I have recently been inspired to learn how to code. I think I may be past Step 1 where I've tried learning the basics of a few different languages and failed miserably. To my credit, I'm still trying. I understand how difficult something like this is to learn. I've spent the past 6-7 years getting good at poker, and I can't even imagine how much tougher the learning curve is for coding.

I've read that learning Processing is a good starting point for newbies who know nothing because it provides visual gratification for short lines of code. The tutorials on their site are very detailed, and that is what I need. (I've been to Codeacademy and a lot of it, even the beginning lessons, are way above my head, and they don't give descriptions of why you should be doing things, they just tell you to write it in the box)

I am interested in a few things, hopefully someone can help me out here:

1. I would not have learned poker at any decent rate were it not for 2p2. What is the best coding forum out there?

2. If someone were to ask me how to get better at poker, I would imagine the steps taken there are similar to the ones taken to learn coding. Play a lot, gain a passion, work harder than everyone, read forums, get friends who you can talk poker with, join a training site, get coaching. Are there any coding coaching sites? Would anyone like to swap info so I can badger them ?

3. If anyone out there is experienced and been through a lot, can you just give me any general advice? Epiphanies you've had? Steps to take?

Thank you for reading, and I plan on contributing more in BFI as opposed to just lurking.

why do you want to code? what are your goals? those will determine the best path for you.

i'm of the opinion of the best way to learn is by doing. just start creating mini projects. code, compile, run, bugfix, run again, profit. the feedback you get of successful progress helps your interest and confidence

Thanks for the response Greg.

I didn't want to include that info in the OP because I've found "what to do with my life" threads in here have not received much traction. However, since you asked, I plan on transitioning away from poker and getting into startups. I have been fortunate enough to have built up a bit of capital and have some years to learn/do things without the need for an income. That is my advantage over the rest. Unfortunately that is my only advantage.

At first I thought I would just be able to come up with an idea (I have a few) and just hire a programmer to make it for me, and I print billions. Lol. Seeing as that is not going to work, I feel like I should at least give coding a try, if not to be at least semi-competent so I can know what to look for in a programmer, not look like an idiot, and possibly just gain a passion for it and get better over the next couple years.

So yeah, that is my reasoning for this. I have been going at it pretty hard, and I agree, "just doing it" will probably provide the best results.

could you recommend sites for c++ and VBA (i know its not REAL coding)?

Can you name a few that are focused on Ruby?

That seems the way to go for web applications.

well 'startups' can be broad, but nowadays many startups are built around web applications that you use in your browser. typically those are written in Ruby or Python or PHP. so those are the languages you'd want to focus on. i'd pick one and look around for the best getting-started tutorial for that specific language. this will take care of the 'back end' of the coding work

for the 'front end', you'd want to focus on the user interface elements such as HTML and CSS. learning these will never be a waste, since youll be able to make quick visual changes to your website without having to wait for your programmer

its easier to guide you with this info, rather than suggesting you take a cs101 course on c++ which won't help you as much in your direction

I have a bit of a different opinion than Greg, I'd recommend starting in C++. This is just my recommendation, but it's how I started and I think it helped me for a few reasons. One being most languages are based off the same style. C++ is not as easy as other languages, it's much more basic, by that I mean it does less things for you. I'm a huge advocate of knowing things at their more basic levels. So if you have a solid understanding of C++, most other languages will be a piece of cake. Also, it's a popular language so there's plenty of resources out there.

Here's a good tutorial: http://www.cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/

Pick out a project that would be interesting to do. Make sure there's a tutorial out there for it, then follow it. And understand every single thing that's happening in the tutorial. Always understand why things are being done. Don't just memorize how a function was put together. I'd equate what I'm saying to something like learning how to read. You memorize the few rules, like what letters make what sounds, but you don't memorize every single word out there to be able to read. This way when you come across a new word, like "Galapogos", you know how to pronounce it having never seen it before.

Don't just learn by reading. Same as poker. You won't get a feel for it until you actually try applying what you're learning. So if you're reading a tutorial on how to do something, actually make that program. Then think of other things you should be able to make it do, and make it do them. If you don't under stand what a function's doing, mess with it until you see how your changes affect things.

And one thing that always helps when programming is baby steps. Sure you need to keep the big picture in mind. But a lot of the time when you're stuck, just remember to break your task down into one small piece at a time and ignore everything else. Get that one piece working, then move on to the next step. Sounds like common sense but a lot of people get lost trying to do everything at once and just feel overwhelmed.

All I found is a bunch of sites that each want a few thousand dollars for lessons.

There are some articles and small tutorials out there to be sure, but I have yet to see a good FREE training site for Ruby.

I have to agree with Galapogos. I'd probably make a terrible programming teacher, so take whatever I say with a grain of salt, but I've always been of the opinion that a language like C++ or Java is best to start with.

OP, I think if you give us more detailed information on your current level of expertise, it'd help us give better advice. There's a huge difference between "I can't wrap my head around for loops" and "I already understand objects, inheritance, etc etc".

As for resources, I don't know what the 2+2 of programming would be, but I use Stackoverflow a lot. If I get stuck on something, or I'm curious if a better method exists for implementing something that I'm making, I'll do a search on SOF and see if I can find anything. Just make sure that you try to understand what the code is doing and how it works. Don't just copy/paste and be content that it does what you want it to do without actually caring why it does it. A lot of the CS majors I knew learned by reading others' code samples, rather than through books or tutorials. This approach may or may not work for you, but it's at least worth a try.

This is a pretty thorough and free tutorial: http://ruby.railstutorial.org/ruby-o...-tutorial-book

http://railsforzombies.com/

Free and good intro to web development w/ Rails.

C++ is pretty intimidating and difficult to learn for somebody with no programming experience though. So much syntax to learn. A lot of people will get frustrated and/or bored and quit before they get to the good stuff.

I think its better to start with a language you can actually do something in right away, like Python or JavaScript.

Example:

Hello World in C++

Hello World in Python

Ugh, I'm such a fish. I bought the book for my iPad not realizing the whole thing is already on the website!

OP, Ruby on Rails is what was used for some of the largest websites around today: Groupon, Twitter, etc. I'd decide what exactly you want to get into developing. Web apps, then I'd definitely say dive into Ruby on Rails.

Mobile apps? Then Objective C for iOS and Java for Android. Some highly recommended books for iOS are written by Nerd Ranch. I have them but haven't read them yet. I'll post a review when i get around to reading them.

If you want to work with Ruby or iOS programming it'd be better to have a Mac. Ruby is a pain in the a$$ to get set up on windows. For iOS you pretty much have to have a Mac.

I'm somewhat in the same boat as you: trying to pick up programming for some startup ideas. I have done quite a bit of programming before though. I majored in Computer Engineering but I've done nothing with it since graduating 7 years ago!

Hey sorry guys I'm in the process of moving back home from Costa Rica and haven't had time to use/read some of the resources you guys have provided. Once back home I plan on thoroughly becoming obsessed with this though and hopefully some of you guys are in the same boat (noobs), and we can keep this thread going. Thanks a bunch for the responses thus far.

Ruby really isn't hard to get working on windows. I don't know how it was in the past but RailsInstaller is as easy as it gets