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Thread Rules
1. This is not a "do my homework for me" thread. If you have specific questions, ask, but don't post an assignment or homework problem and expect an exact solution.
2. No recruiting for your cockamamie projects (you won't replace facebook with 3 dudes you found on the internet and $20)
3. If you can't articulate why a language is bad, don't start slinging shit about it. Just remember that nothing is worse than making CSS IE6 compatible.
4. Use [code] tags to format code blocks. |
For the poll in the OP I voted Allman, even though I'm using GNU (which is basically Allman but with 2 spaces instead of 4 for an indent).
On April 15 2011 01:34 catamorphist wrote:
I have to admit, I don't get folks who recommend newbies start off with Java, C++, or C#. There's no way that someone with no prior programming experience would be able to quickly understand all the boilerplate and abstraction going on here. In addition, it's hard to write Java or C# without a big elaborate IDE, and a newbie needs to become comfortable with a text editor first, or else he might never. Python seems reasonable. C also seems reasonable. HTML and Javascript, I think, is reasonable.
True. Although I'd go with C instead of scripting languages first.
You don't even need to get profficient in it, if you'll be able to grasp just the basic things in C it will be much easier to go over to something else.
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9 Posts
Thanks for the responses guys, sorry to ask another but I was wondering if there was a good website to help me practice/learn coding. I am currently learning some from JavaBat.
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I'm sorry if anything similar has been brought up before, or w/e, but I don't have the 3 days it would take to browse the 49 pages of text.
Is anyone here experienced with C#, and specificall microsoft visual studio 2010, that would be willing to help me?
I can trade help for Zerg lessons, if you want. I have a project that's due in a few weeks and I don't even know where to start.
I'm currently taking a C++ class, so I felt confident enough to sign myself up as the project's lead programmer... and then realized I don't know how to work with Microsoft visual studio 2010.
Still, I have taken programming classes, and the concepts working behind the language are pretty easy for me to grasp; it's the syntax of the language and the organization that's killing me.
I'll be checking on the thread a little later, but if I miss your post, you can txt me in game @ DeCiBle.275
Any help would be appreciated 
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On April 15 2011 01:34 catamorphist wrote:
I have to admit, I don't get folks who recommend newbies start off with Java, C++, or C#. There's no way that someone with no prior programming experience would be able to quickly understand all the boilerplate and abstraction going on here. In addition, it's hard to write Java or C# without a big elaborate IDE, and a newbie needs to become comfortable with a text editor first, or else he might never. Python seems reasonable. C also seems reasonable. HTML and Javascript, I think, is reasonable.
It's easier to understand that *something* is done behind the scenes and here is how to use it. It's less to learn and more simplistic. As you get more familiar with coding, you can learn what is done behind the scenes and why.
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Hyrule18968 Posts
HTML is not a language and should not be taught as a first introduction to programming.
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Well, I don't see why not. Most people start programming because they like making cool things, and the barrier to a newbie making a cool website in Javascript is a lot lower than the barrier to making a cool anything else in anything. The language is fairly simple and concise. The UI layer is easy to understand. Hell, he doesn't even have to download a compiler or an interpreter; it just works.
I'm sure that someone learning programming would want to "graduate" to a more manly language soon, but HTML and Javascript sounds like a fairly ideal environment for an absolute beginner.
It's easier to understand that *something* is done behind the scenes and here is how to use it. It's less to learn and more simplistic. As you get more familiar with coding, you can learn what is done behind the scenes and why.
I guess it probably depends on your temperament, but I'd worry about turning people off who weren't super-dedicated. I can't imagine that I would have ever learned to program as a kid if, before writing things I did understand, I had to memorize a lot of incantations that were doing "something" behind the scenes that I couldn't understand. That sounds like a huge barrier to me.
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Hey guys, I need help with something related with TI BASIC.
I made a quadratic equation solver, and made it so it could display non real answers, the problem is, when the root of a number isn't exact it will display it as decimal. Is there any way to make the program so it displays the answers as simplified roots?
