Programming as a hobby

Azbubu

Azbubu

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I've decided to get back into programming. Last time I programmed was Turbo Pascal. Initially thought i'd like to get try my hand at developing iPhone apps till I found out you need a Mac, is there no way around this?

So I figured perhaps develop Android apps except I don't have an Android device. But I suppose it's easier to buy an Android device than a Mac.

So my questions are :

1) is it easy to jump into the SDK's with minimal programming experience or rather learn a language first before getting into it.
 
I'd say rather chose a language first. Get the basic of the language under control and then look at the sdk's.

For example c#, once you are comfortable with the language - jump into XNA studio - can write games for your pc and/or xbox using that sdk. But you need to know the language before tackling the sdk...
 
I agree with Egenis, get to know a language, be able to do it in your sleep, then you do something like SDK integration, you'll be more equipped and will not feel too frustrated if you don't get something working.

You'll understand troubleshooting better, and get more from your app then you expected.
 
abzo said:
I've decided to get back into programming. Last time I programmed was Turbo Pascal. Initially thought i'd like to get try my hand at developing iPhone apps till I found out you need a Mac, is there no way around this?

So I figured perhaps develop Android apps except I don't have an Android device. But I suppose it's easier to buy an Android device than a Mac.

So my questions are :

1) is it easy to jump into the SDK's with minimal programming experience or rather learn a language first before getting into it.
Click to expand...

Get a Raspberry Pi.
Teach yourself to program on there.
Then do more :)
 
egenis said:
I'd say rather chose a language first. Get the basic of the language under control and then look at the sdk's.

For example c#, once you are comfortable with the language - jump into XNA studio - can write games for your pc and/or xbox using that sdk. But you need to know the language before tackling the sdk...
Click to expand...

?

So Android is not developed in a language? It uses Java.

OP, you can also look at Titanium which is a cross platform IDE that uses Javascript to develop your apps (Android, Apple, etc). Coming from Turbo Pascal (good old days) you will find things have changed a lot. But app development is a great place to start.
 
cbrunsdonza said:
?

So Android is not developed in a language? It uses Java.
Click to expand...

Java - language
Android - platform/sdk, whatever you would like to call it..

So like I said in my first post: Language first, then sdk.
Otherwise you learn from example code given in the sdk download and you will have no idea what "extends" and "implements" mean, you just do it because the example code used it



*Edit - I are disleksiek...
 
abzo said:
I've decided to get back into programming. Last time I programmed was Turbo Pascal. Initially thought i'd like to get try my hand at developing iPhone apps till I found out you need a Mac, is there no way around this?

So I figured perhaps develop Android apps except I don't have an Android device. But I suppose it's easier to buy an Android device than a Mac.

So my questions are :

1) is it easy to jump into the SDK's with minimal programming experience or rather learn a language first before getting into it.
Click to expand...

you can create a Virtual Machine on your PC, with Mac OS installed, and then use xcode in there to code IPhone apps
 
ouch: the op want's to start programming as a hobby, i.e for enjoyment, and you lead him to javascript ... that's just wrong.

off my head some enjoyable languages for me recently would be python and ruby I guess, but I still tend to go back to Java whenever I try out something new.

as to the op - I would start with getting all the IDE's I can get my hands on, Visual Studio, Eclipse, Netbeans, Aptana, etc, etc, and then literally play with them - see which ones you like.
 
OTOH if you used Turbo Pascal you won't find much trouble starting with C#

PLus you can download the Express edition (from Microsoft) for free ...
 
Programming can be a great hobby.. Just keep in mind that it can take a long time to get comfortable with a language so don't get discouraged. I would recommend C# as there is a version of Mono available that allows you to make apps for Iphones and Androids.. http://xamarin.com/monoforandroid it's a little pricey thou but very nice...
 
If you want to do Mobile Development, go with Android, least amount of pain, a lot of support and help etc. You wont need to pay a cent.
 
CrazYmonkeY159 said:
If you want to do Mobile Development, go with Android, least amount of pain, a lot of support and help etc. You wont need to pay a cent.
Click to expand...

I would agree with you! Android is the best way to learn and get results QUICKLY.
 
Have a look at http://codeacademy.com/ and http://programr.com/ for starters. The former will get you familiar with newer languages and latter allows you to see how iOS and Android apps are build for example, so it gives you an idea of what it's like before you dive in. You can also see various other languages and code them in your browser without downloading and installing IDE's.

On holiday or a weekend, I highly recommend you read Why's Poignant guide to Ruby: http://mislav.uniqpath.com/poignant-guide/
It is highly entertaining and you learn how the newer dynamic languages work (Object-oriented, plus functional, plus meta-programming).
 
Thanks guys.

What about python? It's used here at work so my boss will allow me a couple of hours per day to learn that if I want since i could then assist the software guys.

Would python be beneficial for mobile development though?

Btw for now I just want to start programming simple things like those retro arcade games etc.
 
Last edited:
Python is great, but not for mobile development. Yes you get the scripting layer for Android that allows you to hack together a script that does stuff on Android, but it's nowhere near writing a native app. Python and Ruby are fairly similar in capabilities, so either or both are good to learn.
 
You could learn Python with the purpose of creating HTML5 webapps that run on mobile, but then you will have to learn web development, if you don't already know it.
 
If the boss is happy to give you some time, and it could help bring a hobby and a career together, go for it. Python is an excellent educational language, and there is nothing stopping you from taking that experience and applying it to Jave / Objective C / HTML5 / SilverLight at a later stage. Go with the flow, and keep on enjoying the experience.
 
abzo said:
Thanks guys.

What about python? It's used here at work so my boss will allow me a couple of hours per day to learn that if I want since i could then assist the software guys.

Would python be beneficial for mobile development though?

Btw for now I just want to start programming simple things like those retro arcade games etc.
Click to expand...

Python is AWESOME, for web development, use a python framework called Django, it's really easy to get into, and you can create AWESOME web based apps, and what'll make it mobile, will obviously be your html template.

Another thing you can look into, html5, css3, javascript, combined with phoneGap, phoneGap will generate your code into a native mobile app, but this is not true mobile development, but definitely is a way of getting it done....
 
get eclipse and install the android sdk and android virtual device (all these are free). there are plenty of tutorials for android online. also try lynda.com - they have an EXCELLENT android beginners tutorial (will cost you money though).

you will find java syntax fairly similar to turbo pascal. if you used the earlier versions of TP (before 5.5), you will also need to read up on object-oriented programming concepts, or you will find yourself very lost.

have fun!
 
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