Go directly to C, or a close relative.

The extra time and frustration you'll deal with learning a structured, low-level (read: geeky, technical) language, you'll more than make up for by being able to pick up lighter languages with ease.

I wish someone had told my stupid college that. They made you start with Pascal, because it's "easier" to learn and something stupid like that. Ofcourse I proved them wrong when I took a C++ prog and a Pascal prog that did basicly the same thing and showed them to my mother. Mom has a hard time turning on a computer, she looked at the Pascal and said you know I don't understand this . Showed her the C++ one and she says oh, this does....

I'm not sure if you agreed with me, or proved me wrong anecdotally.

I do still hold by what I said, though.

What should I learn? I'm relatively a beginner programmer, I guess. My knowledge is basically limited to HTML (not a programming language, I know) and CSS, PHP, zScript (zMUD), a little ######, and tiny little bits of these languages: VBScript, ASP.NET, TADS (similar to C, I think), and... yeah.

As said, a C style language would be good, but they aren't really easy to learn on your own. Best learned through a class of sorts.

If your good with zmud, you should PM Estarra as we're starting a Lusternia zmud project.

I would recommend Perl and Python for you, Zaltan. Those go well with the other languages you've picked up, so that you've a collective skillset that will find use together. Too, they're a bit more robust and versatile than typical scripting languages, which seems where your past lies. Both are commonly used scripting languages in MUD clients, so you could test the waters by converting your system over with those.

Or, if you want to go a somewhat different path than you've travelled in the past, go with VB.NET or C#, or any of the other Visual Studio languages, since you're familiar with ASP.NET.

Wait? What? What are you saying? As in ACP? An "LCP"? Please no.

No as in a plugin to create a visual interface.

Also I'm learning C++ and Pascal atm. (C++ fun, Pascal school)
I'llbe learning Delphi next year and wanna take a swing at Java before university. I reccemend C++ as so many other scripts are based on it.

Whats this Fortran you talk of Buho and where could I get it...

Fortran is an extremely old language created for mathmatics. Some famous games were written in it, best one being CCA(Collousal Caves Adventure). And yes I know I spelled the first C wrong, it's late and I don't care enough to check the correct spelling

Colossal?

And my dad used fortran, I seem to recall... old old stuff.

Funny thing is, the only experience I have with programming is with some php/cgi on the internet, and I'm taking a Visual Basic class now, but I'm entering college in the computer Science major . I figure I have enough interest for it though, so it's best to start out early even if I end up doing something else.

The coolest thing about fortran was that it came with its own type of PAPER!

Scroll up a bit and look at my "Bill Gates Qoute" that is all I have to say about that.

What's wrong with VB?

People like to razz Microsoft products. VB is something of a cash cow for them.

I'd say there's a lot of money in VB development, though, particularly in small scale database apps, mid-tier development. A lot of manufacturing companies seem to be gravitating towards VB.NET for such strange things as process control.

It's an easy language with widespread use and thus widespread job opportunities.

I'd rather work in other languages, but I figure you use the language and tools that companies are paying for. Learn a fun language like prolog for your own amusement.

Heheh, Prolog sounds interesting...

Any recommendations for a language for a rank beginner that doesn't require said beginner (me) to download some sort of compiler / pay for hosting to see? Am perfectly willing to start with something harder as long as I can code it in Notepad / some other program that doesn't require me to have a credit card or chequebook.

All I know is HTML, CSS, and a tiny bit of J a v a S c r i p t (forums seem to have a problem with me typing it out properly)

i hated vb... i found it easy, but buggy and a bit weak. Especially with database management, id rather stick to the likes of oracle, sql. Like Eldanien said it would work for small scale, for anything bigger well I would use something else.

html i would think... dunno

for recommendations... i dunno hehe try vb hehe... go to your uni library get the books look for one with a compiler ...

EDIT: thats to summah

What would be good for big-scale then?