----------------------------------- iker Wed Feb 08, 2006 10:28 pm Looking for a suggestion ----------------------------------- I've recently found out that I could not take my second year of programming in highschool, and since I could not do that, I've decided to learn Java on my own. Now I'm taking grade 11 computer engineering at a different school(the schools in town are on the same school board and crap), and we're barely touching programming in that class. I have already borowed a copy of the "ready to program" environment, and the textbook that goes with it from some of my teachers. Now, my question is, where should I start? I've already scanned about 200 pages of the book, and noticed many similarities between Java and Turing, and was wondering, what would be the easiest way to learn Java without thinking of how to make it like a Turing program. If this isn't making any sence, read this paragraph, if it is, just skip it. What I mean is like when you speak english, and you try to learn french, you associate every french word with an english word and try to put it together like that, and end up with mixed words and a pile of crap. Same thing with Turing to Java. I know that Java isn't as linear, and works with procedures and functions that all can run at the same time, but I think 'put "Hey"' instead of 'c.println ("hey");'. I'm planning on reading the book, going through almost every page, and reading some of the tutorials on compsci, but just need to know what would be the best way to go to Java from Turing. ----------------------------------- wtd Wed Feb 08, 2006 10:49 pm ----------------------------------- If you aren't taking a class, skip Ready To Program and the information that was offered to you. From everything I know about it, it's just not that good. About the only purpose it serves is teaching kids how to pass tests tailored for Holtsoft's proprietary software. You can get standard Java and good tools for dealing with it for free, and there's a boatload of information at java.sun.com. Ready to Program is specifically designed to be like Turing. If you get away from materials tailored for RTP you'll see much more idiomatic code that looks a lot less like Turing. Second... why are you limiting yourself to Java? You don't seem to have any obligation to learn Java as part of a class, and you can find information and environments for other languages for free as well. ----------------------------------- Hikaru79 Wed Feb 08, 2006 11:26 pm ----------------------------------- Second... why are you limiting yourself to Java? You don't seem to have any obligation to learn Java as part of a class, and you can find information and environments for other languages for free as well. Because presumably he would like to be taking some computer science courses at a Canadian university later on, and (for better or worse), they use Java and expect you to have a rudimentary knowledge of it as well. ----------------------------------- wtd Wed Feb 08, 2006 11:47 pm ----------------------------------- I learned a bunch of other languages before Java. You know how long it took me to figure out Java? A week at most. I'm not saying never learn Java, but it's not the best choice for learning basic concepts. ----------------------------------- Andy Wed Feb 08, 2006 11:54 pm ----------------------------------- i agree with wtd... learning java isnt hard once u know how to program.. i did very little java before university, and without even going to class, i was getting 95-100s on the programming part of my cs assignments in java... now the documentation, thats another story lol ----------------------------------- Martin Thu Feb 09, 2006 12:10 am ----------------------------------- i was getting 95-100s on the programming part of my cs assignments in java... now the documentation, thats another story lol Hey, me too. After the first two assignments I was failing the class, yet my programs never failed a test case. Personally, I think that for (int i=0;i