The argument is that if you use OOP blindly, you typically have bloat since your objects have data (and maybe code) you don't need.

Also, in OOP data access it typically through yet another pointer/reference which degrades performance.

If we are talking about learning, the best thing would be to study, say, four/five languages simultaneously:

1. an assembly one;
2. "C";
3. C++;
4. Perl/Python/Ruby/Lua;
5. OCaml/Haskell/LISP

- then you'll know what it's all about.

Whoa ...
Nope - then you'd be so bloody confused you'd give up even thinking of a career in programming.

A learner trying to impress by the breadth of their "knowledge" ain't going to fool anyone. Personally I reckon Python would be a fine introduction - easy to understand and get into.
I picked it up a few weeks back and like it for what I wanted it for - a bit of quick GUI prototyping.

Which language is "best" usually degenerates into more of a religious war than a technical assessment.

I disagree.

In the, say, 19-th century kids in wealthy families were taught several foreign languages simultaneously.

Looking back at my experience learning both computer and foreign languages I'd say the most difficult thing was paradigm shift.

That's why I suggest to learn a number of different paradigms simultaneously, so from the very beginning there will be an understanding that there is more than one way to do it, and understanding of (dis)advantages of the existing ways.

This is fantastic!

My problem has been to find the language that I can take on full throttle. (C, Python...)
But what has happened is that I waffle across C, Python and Bash shell.
It would amazing if I can continue to waffle and still get things done. since I'm teaching myself, the problem becomes one of structure.
In January, I plan to take computer repair class. The maybe a C/C++ class for structure.
Can it be possible to find similarities between learning many languages at an early age and computer languages at first try??

I guess the highlighted in bold is what I claim - learn languages in parallel and try to understand (dis)advantages of all of them and of the approaches used in them.

...

I mentioned Lua - even though I don't program in it, seems to be elegant and simple, and seems to respect the Occam's razor.

Well, then you influenced me.
Im looking at Lua now and it seems fun and I'm a big fan of the Occam's razor in other areas.
Thanks!

Although, is Lua used as a stand alone language rather than used for programmers of other langauges?

Cant find a good Lua tutorial or video!!! anyone can help?

???

http://lua-users.org/wiki/TutorialDirectory

doing too many things at once... that one skipped me!

to be honest with you I don't know! lol I installed VB6 on my windows machine but I got bored of it... then I was re-searching for a good programming language for a beginner and I found Python... I created a few small programs (really small) lol but I'm liking it! again I have NO programming experience at all! wish me luck!

type 'hello world'

hello world

lol

yeah, man good luck!

I'm stuck with the hots for C (maybe Python). And as a self-teacher, I have no idea what to do with it once I'm proficient enough..

Write a whole new OS?? Maybe work on minix??? hehehe...

i suggest you take it one step at a time. Give Python a try. After learning the basics, get more in depth. I don't recommend learning a few programming languages simultaneously.

Hi, Sergei.
There are some implications of this. I'm with ghostdog74 -- I don't think I could do this, because I am one of those who needs to concentrate on one thing:
On the other hand, this is similar to syntopical reading:
Apologies for the off-topic injection. If this seems worthwhile discussing, we can begin a new thread ... cheers, makyo

yean Mannclay! go for it! lol I really want to learn some programming because I want to pursue a career as Ethical Hacker and I must know some basic programming. what about you? what's the reason you want to learn programming?

Can't place it... I love the utility of the kernel and its place in the structure of a machine.

Also, it seems that I have a taste for C syntax, which may help to understand most other programming languages. (maybe not perl).

But, really, to get whatever small programming gigs here and there while doing my other freelance job.

I read that companies outsource coders, but that they outsource to other countries as well which may not help me get started, you know, get SOME sort of exp.

I just wonder that if you know C and Python, simply what it can do, then when someone offers a problem, you can solve it wit those languages. But what are examples of some basic problems that can to be solved in C or Python?!

Also, what would be the basics learned in a language that can be transferred to other languages??
loops, do...while, all that sort of thing?