how to be a software programmer

[drmacchi]

Let's say that a man decides when is fourty years old, to learn pc languages............
what will you suggest to this poor man ?

which language
books, sites , courses ? all what is useful by your opinion !

Thanks, a poor crazy man

[Alexander]

My suggestion is to let the younger people work for you, instead of yourself...

you'll presumably get different responses for different languages.

What will be the platform? Windows? -> C#.NET

[Rene]

What do you want to program?
Do want to be a real programmer (meaning you really know what you are doing ?
On what platform do you want your programs to run (Windows, Unix/Linux/OSX, or cross-platform)?

[drmacchi]

windows, like thousand of Uncle Bill's slaves . IT is just a hobby, i spent my life with chemistry, but now i would like to understand more, to know how one of you can create from skratch some SW that needs. i know that this means much time, but i don't need that to live and to give food to my family...........for example many of you can create a plugin for HS , can do so many things..... and i'd like to try to understand

[Alexander]

Poor Crazy Man,

Do you understand some scripts in the script section? Do you understand the logic of the lines?

[Rene]

I would recommend to start with Visual Basic in combination with Visual Studio Express. Lots of ebooks and information can be found on the Internet.

[drmacchi]

Alexander, let's say i understand a little bit. but i think that i should start from ZERO LEVEL

[Alexander]

Okay, i would suggest also to try VB, because HS is using it and it's a logical language to follow. That's why i asked the question.
Most languages do 'follow' the same logic.

Next suggestion is to copy a script from the script section and post your question about the scriptsections you don't understand. It's more difficult for us to help you, because of the english technical words you may have problems with to understand. Like 'declaration', now in Italian

[drmacchi]

thank you for help, but i don't want to bother you with my "student" problems. i only need a trick to point directly to resources like ebooks, blogs or else where i can take what i need. what about Visual Studio ? i found this , very "poor man level" and free !
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/beginner/default.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

in script (homeseer) , don't you need to know ASP ?

[Alexander]

This can help you: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vbasic/bb466159.aspx

most scripts within HS are in VB. ASP is a webserver side script. Homeseer (as an windows application) just runs the vb script. ASP can be used for the HS webserver part (the GUI).

BTW: I'm a Microsoft technical trainer, so the student part is part of my nature

[mhn]

I created a program for Innovus XML without much knowledge of programming.

I used Visual Basic 2008 in the free edition (Express).

There is a lot to read on the net.

Good places to start is http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vbasic/bb466226.aspx and http://www.microsoft.com/express/vb/

Some other links:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vbasic/ms789080.aspx

http://msdn.microsoft.com/da-dk/beginne ... n-us).aspx

http://www.example-code.com/vb/string.asp

http://www.developerfusion.com/

But you have to be stubborn.

Regards
Morten

[Bwired]

Lorenzo,
If you are using Homeseer and I think you do
Starting fresh then the Visual Basic 2008 free edition is the best option for you.
Sorry guys

[Lempens]

On http://www.codeproject.com there are alot of sample program's.
I don't know where you live in the Netherlands. But in Belgium there are is a VB.net course. 1 year 1 time a week for € 70,-

But .Net is maybe the best choice.

[Rene]

If you would have had a look at the profile of drmacchi, you would have noticed he lives in Italy;-)

[drmacchi]

Thanks All ! what a bunch of suggestions! so i'll try to start using VB 2008 free edition and MS online resources. I live in Italy, so should attend a course here, but lack of time ! I did all my University studying by myself (except laboratories where we spent months producing bombs and nice gadgets for Halloween ). So i'll try again by myself. Am i so old to start?.......