Here's my program
+ Show Spoiler +
:a+bi
: Prompt A,B,C
:B²-4AC→D
:Disp (-B+√(D))/(2A)→Frac
:Disp (-B-√(D))/(2A)→Frac
:DelVar A
:DelVar B
:DelVar C
:DelVar D
Take this quadratic equation as an example:
4x²+4x+4=0
For example, I would like the answers of this equation to be displayed as this:
(-1+i√3)/2
(-1-i√3)/2
instead i get
-1/2+.866025403...
-1/2-.866025403...
(the ... actually appear in the calculator)
All help appreciated... thanks!
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On April 15 2011 07:32 DeCiBle wrote:I'm sorry if anything similar has been brought up before, or w/e, but I don't have the 3 days it would take to browse the 49 pages of text. Is anyone here experienced with C#, and specificall microsoft visual studio 2010, that would be willing to help me? I can trade help for Zerg lessons, if you want. I have a project that's due in a few weeks and I don't even know where to start. I'm currently taking a C++ class, so I felt confident enough to sign myself up as the project's lead programmer... and then realized I don't know how to work with Microsoft visual studio 2010. Still, I have taken programming classes, and the concepts working behind the language are pretty easy for me to grasp; it's the syntax of the language and the organization that's killing me. I'll be checking on the thread a little later, but if I miss your post, you can txt me in game @ DeCiBle.275 Any help would be appreciated
I can help out a little if you want, I work as a .net 4 dev. What are the problems you are having?
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Classic programming. I'm an idiot for doing %n instead of %d. That took an hour to realize in this short simple program.
Beating myself right now.
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On April 15 2011 09:50 catamorphist wrote:Well, I don't see why not. Most people start programming because they like making cool things, and the barrier to a newbie making a cool website in Javascript is a lot lower than the barrier to making a cool anything else in anything. The language is fairly simple and concise. The UI layer is easy to understand. Hell, he doesn't even have to download a compiler or an interpreter; it just works. I'm sure that someone learning programming would want to "graduate" to a more manly language soon, but HTML and Javascript sounds like a fairly ideal environment for an absolute beginner. Show nested quote +It's easier to understand that *something* is done behind the scenes and here is how to use it. It's less to learn and more simplistic. As you get more familiar with coding, you can learn what is done behind the scenes and why. I guess it probably depends on your temperament, but I'd worry about turning people off who weren't super-dedicated. I can't imagine that I would have ever learned to program as a kid if, before writing things I did understand, I had to memorize a lot of incantations that were doing "something" behind the scenes that I couldn't understand. That sounds like a huge barrier to me.
Good point about newcomers not being able to make interesting things from the start with Java, C++, etc. I was just thinking the programming track that is offered at my college, which starts everyone in IT with Java. I first realized I enjoyed programming after taking a mandatory course in Java programming at my college. The thing I most enjoyed about programming wasn't seeing "cool things be made", but rather the constant problem solving that brought about a finished "product" (to start with was stuff like calculating the BMI from user input). It was a challenge, and I was good at it and liked it. (These also are why I still like programming to this day.)
HTML is very simple to learn and can produce interesting results very quickly. I think that's a fair place to start. I previously already had experience with HTML before taking programming classes. Although the skills there won't be directly transferable to other languages, it does help you with some logic and designing. It'll help with giving you a proper mindset for tackling programming later on.
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On April 15 2011 19:47 Wala.Revolution wrote:
Classic programming. I'm an idiot for doing %n instead of %d. That took an hour to realize in this short simple program.
Beating myself right now.
