How I First Learned To Program

OCT 15, 2013-1 MIN
They Hate Me Because I Ask The Hard Questions

How I First Learned To Program

OCT 15, 2013-1 MIN

Description

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWMaPNVTM7JjEM-EsjsFWddrtjL7yeRg_YYBRb5eJqoXfz10UssUGAvPB61P0dAXQyko5b22kEnbmLTREHCturKQD6ObZk3y_rZNpoCqr9K5ZQv1w0NmSn1q1QZOlMtQX3VuZmg/s1600/basic+computer+games.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWMaPNVTM7JjEM-EsjsFWddrtjL7yeRg_YYBRb5eJqoXfz10UssUGAvPB61P0dAXQyko5b22kEnbmLTREHCturKQD6ObZk3y_rZNpoCqr9K5ZQv1w0NmSn1q1QZOlMtQX3VuZmg/s200/basic+computer+games.jpg" width="149" /></a></div> I been asked many times, is computer programming hard? &nbsp;My answer is always no, anyone can learn. &nbsp;I taught myself my first programming language in early in the 9th grade after randomly finding this BASIC Games Book in the used bookstore in Downtown Wheaton, Maryland. &nbsp;On the family old 286 PC, I would sit there an type out programs and run them on the MS-DOS BASIC Interpreter. &nbsp;I never learn how to save the files so I would have to retype the programs every time I got on. &nbsp;It wasn't just about playing the games, it was the correlation of what I typed and how it translated in to actions on the computer. &nbsp;And with further understanding, I would be able to write programs that do what I want them to do, like those in the book.<br /> <br /> At night, I would lay in the bed and study the programs...relating what one line might mean to another. &nbsp;And that's how I learned BASIC. &nbsp;I didn't have anyone to teach me or any idea of what it was I was looking at, but I liked it. &nbsp;I was able to figure out what the keywords meant through mostly trial and error and relational analyst. &nbsp;Now that I'm older, I don't think it was a process too different from someone learning another speaking language through immersion. &nbsp;Learning is learning no matter what the subject is. &nbsp;You can learn the laws of physics by using and observing them. <br /> <br /> Today, I know several more programming language and have a Computer Science degree. &nbsp;Also, I am doing what I learned to love years ago for a living. &nbsp;It feels good. &nbsp;But the bottom line, it wasn't hard to learn; it only took one book, and it wasn't even a how to book.<br /> <br /> *Disclaimer* Learning a computer language is not difficult at all but being good at writing computer software is mainly the reason why you paid what you are paid. &nbsp;Just like a writer, knowing how to put words together will only get you so far, the talent is how well you put the words together to achieve your goal.