Thinking about learning programming using the Python

[He360]

I’m thinking about going ahead and starting to learn programming, starting with Python (I heard a lot of great things about Python in that it is easy to use for beginners and some say it’s rather smooth). I’ve heard some scary things about C++ (not to bash it but I’m saying as a beginning programmer to learn programming I might start with Python. And you know…after I learn how to use Python and learn how to make games with it, I hope to teach others how to make games with it (I'm pretty good at breaking down complex things for people to understand, and besides, I think it could be good to have more people around to teach “this and that function will help you make games” or "this and that function is not worth learning if you want to make games.” Ok, so is learning Python in this regard a good idea? Are there any other suggestions or ideas?

Thanks,
HE

[Fuzzy]

I'll learn python tonight and tell you.

[Kalladdolf]

C/C++ isn't too hard to learn. Game Editor more than supports you in doing so.
Some positive things about C++ that might cheer you up:
- It can be used to create small and simple games (obviously, just take a look at the Game Demos forum).
- On the other hand, Sims was also created with C++.
- More than that, C/C++ is commonly known as a hacker's language (meaning, you can do almost EVERYTHING with it, with the required knowledge that is).
- In fact, C is a universal programming language, meaning that it is just as efficient (or even more efficient than) e.g. Ada, Basic, Cobol, Fortran, Java, Lisp, Modula-2, Pascal, prolog etc.

I don't think Phyton would be such a good choice if C actually is what you want.
You know, just like Fuzzy said, no programming language gets learned in one day (except for LOLcode maybe).
Learning Phyton would take extra effort, more stuff to learn (if you were willing to do it, that'd be okay, but judging by your post, I don't think that is the case).
Generally it isn't a bad idea to know more than one programming language, but the question is: Do you really need it?
I mean, C is easy to learn (and even easier with GE provided), though it does take more than a week to learn the whole of it.
If you are so good at breaking down complex stuff, C is the perfect programming language for you. (Either way it is.)

GE provides an awesome user interface which doesn't make you feel the complex programming bit at first (you just click together events and actions).
But as you get into it more and more, you will take your first shots at the code ( example: x = x + 5; makes the actor go right). And that's not at all complicated (!).
It'll get a little more complicated and powerful every step of the way and the good thing is: You can experiment and test your game without compiling it all the time. Just mess around with GE and you'll get as far as some of our smarter community members (*** for instance).

Anyway, I'm wishing you the best of luck and hope I made sense.

[He360]

Thanks for the response. You are right. What you said makes perfect sense. I guess I'll add to what you said: since I'm learning, it'll probably take me years to learn either python or C++ and it might even take around the same amount to learn one of the two. Thus, I should go ahead and start with the best. I've always heard programmers say that python is easier and more straight forward. But for me, since I'm beginning, neither would be easiest. Now all I need is a good comprehensive book that teaches C++ game programming for beginners and goes to advanced (advanced = a book that shows everything from the intracate details from beginning to end). I'll google it, but are there any recommendations?

Thanks,
HE

C/C++ isn't too hard to learn. Game Editor more than supports you in doing so.
Some positive things about C++ that might cheer you up:
- It can be used to create small and simple games (obviously, just take a look at the Game Demos forum).
- On the other hand, Sims was also created with C++.
- More than that, C/C++ is commonly known as a hacker's language (meaning, you can do almost EVERYTHING with it, with the required knowledge that is).
- In fact, C is a universal programming language, meaning that it is just as efficient (or even more efficient than) e.g. Ada, Basic, Cobol, Fortran, Java, Lisp, Modula-2, Pascal, prolog etc.

I don't think Phyton would be such a good choice if C actually is what you want.
You know, just like Fuzzy said, no programming language gets learned in one day (except for LOLcode maybe).
Learning Phyton would take extra effort, more stuff to learn (if you were willing to do it, that'd be okay, but judging by your post, I don't think that is the case).
Generally it isn't a bad idea to know more than one programming language, but the question is: Do you really need it?
I mean, C is easy to learn (and even easier with GE provided), though it does take more than a week to learn the whole of it.
If you are so good at breaking down complex stuff, C is the perfect programming language for you. (Either way it is.)

GE provides an awesome user interface which doesn't make you feel the complex programming bit at first (you just click together events and actions).
But as you get into it more and more, you will take your first shots at the code ( example: x = x + 5; makes the actor go right). And that's not at all complicated (!).
It'll get a little more complicated and powerful every step of the way and the good thing is: You can experiment and test your game without compiling it all the time. Just mess around with GE and you'll get as far as some of our smarter community members (*** for instance).

Anyway, I'm wishing you the best of luck and hope I made sense.

[Kalladdolf]

There are many books on the market.
Just peek around the next average-sized bookstore next door and you'll find books such as "C++ for dummies" or other beginner's guide books.
If you are interested in learning the whole of C right away, I suggest you buy an elementary C/C++ massive book which is about that
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thick. They can be a little dry and hard to chew sometimes though (no, don't eat them!) and be sure you get everything from the beginning and don't leave out important passages, as everything is founded on what is explained in the first few chapters.
But if you want to get into C/C++ the fun way,

Just mess around with GE.