Don't worry, the shittiest bugs are always those that need the most time to figure out : )
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Hyrule18968 Posts
On April 15 2011 21:26 EscPlan9 wrote:Show nested quote +On April 15 2011 09:50 catamorphist wrote:Well, I don't see why not. Most people start programming because they like making cool things, and the barrier to a newbie making a cool website in Javascript is a lot lower than the barrier to making a cool anything else in anything. The language is fairly simple and concise. The UI layer is easy to understand. Hell, he doesn't even have to download a compiler or an interpreter; it just works. I'm sure that someone learning programming would want to "graduate" to a more manly language soon, but HTML and Javascript sounds like a fairly ideal environment for an absolute beginner. It's easier to understand that *something* is done behind the scenes and here is how to use it. It's less to learn and more simplistic. As you get more familiar with coding, you can learn what is done behind the scenes and why. I guess it probably depends on your temperament, but I'd worry about turning people off who weren't super-dedicated. I can't imagine that I would have ever learned to program as a kid if, before writing things I did understand, I had to memorize a lot of incantations that were doing "something" behind the scenes that I couldn't understand. That sounds like a huge barrier to me. Good point about newcomers not being able to make interesting things from the start with Java, C++, etc. I was just thinking the programming track that is offered at my college, which starts everyone in IT with Java. I first realized I enjoyed programming after taking a mandatory course in Java programming at my college. The thing I most enjoyed about programming wasn't seeing "cool things be made", but rather the constant problem solving that brought about a finished "product" (to start with was stuff like calculating the BMI from user input). It was a challenge, and I was good at it and liked it. (These also are why I still like programming to this day.) HTML is very simple to learn and can produce interesting results very quickly. I think that's a fair place to start. I previously already had experience with HTML before taking programming classes. Although the skills there won't be directly transferable to other languages, it does help you with some logic and designing. It'll help with giving you a proper mindset for tackling programming later on. It's not simple to learn. With a proper language you have a compiler that tells you if you make a mistake. Warnings let you know that while what you're doing works, it's not necessarily correct.
With HTML, you don't have that. Additionally, proper HTML requires you to write for everything, whereas with a proper language you decide "I'm going to write this for Windows 7." With HTML, you write for every operating system and every rendering engine. It's sort of ridiculous to tell someone to start with HTML. Especially since it's not a programming language. Also, it's only output. You need an additional language to actually do anything. In fact, I recommend starting programmers avoiding web development for as long as possible.
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On April 15 2011 23:08 tofucake wrote:Show nested quote +On April 15 2011 21:26 EscPlan9 wrote:On April 15 2011 09:50 catamorphist wrote:Well, I don't see why not. Most people start programming because they like making cool things, and the barrier to a newbie making a cool website in Javascript is a lot lower than the barrier to making a cool anything else in anything. The language is fairly simple and concise. The UI layer is easy to understand. Hell, he doesn't even have to download a compiler or an interpreter; it just works. I'm sure that someone learning programming would want to "graduate" to a more manly language soon, but HTML and Javascript sounds like a fairly ideal environment for an absolute beginner. It's easier to understand that *something* is done behind the scenes and here is how to use it. It's less to learn and more simplistic. As you get more familiar with coding, you can learn what is done behind the scenes and why. I guess it probably depends on your temperament, but I'd worry about turning people off who weren't super-dedicated. I can't imagine that I would have ever learned to program as a kid if, before writing things I did understand, I had to memorize a lot of incantations that were doing "something" behind the scenes that I couldn't understand. That sounds like a huge barrier to me. Good point about newcomers not being able to make interesting things from the start with Java, C++, etc. I was just thinking the programming track that is offered at my college, which starts everyone in IT with Java. I first realized I enjoyed programming after taking a mandatory course in Java programming at my college. The thing I most enjoyed about programming wasn't seeing "cool things be made", but rather the constant problem solving that brought about a finished "product" (to start with was stuff like calculating the BMI from user input). It was a challenge, and I was good at it and liked it. (These also are why I still like programming to this day.) HTML is very simple to learn and can produce interesting results very quickly. I think that's a fair place to start. I previously already had experience with HTML before taking programming classes. Although the skills there won't be directly transferable to other languages, it does help you with some logic and designing. It'll help with giving you a proper mindset for tackling programming later on. It's not simple to learn. With a proper language you have a compiler that tells you if you make a mistake. Warnings let you know that while what you're doing works, it's not necessarily correct. With HTML, you don't have that. Additionally, proper HTML requires you to write for everything, whereas with a proper language you decide "I'm going to write this for Windows 7." With HTML, you write for every operating system and every rendering engine. It's sort of ridiculous to tell someone to start with HTML. Especially since it's not a programming language. Also, it's only output. You need an additional language to actually do anything. In fact, I recommend starting programmers avoiding web development for as long as possible.
Javascript is a (relatively speaking) fine programming language. That's the programming language. HTML is the UI markup for it.
