INSPIRE ME !!

Smoothdrive · Sep 24, 2002, 02:00 PM

I'm thinking about changing carreer away from the server/network area towards programming/creating..

Thing is i have no clue where to start..i have no programming/coding skills worth mentioning..self-taught i always go as far as quic-clicks can take me, i bother to read for 5 minutes but when it gets longer i'm bored with it pretty quickly.

I liked recording Macro's in Excel untill i learned to make some simple acces thingies (don't know VB so can't make the difficult ones), also spending enough time to make them look decent for users, i liked making websites (handcoding untill i got Frontpage which in turn i used untill i got dreamweaver) I like finding solutions.

I don't like routine jobs, dry theoretical stuff and hours of hand-coding before you can get results sound terrible to me..don't mind the hours of work but i wanna see what i'm doing straight away..

Combining graphical interfaces with some hand tweaking is more my preffered method I guess..

So what should i start with..?? There's so many too choose form these days..

What's easy to start off with and will give a good enough and most usefull base ?

merry · Sep 24, 2002, 02:13 PM

Why not HTML/JavaScript... it's not actually programming, but you can 'see what you are doing straight away'... and get you started on reading - you'll need it.

Smoothdrive · Sep 24, 2002, 02:46 PM

Basic HTML i already know..it's gotten sloppy since i use dreamweaver these days..and javascript..well i might do some reading on it..i've used it copy & paste before..

Malus · Sep 24, 2002, 06:19 PM

Hand code XHTML Strict and CSS instead of using Dreamweaver.

Might want to learn C++ or Java.

UberLord · Sep 24, 2002, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Malus
Hand code XHTML Strict and CSS instead of using Dreamweaver.

Might want to learn C++ or Java.

Why not learn PHP instead of C/C++ or Java?

PHP creates dynamic web pages. Use xHTML 1.1 and CSS without tables and you're well away

Jeff · Sep 25, 2002, 12:21 AM

CSS without tables is still too non-backward compatible for me to use it right now, most likely in a little while i'll start using it more, but not for a little while.

merry · Sep 25, 2002, 10:16 AM

Start with JavaScript, you'll get used with the basic notions. Then it will be easier to move to Java, C++ etc. The basic notions are much the same, objects (or classes) and all.

Smoothdrive · Sep 25, 2002, 10:52 AM

I've done some reading on Java in the past..was suprised at the amount of coding that went into very simple thingies and seems like you need a lot of practise before you can actually write something simple by head..also the thing i don't like about java is the slow starting and not very stable engine behind it..when it runs it runs allright but the times i have been looking at a grey window wondering weither it was starting or just a dead window..sometimes a simple restart would fix it sometimes it was an error in the coding and sometimes it just took forever to start..

I've read that both Windows and Linux are C++ that correct ? Saw some articles about using directX and using windows in C++..sounds better than Java to me (but what do i know at this time

)

I take it C++ is also a language that needs compiling ??

Smoothdrive · Sep 26, 2002, 10:50 AM

Started some self-study on C++ can anyone recommend a compiler ?? (wanna try as soon as i read about it

)

merry · Sep 26, 2002, 11:18 AM

Borland's and Microsofts are the most used, I think, but they are expensive... Or maybe you got friends in Bulgaria ;-)

Free compilers:

DEVC++
GCC
Borland 5.5 (command line, free)

You may want to check this page (Programmers Heaven) and thefreecountry.com

Smoothdrive · Sep 26, 2002, 11:46 AM

Thanks,

I'm checking internally within the company i work for..we probably have some licensed stuff already..(pretty big IT company (or THE BIGGEST if were American like the company

)..but i'm sure i'll be looking puzzled at the compiler and it's results for the first few weeks anyway..

merry · Sep 26, 2002, 12:42 PM

Good luck, then. Don't lose faith.

UberLord · Sep 26, 2002, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cyborg
CSS without tables is still too non-backward compatible for me to use it right now, most likely in a little while i'll start using it more, but not for a little while.

Then I look at the browser requirement for your XForum and

Smoothdrive · Sep 27, 2002, 07:34 AM

C++ is pretty easy to start with..

For those who wonder..if you did your "and-or-while-for" back in the basic days you'll pretty much understand the first few lessons in no time..

Don't hold your breath till I know C++ hope i keep on liking it enough to stick with it. I'm inspired for the moment anyway

thanks guys !

Jeff · Sep 27, 2002, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by UberLord
Then I look at the browser requirement for your XForum and

Its Forum-X you freak

.

lol.

I know what you are saying, but Forum-X is still viewable on lower browsers, (just with the date wrapping a bunch)

I'll be looking into a solution for that though.

(i do understand why you would choose CSS Positioning, as it is a great idea, but I wont move over to it fully for another year or two.)

