Coding

[Aidanx]

Ok, so i have been dabbling in a little bit of coding here and there. Html, Python, Basic but nothing really major. And I was wondering if anyone has any advice on where to start when becoming a serious coder?

[chechu]

Practise, look and learn, look at codes in other sites and try to remake them. Read the threads on the forum, and see if they make sense to you. If they don't, then read more about it.

[Twey]

Python's pretty major. If you know Python well, you've already started :)

[Aidanx]

Python Command Line [v2.5].
Its really crap, like you type:-

Example:
PRINT "Hello my name is Bob"
Hello my name is Bob
6+5
11

-:which is really boring. I want to step up. I am very fluent in COMAL but that too is very basic.

I want to move onto maybe, PHP or MySQL. Maybe even Javascript.

[Twey]

which is really boring. I want to step up.How about you learn to write proper programs in Python rather than just fiddling with the command line, then? :p If you're already familar with Python, I suggest you take that to the next level rather than starting a whole new language. Python isn't basic at all, once you know what to do with it; it's a fully-featured language, considerably more powerful than PHP or Javascript (although obviously if you're going to be doing web development you'll want Javascript for client-side scripting; Mozilla are planning to introduce client-side Python scripting for Firefox 3, but I expect it will take a while to catch on).
If you already know Python, there's really little need to learn PHP as well; with a framework like Django (http://www.djangoproject.com/), it's easy to use Python for server-side scripting, and your code ends up being a lot nicer than the equivalent in PHP, too.
Python Command Line [v2.5].
Its really crap, like you type:-

Example:
PRINT "Hello my name is Bob"
Hello my name is Bob
6+5
11

-:which is really boring.Try installing wxPython and doing:
>>> import wx
>>> a = wx.App()
>>> f = wx.Frame(None, title="My First wxPython App")
>>> a.SetTopWindow(f)
>>> wx.StaticText(a, label="Hello, world, this is my first GUI app!")
>>> f.Show()
>>> a.MainLoop()

[Aidanx]

How to I convert Python to "program-writing" mode then?

[Twey]

Uh, I don't think you really have a solid understanding of Python (or interpreted languages in general, actually). Put your program in a file, then run the Python interpreter against it:
twey@peordh /home/twey $ python sample.py

[mburt]

How to I convert Python to "program-writing" mode then?

I think we are straying away from the idea: it's basically the "programming" (not web-programming) aspect of Python.
If you're looking for some languages to look in, here are some:

Server-side - deals with forms, data, database management
PHP
ASP

Client-side - not as important, has to do with dynamic content
JavaScript
AJAX (extension of JavaScript)
CSS

[boxxertrumps]

Server-side - deals with forms, data, database management
PHP
ASP
Client-side - not as important, has to do with dynamic content
JavaScript (functionality/behavior)
AJAX (extension of JavaScript)
CSS (looks)

Fixed...
You mixed them up, mburt... Try not to confuse the new ones.

[mburt]

Oops... I definitely mixed them up, but I do know which from which.
It makes sense:
Client - literally the client's computer
Server - from the webserver

I don't normally mix them up :rolleyes:

[Twey]

CSS isn't a scripting language, and to server-side languages you can add Python, Perl, JSP, and any other language that supports stream IO.

[Aidanx]

You have all strayed from the point of the question I asked.

I wanted to know where to start. It was a simple question.

I was hoping for something like maybe a URL e.g. tutorial.com/php/howto.htm or a quick how to post.

I didnt want all these lists on what language does what because I already know that. I just want to learn how to use them.

[Twey]

In order of priority (well, Python isn't as vital as, say, CSS for web development, but you already know a little of it so that should take less time):

http://diveintopython.org/toc/index.html
http://www.djangoproject.com/documentation/
http://www.w3schools.com/css/
http://www.w3schools.com/js/

[Aidanx]

Aargh! w3schools tutorials. Bah! I hate them. So bland and I feel them very unhelpful.

What would your recommend to start off?

[Twey]

Actually, howtocreate.co.uk (http://www.howtocreate.co.uk/) has some superior tutorials (HTML (http://www.howtocreate.co.uk/tutorials/html/), CSS (http://www.howtocreate.co.uk/tutorials/css/introduction), Javascript (http://www.howtocreate.co.uk/tutorials/javascript/important)).

If you really want to get web-designing as fast as possible, you'd do well to do HTML (if you don't already know it) then CSS first. However, I was thinking that you should learn Python properly while what you already know is still fresh in your mind.

[Aidanx]

I am fluent in HTMl/XML and CSS. Thats where I started out. Got any decent links for Python TUT's?

[Twey]

The one above is good. Also look at the Django tutorial I posted above, which you'll need (or another framework, Django's just my favourite, there are others) for doing web backends.

[techno_race]

CSS, JavaScript and HTML are pretty easy. Why not try them?

-----CSS (easiest)----
color: red

results in this.

-----HTML (harder)-----
<b><i><u><font face="Comic Sans MS">text</font></u></i></b>

results in text

-----JavaScript (hardest)-----
var pet = "dog";
var cat = "itisacat!";

if (cat == "itisacat!") {
pet = "cat";
}

document.write("Get a " + pet + ".");

results in Get a cat.

I'd recommend working on JavaScript. It's pretty powerful.

[Twey]

He's already fluent in HTML and CSS, apparently, in which case the only things left to do are Javascript and some server-side language (Python being the obvious choice), both of which are about equally useful, I think. Thus, since he already has a... well, if not solid, then at least slight grounding in Python, that's the one to go for, I'd say.

[mburt]

both of which are about equally useful, I think.

I don't often like to disagree with you (might get yelled at :p), but I do. I think PHP has more importance when dealing with what it can do on an equal scale with JS. Most of what JavaScript can do is only an extra thing, like a pop-up, or a draggable window. PHP on certain sites is the core of the site, and how it works.

[Twey]

I don't often like to disagree with you (might get yelled at :p), but I do.Not at all, in fact now you mention it I think you're right. It's not just PHP, though: the things PHP can do are common to all server-side languages, and the probable first choice of language here is Python.

[mburt]

the things PHP can do are common to all server-side languages, and the probable first choice of language here is Python.

The way the OP was using python was as a computer app though, wasn't it? Integrated Python for the web may take a little time... I tried to get Ruby on Rails working but just couldn't. Couldn't find any sensible documentation.
Personally, I would prefer one of the more mainstream server-side languages, like ASP/PHP.