how to be a software programmer

[Rene]

You are never to old to learn something new;-)

[mhn]

I am 43, and my Innovus program was made summer 2008. So you are properly to old.

[Digit]

One is never to old to learn!

[Bwired]

i'm 47 so never to old...
btw: started programming when i was around 14

[AshaiRey]

Basicly any BASIC type language is the easiest and most forgiving voor the beginner.
Which that language you will learn the concepts of coding quiet fast. There is also a huge code base for it.
Basic comes in lots of flavors. Object oriented languages like C# requires a different mindset.
You like them or you hate them. Most of the time you will have a hard time to learn them if
your prior experience is with procedurial programming languages like pascal, C or even standard BASIC.

I learned myself programming in many languages but the only way for me to learn it is to set myself a goal.
Like i made a GPS system on a Nintendo DS just to learn the basics of C++.

[Rene]

There is not a big difference between C# and Visual Basic for .Net. Both can be used to program object orientied, but you do not have to.

[Digit]

A small correction: pascal has been OO from the late 80's.... i mean the Turbo version of course.

[drmacchi]

Hi all, i found a little guide for ground zero programmers, installed VB2008 free and after 30 minutes i created a simple program that opens a form , launches inside explorer and prints the screen............ oh oh , i'm not so old ! ok , now i must oepn a bottle to celebrate next coming Year . CHEERS !

[Edwin]

Do you have a link?
I'm not so old either

[drmacchi]

yes but it's italian. 33 lessons free.

http://www.simply4you.it/articoli/vbp/default.asp

[Edwin]

O must learn italian first then.

[Rene]

Edwin, You are never to old to learn;-)

[Jeffrey]

Just another suggestion to get you started.

Read my post about setting up a development environment for Homeseer --> http://www.domoticaforum.eu/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=3769

Get some .vb scripts from the homeseer forum, the scripts folder in homeseer (c:\program files\homeseer....) and go through them to understand what's happening. In my experience people find it difficult to start from scratch, therefor it's much easier to learn from existing scripts.

It is best to have a goal for writing a script/plugin, so your motivated to finish your project. If you have a squeezebox, you can start analysing and expanding my squeezebox scripts (view this topic --> http://www.domoticaforum.eu/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=3716 and http://www.domoticaforum.eu/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=3768). If you don't have a squeezebox then get one, great stuff!! (http://www.logitechsqueezebox.com) .

An example of what I'm doing at the moment --> I'm busy to create charts for my sensors/powerreadings/etc. There are massive options with the .net charts I'm developing. When I'm at a level of creation that's ready to release I will post the stuf here so we can all expand the charts together.