(Plus: I am not a professional web-designer, I just like doing it as a hobby, I have found CSS Positioning to be buggy (especially with window-resizing) so I dont use it. This is just personal opinion)

I leave the decision up to the person who will be making the site, and in this case its Smoothdrive, (have fun man

)

BTW: UberLord, I love the UserAgent script you wrote

Smoothdrive · Sep 27, 2002, 09:48 AM

Site ? what site ? i wasn't looking for a language to use on a site specifically

Besides i'm not that good with graphics..been working on a simple site for a hairdresser..the colours are his choice (company colours and stuff) the little face is also his logo so my greatest achievements are incorporating the logo in the site and the menu..which i do think is funny.

Never mind the photo's on the site..it's not live yet..just scrap photo's to get the basic layout..

Linkie

don't you all start shouting at once..i'm no strict coder or anything and you guys can probably find 1001 things wrong in this site

UberLord · Sep 27, 2002, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Smoothdrive

don't you all start shouting at once..i'm no strict coder or anything and you guys can probably find 1001 things wrong in this site

#1 It uses frames which are evil

UberLord · Sep 27, 2002, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cyborg

BTW: UberLord, I love the UserAgent script you wrote

I nicked about 50% of the code from the phpSniff project.
I didn't like the way they did most of their detection, but I did use some of their algorythms

I've got an updated one that detects Windows NT 4.0 correctly now.
However, it still detects Windows NT 3.x as Window NT 4.0 still as they didn't export the windows version in the UA string :/

Jeff · Sep 28, 2002, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by UberLord
I nicked about 50% of the code from the phpSniff project.
I didn't like the way they did most of their detection, but I did use some of their algorythms

I've got an updated one that detects Windows NT 4.0 correctly now.
However, it still detects Windows NT 3.x as Window NT 4.0 still as they didn't export the windows version in the UA string :/

I also did some modification of it, to support Windows XP naming, as well as Windows .NET, but I haven't used it on any of my websites as of yet.

(PS, yes frames ARE evil)

Sep 24, 2002, 02:13 PM	#2
merry gargouille Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha Posts: 962 Rep Power: 0	Why not HTML/JavaScript... it's not actually programming, but you can 'see what you are doing straight away'... and get you started on reading - you'll need it. __________________ There is a war between the ones who say there is a war and the ones who say there isn't. ~~Leonard Cohen

Sep 24, 2002, 02:46 PM	Thread Starter #3
Smoothdrive Foolish Genius Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 455 Rep Power: 0	Basic HTML i already know..it's gotten sloppy since i use dreamweaver these days..and javascript..well i might do some reading on it..i've used it copy & paste before.. __________________ GA-7VRXP, AMD2000+, 256MB PC-2700 DDR, Radeon 8500LE, 2x Maxtor 740 (40GB) stripe set, AGNeovo X-150.

Sep 24, 2002, 06:19 PM	#4
Malus BSD SMASH! Join Date: May 2002 Location: A rabbit hole. . . Posts: 1,170 Rep Power: 0	Hand code XHTML Strict and CSS instead of using Dreamweaver. Might want to learn C++ or Java. __________________ quad (FreeBSD/amd64 8-CURRENT): Intel Q6600 - Asus P5E-VM HDMI - 2x2 GB Kingston PC6400 DDR2 Ram - Seagate 320GB 7200RPM HD - 2xSeagate 1TB 7200RPM HD in RAID 1 via ZFS - Lite-On 20x DVD Multi Recorder - Coolermaster Centurion 5 router (FreeBSD/amd64 8-CURRENT): Intel E4500 - Intel D945GCNL - 2 GB PC6400 Mushkin Ram - Lite-On 48x24x48x16 - Seagate 320GB 7200RPM HD - Silverstone SST-SG02-F wanderer (FreeBSD/i386 7-CURRENT): Lenovo Thinkpad T61p mini (OS X 10.5): Intel Core 2 Duo @ 1.8Ghz, 4 GB Mushkin PC5400 Ram - Headroom MicroDAC Portable sound: Rockboxed iPod Video -> Westone UM2's Not-So-Portable Sound: Headroon MicroDAC -> Singlepower PPX3-SLAM -> Grado RS-1's or Beyerdynamic DT-880's Very-Not-Portable-Sound: Squeezebox v3 -> Denon AVR-1507 -> B&W 683's & Sunfire HRS-10

Sep 25, 2002, 12:21 AM	#6
Jeff Yarr... I be blind! Join Date: May 2002 Location: Calgary, Canada Posts: 3,191 Rep Power: 80	CSS without tables is still too non-backward compatible for me to use it right now, most likely in a little while i'll start using it more, but not for a little while. __________________

Sep 25, 2002, 10:16 AM	#7
merry gargouille Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha Posts: 962 Rep Power: 0	Confused? Start with JavaScript, you'll get used with the basic notions. Then it will be easier to move to Java, C++ etc. The basic notions are much the same, objects (or classes) and all. __________________ There is a war between the ones who say there is a war and the ones who say there isn't. ~~Leonard Cohen

