The Quest For Knowledge Begins With C
My quest for knowledge and better understanding of programming begins with C
After doing a little research about the different programming languages out there, I chose C because it seems like the greatest common denominator for operating systems and eventually blockchain coding.
Maximum control with minimal commands sounds like the smart way to go.
Why Now?
My biggest hurdle with being surrounded by crypto geeks is terminology and that needs to change.
I've always been fascinated by programming but have been scared off by the math. I really hate math.
Sadly, if I had listened to my parents, I might have had 30 years of programming experience under my belt by now, but noooo I had to pursue music education and psychology!
Don't get me wrong! I love music and psychology but I had no idea how immersed I would be in new tech and innovation.
I'm really excited about this new chapter of growth and the pursuit of knowledge.
Steepshot
Good for you, it seems like a major undertaking considering your background, which as it happens are similar to my own, and you make me think about trying my own hand at coding.
I studied psych and struggled in math, even stats which was a psych requirement at my school.
Nevertheless, Im different now, more mature and if I ever had a chance to get through something like coding, it'd probably be now.
Hopefully the same is true of you. Good luck!
I've always marched to the beat of my own drummer. I love mom & dad for letting me pursue my passions. My I treasure my experiences in singing/performing; even made decent income as a professional soloist for a few years. Psychology will always be a passion of mine because being an Aspie, I've always been observant of human behavior.
But programming... My father was a mainframe programmer. He'd been doing it since he joined the Army in 1969. He would have loved blockchain and hyper ledger. He told me not to fear the math. Well, it's time I got my big girl pants on. LOL
Good for you. In case you haven't heard of them, and in case it might be helpful check out Carmel.io, as far as I can tell they are a crypto project geared at educating crypto enthuists with coding.
You pay tokens to unlock learning modules, or you can make modules and others can learn from those and you earn tokens.
https://carmel.io/
It is an EOS application, might be helpful. I dont think they are operational yet, but if you get your skills in place, maybe you can get paid to teach people like me!
https://carmel.io/whitepaper
p.s. I dont have any affiliation with that project, just heard about them through EOS airdrops.
Very interesting
Thank you for sharing this, @infidel1258. I'm bookmarking their whitepaper to visit & read later.
As a former computer science professor for a number of years, I strongly recommend starting with Python over C, but the book you have is a classic and I have the same one on my shelf.
To back that up, MIT has posted their online introductory programming course in Python for free online. Check it out and good luck in your journey!
Thanks for this link. I've looking for an introductory lecture on programming myself.
Oooh, thank you, @carback1, for sharing the introductory programming course!
I'll definitely check it out.
Python was the only contender when I was looking for a start point. I understand the very basics: open closed; IF THEN. That's about as elementary as you can get but I don't mind baby steps because if I thought about the sheer volume of text out there I would probably freak out. LOL
Glad to help—baby steps are asbolutely the way. A lot of people say the most important thing in programming is learning how to learn, but I think it's going from a high-level goal, and breaking that goal down into tiny, achievable chunks (or baby steps)!
Exactly! You can't read unless you know the alphabet first. :)
Good luck with your studies! I learned C from that exact book but I already had a software engineering degree. I like the structure of C. People say Python might be easier but they use indentation to set off blocks of code, which could be more error prone for some people. But I do think Python is more suited to blockchain and AI since there are lots of libraries available to use so you don't have to reinvent any functionality which already exists. Just some thoughts and I hope you enjoy learning your new coding skills! :)
I am loving the feedback. I went through most of chapter 1 on C and I didn't feel completely lost but I'm going to switch over to the beginner Python books I have before committing to one or the other. I chose C to start with because, like most things, you need to have a good foundation and structure before branching off to more complicated things. building blocks! ps - I love Legos. LOL
Sweet!
I started playing with html a couple months ago and have fallen out of it because we've been so busy here. Perhaps when things get going a bit more smoothly I'll be able to get back to it.
Congratulations on starting a new skill, I hope it goes even better than you imagine!
Thanks!
I was self-taught with HTML in the late 90s creating websites in Geocities. If you know markdown then I think you can pick up HTML in a snap.
Wordpress made me lazy as far as coding but I'm taking the majority's recommendation to switch to Python first. So far the lessons have been really easy.
I agree with carback1. Definitely Python first. C is a bastard to learn if you have no background in coding!
I've got a couple of beginner books on Python from a Humble Bundle package I bought recently. I actually got through most of the first chapter of C and my hair didn't hurt. LOL
The truth is, dear, that programming has far less to do with math and far more to do with logic. So, unless you're literally programing to support rocket science or something similar, the math you may have to deal with is few and far between.
As for books, the book in your photo is in all reality the bible for the 'C' language, a language I've programmed in for most of my life. You will be well served to keep that at hand.
The only other "book" I would recommend is sitting right in front of you... namely your Macbook (or any other computer, really). Just think of some project you would like to accomplish - simple if possible to start - and start writing code to implement it. Learn by doing.
If ya' need a hand, holler. ;)
- @creatr
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Thanks @creatr. I'd actually just gotten through the first segment of a Python lesson and was surprised how easy that went. I'm going to continue with the course and keep practicing.
You should have seen the look on my face when the first "program" was printing "Hello World!" LOL It must have been comical because my husband nearly spewed his drink through his nose before he asked me if everything was all right. ha! I'm not giving up on C but I'm taking great steps toward it :)
Oh yeah, the other thing about math...
It's not so much that I'm incapable. I can think logically and critically but every time I see x=y+n or some string with letters, numbers and parenthesis or n<= something or other, I think my brain goes into defense. oh no, it's math! Abandon Ship! ABANDON SHIP! LOL
Believe me, Meredith, I understand that reaction. I have it myself. When I'm reading technical papers and get to the strings of equations, my eyes glaze over.
However, I want you to understand that it would actually be possible to spend a lifetime programming without encountering much math, depending on the circles you run in.
However, just for completeness, I will say that (in the few cases where I have run head-on into math) just taking a deep breath and breaking it down into simple, component parts, usually takes most of the mystery out of it...
Steem and Python and 'C' on, my dear! :D
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If I ever get into trouble with my homework, I think between you, kenny-crane, carback1 and meesterboom, you guys will set me straight. :D
ye another language