Hello. I am completely brand new to programming. I am not in college, currently, but plan to try to get back to college next spring or next fall. I have worked construction for the past fourteen years, which doesn't appear to be a usual precursor to deciding to get into computer science and programming. I am sick of construction and have always had an interest in programming. I was supposed to be the kid that went to college right after high school and get a high paying job doing something, but I took to the party route and the rest just fell into place. I have kids now, feel like I have wasted any intellectual capacity that I may have and want to start from scratch at thirty-two years old.
Sorry for all of that, but I wanted to give a base as to where I am coming from. I found this website and it seems to have a plethora of information and live sources of information. I do have a C programming book. It is the C Programming Language from Brian Kernighan and Dennis Ritchie. It seems like a very good book or at least I seem to be able to follow the concepts with some sense of understanding.
I have just a few questions to start.
How should I begin trying to learn to program? What should I be attempting to put together at first for a simple program?
I do have a compiler. I downloaded the Bloodshed Dev compiler and have tested it out on some simple examples from the book I am working out of.
Thanks for your time. Please be patient with me...without a knowledgeable instructor backing me up this could be slow and painful...LOL.