Sep 24, 2002, 02:00 PM	#1
Smoothdrive Foolish Genius Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 455 Rep Power: 0	INSPIRE ME !! I'm thinking about changing carreer away from the server/network area towards programming/creating.. Thing is i have no clue where to start..i have no programming/coding skills worth mentioning..self-taught i always go as far as quic-clicks can take me, i bother to read for 5 minutes but when it gets longer i'm bored with it pretty quickly. I liked recording Macro's in Excel untill i learned to make some simple acces thingies (don't know VB so can't make the difficult ones), also spending enough time to make them look decent for users, i liked making websites (handcoding untill i got Frontpage which in turn i used untill i got dreamweaver) I like finding solutions. I don't like routine jobs, dry theoretical stuff and hours of hand-coding before you can get results sound terrible to me..don't mind the hours of work but i wanna see what i'm doing straight away.. Combining graphical interfaces with some hand tweaking is more my preffered method I guess.. So what should i start with..?? There's so many too choose form these days.. What's easy to start off with and will give a good enough and most usefull base ? __________________ GA-7VRXP, AMD2000+, 256MB PC-2700 DDR, Radeon 8500LE, 2x Maxtor 740 (40GB) stripe set, AGNeovo X-150.

Sep 25, 2002, 10:52 AM	Thread Starter #8
Smoothdrive Foolish Genius Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 455 Rep Power: 0	I've done some reading on Java in the past..was suprised at the amount of coding that went into very simple thingies and seems like you need a lot of practise before you can actually write something simple by head..also the thing i don't like about java is the slow starting and not very stable engine behind it..when it runs it runs allright but the times i have been looking at a grey window wondering weither it was starting or just a dead window..sometimes a simple restart would fix it sometimes it was an error in the coding and sometimes it just took forever to start.. I've read that both Windows and Linux are C++ that correct ? Saw some articles about using directX and using windows in C++..sounds better than Java to me (but what do i know at this time ) I take it C++ is also a language that needs compiling ?? __________________ GA-7VRXP, AMD2000+, 256MB PC-2700 DDR, Radeon 8500LE, 2x Maxtor 740 (40GB) stripe set, AGNeovo X-150.

Sep 26, 2002, 10:50 AM	Thread Starter #9
Smoothdrive Foolish Genius Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 455 Rep Power: 0	Started some self-study on C++ can anyone recommend a compiler ?? (wanna try as soon as i read about it ) __________________ GA-7VRXP, AMD2000+, 256MB PC-2700 DDR, Radeon 8500LE, 2x Maxtor 740 (40GB) stripe set, AGNeovo X-150.

Sep 26, 2002, 11:18 AM	#10
merry gargouille Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha Posts: 962 Rep Power: 0	Borland's and Microsofts are the most used, I think, but they are expensive... Or maybe you got friends in Bulgaria ;-) Free compilers: DEVC++ GCC Borland 5.5 (command line, free) You may want to check this page (Programmers Heaven) and thefreecountry.com __________________ There is a war between the ones who say there is a war and the ones who say there isn't. ~~Leonard Cohen

Sep 26, 2002, 11:46 AM	Thread Starter #11
Smoothdrive Foolish Genius Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 455 Rep Power: 0	Thanks, I'm checking internally within the company i work for..we probably have some licensed stuff already..(pretty big IT company (or THE BIGGEST if were American like the company )..but i'm sure i'll be looking puzzled at the compiler and it's results for the first few weeks anyway.. __________________ GA-7VRXP, AMD2000+, 256MB PC-2700 DDR, Radeon 8500LE, 2x Maxtor 740 (40GB) stripe set, AGNeovo X-150.

Sep 26, 2002, 12:42 PM	#12
merry gargouille Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha Posts: 962 Rep Power: 0	Good luck, then. Don't lose faith. __________________ There is a war between the ones who say there is a war and the ones who say there isn't. ~~Leonard Cohen

Sep 27, 2002, 07:34 AM	Thread Starter #14
Smoothdrive Foolish Genius Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 455 Rep Power: 0	C++ is pretty easy to start with.. For those who wonder..if you did your "and-or-while-for" back in the basic days you'll pretty much understand the first few lessons in no time.. Don't hold your breath till I know C++ hope i keep on liking it enough to stick with it. I'm inspired for the moment anyway thanks guys ! __________________ GA-7VRXP, AMD2000+, 256MB PC-2700 DDR, Radeon 8500LE, 2x Maxtor 740 (40GB) stripe set, AGNeovo X-150.

Sep 27, 2002, 09:48 AM	Thread Starter #16
Smoothdrive Foolish Genius Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 455 Rep Power: 0	Site ? what site ? i wasn't looking for a language to use on a site specifically Besides i'm not that good with graphics..been working on a simple site for a hairdresser..the colours are his choice (company colours and stuff) the little face is also his logo so my greatest achievements are incorporating the logo in the site and the menu..which i do think is funny. Never mind the photo's on the site..it's not live yet..just scrap photo's to get the basic layout.. Linkie don't you all start shouting at once..i'm no strict coder or anything and you guys can probably find 1001 things wrong in this site __________________ GA-7VRXP, AMD2000+, 256MB PC-2700 DDR, Radeon 8500LE, 2x Maxtor 740 (40GB) stripe set, AGNeovo X-150.