The lack of strictness, however, is a good point. It's true that there are lots of tools to validate HTML and do static analysis on Javascript, so the strictness is there for experienced programmers, but for a newbie, they aren't going to use these tools. It's probably worse to get a newbie acclimated to programming in an environment where they don't always have to be precise.
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What's the difference between Upper confidence tree and Monte-carlo tree search? Other than the UCB1-selection algorithm. Why do they refer to it as the "upper confidence tree", and not just "MCTS with another in-tree selection method"?
It makes no sense. Please help =).
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Not sure if it belongs in this thread, but it seemed like the best place to post this question... Decided to ask here, because I'm not really involved in a Ruby/Rails community.
I've been developing with RoR for a while and I've finally decided to switch from Ubuntu to OS X. I was looking into getting a laptop, but I'm having a hard time figuring out which one to get. I use a Windows desktop for gaming, and I have a 30 inch monitor I would hook the laptop up to for any kind of serious development.
I was thinking of getting a 13 inch screen, because I wanted to focus on portability while still being able to do some work when the laptop isn't hooked up to my monitor. From there I wasn't sure what kind of power I was going to need/wanted.
I immediately thought that the Macbook seemed like the best option due to price and the fact that Ruby isn't all that demanding, at least from what I've noticed. Although the SSD that's available for the Air and Macbook Pro attracted me.
I guess my main question is whether or not the SSD would be worth the $400 increase, and if I was going to make that step... Would I notice the performance boost from the Pro, or should I just grab an Air for greater portability.
Thanks for any help.
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On April 15 2011 23:08 tofucake wrote:It's not simple to learn. With a proper language you have a compiler that tells you if you make a mistake. Warnings let you know that while what you're doing works, it's not necessarily correct.
With HTML, you don't have that.
Consider your browser as the compiler and http://validator.w3.org/ as using -Wall -Wextra.
Additionally, proper HTML requires you to write for everything, whereas with a proper language you decide "I'm going to write this for Windows 7." With HTML, you write for every operating system and every rendering engine.
Um, only if you want to, on both counts. What about us folks who say (re. a "proper language") "let's make this cross platform"? And why can't you decide "let's only target Firefox"? It's not like newbie programmers are going to be writing production-ready programs.
It's sort of ridiculous to tell someone to start with HTML. Especially since it's not a programming language. Also, it's only output. You need an additional language to actually do anything.
Now this is true... if you want to do programming, HTML alone isn't a place to start. HTML + Javascript however would be somewhat reasonable.
I'd recommend something else before that, probably Python, but it wouldn't be unreasonable to start with Javascript by any means. I definitely fall into the top-down camp for almost everyone and think starting with C is a mistake (only a little bit because I think using C is almost always a mistake, but that's a whole other ball of worms).
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On April 16 2011 06:49 Augury wrote:
Not sure if it belongs in this thread, but it seemed like the best place to post this question... Decided to ask here, because I'm not really involved in a Ruby/Rails community.
I've been developing with RoR for a while and I've finally decided to switch from Ubuntu to OS X. I was looking into getting a laptop, but I'm having a hard time figuring out which one to get. I use a Windows desktop for gaming, and I have a 30 inch monitor I would hook the laptop up to for any kind of serious development.
I was thinking of getting a 13 inch screen, because I wanted to focus on portability while still being able to do some work when the laptop isn't hooked up to my monitor. From there I wasn't sure what kind of power I was going to need/wanted.
I immediately thought that the Macbook seemed like the best option due to price and the fact that Ruby isn't all that demanding, at least from what I've noticed. Although the SSD that's available for the Air and Macbook Pro attracted me.
I guess my main question is whether or not the SSD would be worth the $400 increase, and if I was going to make that step... Would I notice the performance boost from the Pro, or should I just grab an Air for greater portability.
Thanks for any help.
Why would you care? buy a SSD and fit it in yourself, won't cost you $400 dollars.
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Don't think you can do that with Mac hardware.
And this is the programming thread, not the computer build thread.
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On April 16 2011 06:42 Qzy wrote:
What's the difference between Upper confidence tree and Monte-carlo tree search? Other than the UCB1-selection algorithm. Why do they refer to it as the "upper confidence tree", and not just "MCTS with another in-tree selection method"?
It makes no sense. Please help =).
Now here's a good question. Anyone?
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EPT
