know JavaScript (or any of it’s siblings).
I too am not sure why they picked JavaScript as a starter. Due to JavaScript’s prototypical inheritance, I think a dynamically typed language like Python would have been a better choice.
The one benefit of using javascript is that everything a newbie needs is already installed — a browser and a text editor.
I hold just about anything a Gawker site does as suspect, but that’s just me.
I’m sure somebody over there is cool still.
i took some classes in pascal, c++, c#, and matlab back in the day, but i wouldn’t consider myself well-versed in the world of code by any stretch of the imagination.
thanks HaD for posting those. it was interesting! there are those of us who actually hang around the site while really not knowing a lot of the basics.
@Same
The indentation used in Python helps readability, and teaches the programmer to indent properly which is very useful in other languages.
It’s funny, because they are teaching JavaScript without teaching HTML first :p
@ Kyros: i read hackaday daily and know precisely dick about coding. i do however have an interest in learning, and as such really appreciate posts like this.
F*ck, js! They should have used scheme/lisp, or plain C to get started. It will be painful to make a switch later…
As much as I hate python, I would agree that it’s a great beginner language. It’s so powerful with so little code and has tons of freely available packages/tutorials.
@Aaron,
While I mostly agree with your statements, I frown upon how you have delivered said information. Some parts are articulate and poignant, while others are vulgar and slathered about the page.
Spork: Please feel free to choose, from the following options, the tone you prefer in my response:
a) While I understand that the deeply profane manner in which I chose to express myself may strike some as not merely offputting but actively repulsive, I choose nonetheless to employ that particular style as a means of indicating the depth and breadth of the contempt with which I find myself overwhelmed in the face of such widespread and utterly unthinking disinterest in that which is, after all, only the single most fundamentally necessary capacity one must have to present any information which is not purely visual: that is, the ability to speak in such a way that one’s intended audience is not driven away by the aesthetically abhorrent experience of perceiving the particular tones in which you choose to pitch your voice.
b) Oh, take your tone argument and shove it up your ass sideways, you bourgeois whiner.
Oh, and expansion to a): unless I’m fool enough to imagine I really *can* empty the ocean with a bucket, why should I worry too hard about whether or not I choose to wallow in the vernacular? If people gave enough of a rat’s ass to be worried at all about how they present themselves vocally, then I wouldn’t be so fed up with it that I’m ready to shoot boiling blood from my eye sockets every time I click on a “how to” link and see that goddamned embed, now would I?
Peanuts, Popcorn, Chewing Gum!
Buttscratchaaa!
1…2…3..FIGHT!
im suprised they didnt use haskell/pascal. Its what most uni’s use these days when they start off computer science
Which is why there needs to be a separate, obvious path for “I want to start working in the industry” rather than “I want to spend a decade and a half becoming a Numbers God, then the rest of my career writing papers and seeking tenure”. Haskell’s great for the latter (I guess) and scares the hell out of the former, which I don’t think is such a great thing.
And Pascal? Are people still *teaching* that? Didn’t it go out with punched cards and IBM vs. DEC jokes?
Javascript is a pretty good starter language because everyone has access to it with out having to install anything, the results are easily shareable and it can easily do very visual output with images and interacting with the screen to build little applications which is pretty rewarding.