i am on win xp home and want to learn a programing language. i know html and hav no idea where to go from here. any help?

just pick one, I started on C++. Honestly, I don't think it matters too much, so long as you've got a good resource.

i say c or c++ aswell. i personally started on python, but i like c++ alot more now, and its not a bad entry language. though, like microsoft/linux said, if you pick one and concentrate on it, you should be fine.

the nice thing about c++ is that once you have it learned a lot of other languages just fall into place. However I would suggest php it's easy to use , stable and fun. You will need a web server and php install though, and be warned php on windoz is a bit limited.

C++.

It take long to get to GUIs, but if you know C++ you pretty much know 'em all.

you should have had perl on the list, it is a very good beginning programming language.

I'm sure most of you are already familiar with the "Tiobe Index", but this is always a fun link to peek at:

http://www.tiobe.com/tpci.htm

PS:
Regardless of it's merits as a language for the experienced programmer (and I think it's good - but there are usually better, depending on the task) ...

... I honestly believe C++ is a *dreadful* language for the beginner.

I believe that somebody who just needs a quick'n'dirty tool can be MUCH more productive with bash, Perl, Python - VB or Scheme even. *ANYTHING* but C++.

If you're studying programming for the first time, I believe it's much easier to learn bad habits with C++ - and much more difficult to learn the "fundamentals" of clean design and powerful algorithms than it is with Java ... or even assembly! Anybody out there read Knuth? Remember "MIX"?

And finally, if you're doing systems programming or kernel hacking - ANSI C (*not* C++) is pretty much the language of choice.

IMHO ..

A vote for C. It's the most universal language as it can be used on most (if not all) platforms from mainframes to microcontrollers. So you don't limit yourself.

I vote for Scheme.

I started programming with Fortran and kept by it up to now.

I believe that to learn programming, you should start with a very basic language. It really helps you understand what the computer does with what parameter.

Since a while, I want to learn the language PL1 (programming language 1).

With the exception of RPG and VB most laguages are uninversal.

well all i can say is that java sure isn't a good choice for beginners
even basic input and output to console introduces a hell of concepts and classes
and also i think procedural programming is easier than Object oriented programming

Java for a PIC or 8051 microcontroller
I must admit that I'm no longer in microcontroller programming, but I could not easily find the above on the net.

For iterative language I would begin by C. This is a must.
Then for object-oriented language, I would begin by C++. It is quite complex (when really used) and very powerfull. Then Java is very easy.
Then Perl,Python.
Lisp for fun and emacs

[QUOTE=paulsm4]
If you're studying programming for the first time, I believe it's much easier to learn bad habits with C++ - and much more difficult to learn the "fundamentals" of clean design and powerful algorithms than it is with Java ... or even assembly! /QUOTE]


Paul,
What are you basing this on? I'm curious as to why you see one OO language having such an advantage over another to the beginning programmer...

I would argue that any OO language introduces extra complexity, and a beginning programmer should start with a more traditional language such as C.