I hope you enjoy reading, because that is my advice. You can find plenty of help on this site alone. When you add to that Google and Amazon, you have quite an impressive amount of disscussion on the topic.

Everywhere you will read the same thing- start small.

Pick a language to begin with. There are a multitude out there and they all have their pros and cons. I started back in the day with BASIC. I also programmed a bit on my calculator.

I would suggest starting with something simple like one of those languages. (If you learn how to program well in one language, learning more isn't that difficult). Many people will probably tell you to learn C++. As powerful as the language is, I don't think it is the best for beginners. If you have a graphics calculator, start with that. Try Visual Basic is you want to program on your computer instead.

If you want to, work with the macros that are created by word and excel. (these are actually a slightly modified Visual Basic). If you want to try more graphical stuff look into programming flash (I honestly have not read anything on this so I don't know how hard it is to learn.)

But over all- I have 3 rules that I have always followed.

1. Read.
2. Keep it simply
3. Just try it out and see if it works.


BTW- I still think your name is hilarious. :)

It all depends on what you want to do. If you want pretty pictures that move around, use VB. If you would rather have a text window that says

Quote:Computer: You see a flask on the table.
User: Get Flask
Computer: You cannot get the flask. It's stuck.
User: Get Flask
Computer: I said you can't get it because it's stuck. Sheesh, you would think people would read before they type in stupid commands
User: Get Flask
Computer: You finally manage to get the flask. Unfortunately, it was a load bearing flask because the whole dungeon collapses on you. Are you happy now?

If all you want is text, there are easier programs. Check out some of the links already posted here. I am sure they can help you more than me.

Above all, have fun. I look forward to your tetris clone.

All of the replies are good. The languages mentioned will all give you a concept of programming but no matter what you use, you will have to learn the language. So if you start with VB and decide to go to C++, the time spent on VB is relatively usless to you. What I would suggest is first, figure out what it is you would like to do with your programming. Where to you want to end up? Making games to sell, getting in the industry, or hobyist? Once you know that, find out what the majority are using and get some books. The only reason I say to find out what the majority are using is because there is likely to be more help when you need it.

Once you get the books, start reading everything you can about the language you select and PROGRAM!!! Program everything you can. Make programs to calculate the temperature, that guess numbers, that choose colors, that do anything else you can imagine. Reading is fine but the excercises are what you are going to learn from. Good luck.