Learning about computer science/programming

[ThePhobiaViewed]

I am a senior in high school and for the longest time I had no idea what I wanted to major in in college (university for you non US-ers). I have recently been considering getting into computer science of some sort. I have always liked using computers and I had 2 Visual BASIC classes in school a few years back that I liked and have made some simple programs on TI calculators using TI-BASIC. I really like the concept of hacking (not cracking, i mean only for legal purposes). I got a copy of the magazine "2600" and found it really interesting. I guess I like the whole concept of analyzing the situation and trying to exploit weaknesses, its like a logic puzzle. I just have a few questions that maybe some of you highly skilled computer experts can answer. What kind of advice do you have for someone like me interested in having a career with computers? I am thinking about getting a cheap computer to run just linux on so I can learn to program and better understand computers. Any advice on getting started with linux? I read that Slackware is very intensive on using programming. Would it be good to use something like that or to get started with a more user friendly version of linux? What languages would be useful to learn? I have recently looked into some html and java. I have heard a lot about python too. Even if I don't make a career out of this I am still interested in learning about it all. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[ninja9578]

Figure out what you want to do with it, computer science is a big field. Graphics, web dev, app dev, QA... Linux can run on any computer. Computers can run more than one operating system using Grub or Boot Camp and using Parallels you can run them at the same time. You can try it on your current computer. Most colleges don't use Linux for comp sci. The ones in PA that my friends and I have gone to are either Solaris or Mac. Java would be useful to learn because it's object oriented and you don't have to worry about pointers or garbage collection, which is really complicated. C is also a good on because it's low level and procedural.

[ThePhobiaViewed]

Thanks ninja Would i have to decide what aspect I want to get into early on or is it more of a generalized major? The computer I am using now barely runs because its over 4 years old i'd say and has too much crap on it and all kinds of things running at startup and running in the background etc. I was thinking either get a really cheap computer (maybe around $400) and just experiment with linux on it or I could spend a little more and try to run both XP and linux. I am mainly interested in using linux just to better understand how it works and because it is something new for me to try, not necessarily to use as an OS to do all my normal stuff such as email, internet, recording music, etc. I am right by Lycoming College in Williamsport, PA and that has been one of my main considerations for a college but it seems that they only have computer science as a minor now so if I go there I would have to major in something else. Going to Lyco would allow me to live at home where all my music and recording stuff is which would be nice to have, but if I have to I could live on campus somewhere else.

[ninja9578]

You could always spend a year or two at Lycoming College, then transfer to a state university. You won't be able to get a job in comp sci with a minor in it. It'll be a few years before you can choose a speciality anyway, the core courses are all the same.

[hungrymanz]

You're gonna have to learn a good programming language - Visual Basic is going to get you laughed at in a lot of places. C++ is good to start with. Python is OK but you won't be able to compile without a utility, and even then the .exe is very large. Also bear in mind that your Python programs will be slower than their C++ equivalents. Weigh that over before choosing.

[ThePhobiaViewed]

Thanks for the comments i know that visual basic isn't going to get me anywhere it's just what the class i took happened to be based around. Can someone explain what the real difference is between C and C++ and also how visual C++ is related. Which would be good to learn as a first language or should I try something completely different. thanks

[MrDoom]

I'm an aspiring CS student as well (though I'm interested in the AI field). Good luck!

[ninja9578]

I've consider myself somewhat of an expert on AI, it's fun. For that you want C++. You want the speed of C libraries but the ease of use of object oriented programming. C++ isn't a language for beginners though. It's easy to find memory leaks and such. Learn C to learn program flow, Java for OOP. Then put your knowledge together and learn C++.

[Seanchaidh]

C++ isn't a language for beginners though. It's easy to find memory leaks and such. Learn C to learn program flow, Java for OOP. Then put your knowledge together and learn C++. Although it is true what ninja9578 has said here (and I have no doubt she knows a lot more about computers than I do), I wouldn't necessarily learn C first as this is a procedural programming language (whereas C++ is object-orientated albeit it does support procedural programming) and if you learn this before C++, by the time it comes to studying C++ you'll have to unlearn lots of bad habits characteristic of C.

[hungrymanz]

and if you learn this before C++, by the time it comes to studying C++ you'll have to unlearn lots of bad habits characteristic of C. like what? (you should elaborate, and maybe I'll agree..)

[Ynot]

Arrays !!!!

[dsr]

she ninja9578 is a he. C and C++ are very different languages, despite the fact that most valid C code is also valid C++ code. The core C language is much more compact and easy to keep in your head. In order to use C++ effectively, you need a lot more exposure to the language. See here. The fact that C++ supports the OOP paradigm should not be a reason for beginners to learn it over C. Neither language is good for novice programmers, but C++ is certainly not. Higher level languages like Python and Ruby are far better learning tools and have OOP well integrated rather than a seeming afterthought built atop a procedural language so as to keep backward compatibility that was useful for 80s programmers.