programming

Mon Aug 20 08:22:06 MST 2012

I'm not sure what being a skilled JavaScript programmer really means, however there are lots of challenges.  Maybe that is why there is a "shortage", if there really is one.  Maybe you can achieve everything you need to with jQuery or another such library.  You will need to know HTML, how the DOM works, and CSS.  At that point if you learn PHP or some other server side programming language you would have a complete marketable skill set.  Of course basic Apache and MySql skills would come in handy also.  None of these skills live in a vacuum. 

Being a JavaScript expert would be pretty neat since JavaScript runs in the browser.  I'd do some research on demand before jumping in.  

If I were just getting started I'd learn how to program a smart device running Android. 

http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html

Another thing you might consider.  It is very hard to break into programming in Corporate America.  Learning how to program smart devises might help you do freelance work.  That might be where you really find the demand.

Another thing.  Having several people give you advice on a tech list is just that.  The bottom line is you have to make it work.  The buck stops with you.  I'd do lots of research and try out the different languages before investing lots of time and effort.  Also develop a business plan.  Even if you plan to work W2, I suggest a business plan so you can see how that might work.  You are a business even if you work W2. 

The first questions I'd ask myself is :

1) what are you deeply passionate about
2) what were you genetically encoded to do
3) will, whatever this is, drive you economic engine? 

Having a desire to be a programmer does not mean one should become a programmer.  You may have been designed to do something else.  Also programming skills come in handy in other fields.  For instance if you were in a financial analyst position you might be more productive if you were able to pull raw data from a database, and create reports, maybe in spread sheet format, that you and your group might be able to use in the performance of your duties. 

------------------------

Keith Smith

--- On Sun, 8/19/12, Michael Havens <bmike1 at gmail.com> wrote:

From: Michael Havens <bmike1 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: programming
To: "Main PLUG discussion list" <plug-discuss at lists.plug.phoenix.az.us>
Date: Sunday, August 19, 2012, 10:51 PM

Well, I am going to take Alan and Joseph;s suggestion and learn JavaScript. Look at that! Codeacademy didn't give me a choice as to which language I wanted to learn but rather started me right off with JS! Thank you so much for responding to me guys.

:-)~MIKE~(-:
On Sun, Aug 19, 2012 at 5:14 PM, keith smith <klsmith2020 at yahoo.com> wrote:

------------------------

Keith Smith d Joseph;
--- On Sun, 8/19/12, Alan Dayley <adayley at gmail.com> wrote:

From: Alan Dayley <adayley at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: programming
To: "Main PLUG discussion list" <plug-discuss at lists.plug.phoenix.az.us>

Date: Sunday, August 19, 2012, 3:30 PM

Most places I visit use web-based applications more and more often. And, in such places, JavaScript developers seem to be in short supply.

Alan 

On Aug 19, 2012, at 3:04 PM, Michael Havens <bmike1 at gmail.com> wrote:

thank you so much for your help. What would you suggest as a marketable language for me to learn?

:-)~MIKE~(-:

On Sun, Aug 19, 2012 at 3:01 PM, Alan Dayley <adayley at gmail.com> wrote:

http://codeacademy.com has free classes for much of the basics in

several languages. They just added Python. Look to see if that fits

your learning goals.

Alan

On Aug 19, 2012, at 2:33 PM, Michael Havens <bmike1 at gmail.com> wrote:

> I was wondering..... how do you find the free kindle books and I was hoping to find a book that would teach programming from the ground up with exercises and stuff like that. Free is about all I can afford with two kids and being on disability and all the crap that is going on in my life! WHat is a good language to start learning? I remember that a friend of mine who went to Devry in 91 the first language he learned was Pascal. Is that a good language to start with or should I rather start with something more useful? Like maybe Java or Javascript or would you recommend something else? This is going to be completely a home study thing. I do have a Python book for python2.1  by Deitel, Liperi, and Weidermann (copywrite 02). I think  I will work out of that unless you think it is too old. Please don't ask what I want to do with whatever I learn because right now I don't know what the possibilities of learning a language (be it Python, DHTML,
 or whatever). You know what, I also

  have a DHTML book (<c>1997) anda java book (<c> 96) that are really old. Do you think I should use them? Yeah, I'm thinking HTML and Java are more practical. I can offer to program things for people. What do you think I should do?

> :-)~MIKE~(-:

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