Thread: How are you learning programming?

There's always an exception to the rule. 47 yo, self-taught.

You're always self taught. Books a/o teachers may help, but the best book or best teacher in the world can't make you learn anything.
C++ is also self taught in that you have to actually write code yourself to get it. Reading knowledge will help, but won't do jack as far as knowing how to really write code.
Also, the kid you're looking for is called Xterria, I think. Look him up under members.

Well yea, all of thats true but thats like asking "Did you learn quantum physics in a class or are you self taught?" and me saying "Well I'm self taught becuase the teacher couldn't force me to learn, I wanted to." Im sorry that was rude. I'll shut up now.

Since I'm still learning C++ I can't neccasarily say I'm self taught, yet I am self teaching. I'm a sophomore, as well, and I just started programming back in October. My school only offers Pascal programming classes, so I thought I would start out learning Pascal first and take a Pascal class next semester, but I decided I didn't want to take an extra class (all of my classes are year long, so I would have to take an extra class). A few weeks after I decided that I wouldn't be taking the Pascal class, I found it useless for me to keep learning Pascal, I took up C++ instead. I've actually only read a few pages of a tutorial concerning C++ so far, but just last night I obtained a 600+ page book of C++.

I'm very avid about becoming a game programmer, and I hope to be able to start programming very extensive games (I really want to create a Civilization-like game) within the next few years. I know for sure that I will have help available to me for various aspects of game creation, so the main obstacle in my way as of now is the actual learning of C++, which is a mighty big obstacle.

seems like i'm the only dumb ass who still has to learn this stuff at school

having a sense of humor is always helpful.!

I suspect if you polled people who have made successful careers as programmers you would get a significantly different response than you will get from this poll. I suspect that people doing this just for the fun of it, ie. hobbyists/hackers, but not not trying to make a living from it, take a much different approach to all this.

True, this poll seems to have attracted a fair number of go-getters, but they have yet to "test the waters". I have no doubt that this is still an industry where you can rise to the top even if you are self-taught, but I doubt that that was the approach of majority of the people who have made it there.

Don't worry, I am def. still learning and have ways to go.

Self-Taught.. my high school doesn't teach much besides Visual Basic.. which is kinda dodgey in a way.. but I guess I would come to a wall sooner or later.. and I would need some assistance in some stuff.. 'cos books don't really do jack.. you gotta program the code.. and you need to think a lot more than what you "learn" or the concepts of the language.. i fink i'm gonna confuse some ppl.. but it's my first post on tis forum

I am also a sophomore in high school, and I think it's a good idea to learn in a class first then go to self-teaching, it's sorta like using training wheels on a bike. Personally, at this point I am in a class just for the credits. My teacher is pretty bright but the class isn't, so I usually just do nothing during that period... anyway I'm just rambling so i guess im done.

I am in 9th grade and I am self taught but with help from people at the c++ programming board. I would like to take classes but my school doesn't offer any computer related classes besides keyboarding and using the internet explorer web browser. To tell the truth, most people around where I live don't even have a computer they are all farmers. (IT IS HELL!!!!!!!!!)

Using c++ Primer Plus 3rd edition. Good book. Have some experience programming Java, Pascal am 33 years old and feeling it.