How to start educating yourself with programming from scratch

Started by
14 comments, last by jpetrie 9 years, 2 months ago

I'm keen to start to learn programming but I don't know where to start... Could anyone help me where if there are sources online to do that for free or possibly small amount of money?

Is it possible to learn programming by yourself online or using books without taking a degree in college and be taught in classes?

If so would anyone please give some links of sources or website step by step where one could learn and master it?

Thank you in advance.

Advertisement

Have you tried this Forums FAQ? http://www.gamedev.net/page/reference/faq.php/_/for-beginners-r1

Then there is the Books section of this Page: http://www.gamedev.net/page/books/index.html

Yes I've checked them, thank you for giving me the links.

There is so many books it's hard to choose. Could you tell me few I should read to start somewhere.

And could you please answer the question whether it's possible to learn programming just by yourself without taking expensive courses in college and going to classes?

As for the books just pick one and read it. You will probably read many books along your programming way. As for the other question - yes it's possible, but taking a class will be easier:

1. there will be a plan to teach you things in order of increasing difficulty

2. there will be someone to ask if you have a problem.

3. there will be someone to point out mistakes in your code when you think it "works" :)

Also you didn't say why you want to learn programming. If you ever want to work as a developer it may be hard to get the first job without diploma and without experience.


And could you please answer the question whether it's possible to learn programming just by yourself without taking expensive courses in college and going to classes?

Yes.

Please don't PM me with questions. Post them in the forums for everyone's benefit, and I can embarrass myself publicly.

You don't forget how to play when you grow old; you grow old when you forget how to play.

1. there will be a plan to teach you things in order of increasing difficulty

2. there will be someone to ask if you have a problem.

3. there will be someone to point out mistakes in your code when you think it "works" smile.png

I'm not concerned about them, I can imagine it would be harder but what I mean is in terms of accessibility to material that is needed to learn is it possible to do that without taking expensive courses and not pay much, if anything pay for some books and that's it.

Also you didn't say why you want to learn programming. If you ever want to work as a developer it may be hard to get the first job without diploma and without experience.

I would like to start learning to improve games that I'm passionate about. You know how you discuss about games on forums about what you're unhappy about and what changes you would like to see. I wish I could take it in my own hands and do that. To improve games and create new features.


And could you please answer the question whether it's possible to learn programming just by yourself without taking expensive courses in college and going to classes?

Yes.

Could you enlighten me with some direction like useful links/websites of material to learn either free or small amount of money. Because I really don't know how to find them myself if starting from very scratch.

If you want a free course, you could sign up for this one: https://www.coursera.org/course/gameprogramming

It starts in 5 days and runs weekly for 12 weeks. It teaches games programming in C# and assumes no prior programming experience.

If you want a free course, you could sign up for this one: https://www.coursera.org/course/gameprogramming

It starts in 5 days and runs weekly for 12 weeks. It teaches games programming in C# and assumes no prior programming experience.

Oh thanks for this I'll give it a try although I'm not interested in Android games but games for the PC that are build on engines such as Unreal engine or CryEngine that are based on C++ if I'm correct.

Are there free C++ courses out there or at least inexpensive online? Or is it possible to learn C++ just by reading through articles and such posted on forums?

Or is it possible to learn C++ just by reading through articles and such posted on forums?

No, you also have to build programs with it; you don't need to spend money, though. There are plenty of good resources available for free on the internet.

But C++ is a really bad choice for a first language.

Yeah it's definitely possible. I just started in December, and slowly making my way up as well. One place that helped ALOT in grasping concepts was MakingGameswithBen:

https://www.youtube.com/user/makinggameswithben/playlists ( C++/Game Tutorials )

Goes through tutorials explaining concepts, syntax, etc. Even has exercises where he has you make basic games and then creates the game so you can see what one of the answers could have been. ( I say it like that cause there's numerous ways to solve practically any problem ). YOu do start with command prompt games but it's good for basics reinforcement.

https://www.youtube.com/user/BSVino/playlists (Math related stuff)
This palce if you need something visual relating to math related concepts.

Those were the 2 that helped me the most. Just imo of course.

This topic is closed to new replies.

Advertisement