I have very very little expirience programming. mainly PHP in web design but I do understand a few 'concepts' not locked into any specific language.

I would like to cut open Gaim and do some interface definition to it and also add some png (w/alpha layer) support and have no clue on where to begin... with any coding project that is SO, a short question for you guys...

What book(s)/Site(s) explain the programming environment under GNU/Linux and and recommendations on C books? Gaim is coded in C, So i guess I'll start there first. I have no clue about how and where to compile, or even work with CVS.. im that much of a newb! I have the passion and time to learn it all as deeply as possible tho so.. thats a good start!


Thanks for your help!
To long have I been 'just' a graphics monkey! I would like to be a code monkey aswell!

You need to learn C (any manual will be OK, printed or online), then GTK (library Gaim is using, www.gtk.org) and then read and understand parts of Gaim code you'd like to modify. GTK manual you can download from gtk.org. It's good. The same with CVS.
I must say that what you'd like to do is quite hard and will take much time.
Good luck!

*looks at the direction you point to while brining up his own hand, pointing in the very same direction*

"Ahh, that way... looks like quite the journey!"

*gives a quick hop in the air to reposition his backpack*

Thanks (:

Yes, it looks like a journey.

2 weeks later and im getting pretty far.

For others out there that understand and amy have coded under a different environment, learn the basic functions and environment of GNU/Linux before you try to code. Understanding some of the basics I never bothered to learn in the beginning really set me back and a quick tip for others; If you find any old books on linux (like Linux Unleashed) get it! the basic structure(s) these older books talka bout are still very valid and i've found these old books to really introduce the concepts easily. more so then the current books i've found at barnes & noble.

Anyway, off to bed with my books

id suggest going to your neighborhood barnes & noble or Borders and seeing there, O'reilly books I heard cover a wide array of topics and some are about GNU/Linux and various other things.
http://www.oreilly.com/
those guys are trusted so id suggest going there first. they also have some books under the "open book license" look around thier site and you'll find some links, if you like what you see i suggest purcashing.

also, how'd u get started using PHP? im interested in learning but have no idea where to start.