So you want to be a programmer?

October 2, 2007

Do you know what a programmers are? They are problem solvers.

Yes, seriously.

Now, that said, a question: Are you sure, that you have what it takes to solve a programming problem in a logical manner, that you actually have ability and/or wish to learn new language and tricking your mind into perception of programming logic, then read ahead. If you don’t want to do that, question: Why are you even reading this? Go play some games or something.

So yeah, first part will be a dab of philosophy, so don’t go around screaming “OMG!!!111one Cheese dip!!! Cheese dip!!!” and setting their pants on fire, like people tend to do at a times.

First thing: Logic — Some people (scary thought that I’m one of them), just look into the code in any language and find a proper solution to the problem. For example:

def removeDuplicates(items):
    i = []
    for item in items:
        if item not in i:
            i.append(item)
    return i

(yes, the code is Python, and the syntax is pretty simple. Python 101, anyone?)

Now what does that code tell you? Nothing? Well, then, it’s pretty simple. You should brush up your logic a bit, but it’s seriously very very simple thing, which goes:

1. function / method definition
2. defining what king of type ‘i’ is (list in this case)
3. simple condition (if needle isn’t in haystack)
4. append the data in ‘i’
5. return the data stored in ‘i’

Now there are some other things, that you should be aware when poking around programming environment. Things like %, ==, !=, !, >>, <<, ^, &,|. Everything else is the same as it is in math. Like (/) or </> is for grouping and such. Now the mentioned signs (also known as operators) are as follows from left to right:

• modulus sign (gives the remains of division).
• Equal sign (if one side is equal to another). In programming in most languages = means definition, while == means comparison between the left and right side of the equation.
• Same as equal sign. Just negation of it.
• Negation operator
• Right-shift bitwise operator
• Left-shift bitwise operator
• XOR operator (can also be the math power operator (x^y))
• Bitwise AND (also a reference pointer in some languages)
• Bitwise OR

To learn, what’s written above don’t ask by replying “OMG, wut iz dis?!?” Because I’ll ignore you. Short and simple. I don’t have time, nor energy nor interest to answer the basic questions. I don’t. Google (or whatever) for answers. I don’t support lazy people. I don’t.

Moving onwards, we come to the part why I’ve even began writing this, and that is: Programming languages. Now as first there is a variety of programming languages that are available: C, C++, Assembler, Pascal, Ruby, Python, PHP, BASIC, and many others, that I could fill this page with their names, but I want.

Programming languages differ by their purpose and functionality, and the person who says that there is one language that is “perfect” and “should be used for everything” should be slapped senselessly.

NO. SUCH. THING!

There. I’ve said it. Did it occurred to you that there just *MIGHT* be a reason that so many languages exist?

Do me a favor — research what the language was designed to do and stick to THAT. And yes, PHP was designed as web language and that’s what it should be used for.

Your homework:

1. pick a language
2. Study it’s usage
3. find tutorial
4. Read the manual from soup to nuts
5. read the manual again
6. ask question(s)
7. Read the manual again
8. focus
9. Read some more manuals
10. find plans of a future plans with the language
11. Restudy it’s usage
12. read the manuals.

If you can’t cope with any of the said things above, you fail at trying to be a programmer. and, oh,:

 

LEARN MORE THAN ONE LANGUAGE!!! AND DON’T START WITH PHP!

Filed under: Programming, Rants |