What is the best way to learn programming?

sonac: What is the best way to learn programming?
I have a good amount of knowledge of computers but little knowledge of programming. What is an inexpensive and easy that that I can learn programming?

Answers and Views:

Answer by Andy N
Time and dedication, and of course Google is your friend. >:D

Answer by Everything you know is wrong
take a class. You can learn from a book, if you have the will power.

Answer by Limey
You could probably get a book about your desired programming language at your library, you could have a friend who knows programming teach you, or find a tutorial online.
Also, there are various programming languages. I recommend you start by using forums and learn BBCode, which is in no way programming, but provides you a gateway to HTML. Then I recommend learning HTML, which isn’t really programming but will get you started, which will be easier to learn if you know BBCode. After that I suggest you get into PHP, and once you know the basics of that learn MySQL as well. That is called web scripting, which is a form of programming. You could really go anywhere from there, but I suggest going into PERL next, and that will give you good enough preparation for high-level programming languages like Java, C, C++, C#, Delphi, etc.
If you do not wish to go through that long-ish transition, you could just jump into learning Java or C++, but if you do that it is easy to think programming is too hard and confusing and just give up. If you follow the transition I suggested, you will hradually go up bit by bit until you are ready to master the high-level languages.

Answer by Pfo
Practice, practice, practice. All the reading and learning doesn’t do any good if not applied.

Fortunately, computer programming is something you can learn on a low budget. All you need is a computer and an internet connection. I would suggest downloading a compiler, many are free, including Microsoft’s Visual Studio line (my recommendation) or something like Borland. From there, you can do Google searches to find tutorials and suggestions, or even whole open source projects where you can study the code.

Answer by Peeing in the Shower
Microsoft actually has some good tools for people who want to learn developing :

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-ca/beginner/default.aspx

I went to kids corner ( im in grade 9 that’s why) and It seems to be alright. If your older theres developing tools for you as well.

There are many different programming languages Java, Java Script, C# ( pronounced C sharp),, C, C++,Python and Visual Basic ( abbreviated to VB)

I suggest starting of with Visual Basic.NET . Make sure you download microsoft Visual Studo Express edition, it’s free but the Pro edition you pay for ( since your new it makes sense to just get express)

I’m new as well. Hopefully I could help you out. Go through the introductions. Hopefully I helped you.

For now I would stick with Microsoft ( the link I gave you) because searching on the internet always yields mixed results and could be pretty confusing.

You may also find Webdesign quite easy.

Answer by albus1987
Seen as you are starting I’d recommend you to start with Pascal ( that induces good programming practices).
You can find free Pascal Compilers at: https://www.freepascal.org/ and https://www.gnu-pascal.de/gpc/h-index.html
You can also begin with Python ( nowadays it’s a common choice in a lot of Universities)
You can find the free Python Compiler at : https://www.python.org/
You can also start with visual Basic, or C but I think you’d go better with Python or pascal.
You can find a lot of materials online.
Also You can check M.I.T’s Youtube channel, as well as other institutions that provide useful lectures on computer science, programming , algorithms, physics etc…
( Be sure to pick the right compiler to the right computer OS)