From: ptkwt@... (Phil Tomson) Date: 2005-07-20T02:40:56+09:00 Subject: Re: Ruby/Rails as a starter language? In article <1121738640.658141.246160@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>, wrote: >If you don't need to get involved in web programming right away, gawk >is probably the easiest and gives you a big bang for the buck, to mix >metaphors. Ruby is a breath of fresh air but you will have a hard time >appreciating many of the more powerful aspects of the language as a >newbie. Heck, many programmers even have a hard time wrapping their >brains around object-oriented programming. First crawl, then walk, then >run. (If you see the word 'pointer' in the language you are studying >you will want to avoid that language for at least a year. Pointers are >dangerous for newbies, and thankfully all popular scripting languages >shield you from 'em.) The easiest languages to learn are the >garbage-collected scripting languages such as PHP, Python, Perl, Ruby, >and Gawk. PHP is an excellant learning language---better than Java, >IMNSHO. Just don't stay in that rut for long. BTW, if you decide to go >with Awk/Gawk, one of the best books is called "The Awk Programming >Language," by Aho. >Oh, to be young again... > This is the first time I've seen gawk mentioned as a first langauge.... Well this is c.l.r afterall, so why not try Ruby as a first language? What a concept! Check out Chris Pine's 'Learn to Program' tutorial at: http://pine.fm/LearnToProgram/ Honestly, I think that Object Oriented programming is easier for newbies to pick up than it is for folks who start learning a procedural language first (like PHP or gawk). Also, I think PHP would probably teach too many bad habits so I wouldn't recommend that (that and the fact that PHP's days are probably numbered now that RoR is out there). To the OP: By all means don't hesitate to learn Ruby as a first language. Oh, and if it fits your style you might try Why's Poignant Guide to Ruby: http://www.poignantguide.net/ruby/ Phil