HTML, CSS, PHP, SQL

I have not updated in a long time. That is because I have been way too busy for some extra time. Life responsibilities, work, and many other things(most notably an interest in Star Trek: The Next Generation) taking up time. So while I have been able to do coding, updating this has been on the back burner. This is what I've been doing the past 6 months.

I purchased another three books. A book on HTML & CSS, Javascript & JQuery, and PHP and MySQL. I finished the HTML & CSS book. I really like that book. Clear explanations, pictures, sample code, good appendix for easy reference, this book had everything I wanted. I also didn't know anything about HTML, let alone ever really hearing of CSS besides some things on codecademy.com.

I understand HTML and CSS aren't technically programming, but the simple coding and instantly gratifying results of those languages helped to reinvigorate my interest in programing. I haven't gone in to the Javascript & JQuery book as of yet. That is due to my most recent endeavor...

PHP!

I'm really enjoying this latest book I bought. I did get a PHP book from the library but that proved to be too out of date. So I purchased this book on Amazon. I am only in the middle of chapter two but can already see the benefits I will be able to take from this book. The original book from the library was helpful in setting up Apache and PHP on my computer although I did have to Google how to set up Apache and PHP to function.

So that is what I have been doing over the past 6 months. I also made two little functioning programs in Python. A little Monty Hall game and a little window where you can click and a ball will bounce around the window a few times. The later program is admittedly crudely coded. I feel I cheated some in the way it works, but that is something I feel I will have to work on in the future.

Fibonacci and Circles

The past week I didn't do too many exciting new things with programming. I basically just finished up the exercises in chapter 3. Most were easy. I enjoyed the Fibonacci sequence problem. However a little research online shows the Fibonacci sequence really starts 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5 and not 1, 1, 2, 3, 5. I also had to look up the formula for the Fibonacci sequence. After knowing the formula, writing a program to find a specific number in the sequence was easy. I'm not however, entirely sure how to write the desired program starting the sequence at 0, 1, 1. I also have not given it too much thought. If you have the book, I still do not know how to solve exercise 15. Some day I'll revisit it and figure out how to write a for loop so that it alternates addition and subtraction.**

The new chapter discuses object-oriented programming and requires a free download of a graphics library graphics.py. It was rather easy to find and the instructions for downloading it and what folder to put it in were quite easy. Also Python includes something called Tkinter, but according to the book, it will teach principles of computer graphics that should help with more in depth GUI frameworks.

Thus far I have used the graphics.py library to draw circles, text, squares, and other shapes. Also starting to learn how to manipulate these objects. However the brain power to comprehend this change to writng GUI programs is a little more difficult. In my high school programming class over 10 years ago we only ever used C++ for very basic text based data programs. My current schedule only allows a little programming every day, so I'll let this new information soak in over night and get back at it tomorrow.

** I'm open to suggestions. So if you know the problem I'm talking about feel free to contact me or post what to do to solve it.

Busy...

It is nice to have a busy life. I really enjoy all the things I am doing. Even work can be nice to some extent depending on the job. I really like doing break/fix work on consumer electronics displays. It's the tedious work on other things I am not overly fond of. But I suppose no job can be perfect. Except cartooning. I always say my ideal job would be a cartoonist. I would have to have an idea, and some real skill first.

To summarize, I have not had an over abundance of time to learn programming this past week. That's not a bad idea, to update this on a certain day every week... Maybe I'll revisit that idea next week when I update this.

I did however finish chapter three in the Python Programming book. I am in the programming exercises at the close of the chapter. So far I did the first ten exercises. I really like how it seems to be teaching just one point in each chapter while still helping you to learn how that one area of Python can be used for different, sometimes practical, applications. Such as writing a program to calculate the cost of ordering coffee by the pound where the program user inputs how many pounds of coffee he or she wants.

Python seems to be a powerful programming language. I have not used any previous versions but the way the book explains, it seems Python 3.x has made some improvements over 2.x. So I am glad I don't have to relearn things. I suppose that will come later with Python 4, or whatever other language I want to tackle next.

Anyway, now I feel as this little robot does and am going to bed now so my brain can compile the input from today.

This is just a quick sketch on paper I scanned.

I should add I'm also kind of trying to learn how to use Manga Studio. That is a really intriguing program to use. Then maybe I can turn these sketches into professional looking pieces of art.

Back to the Keyboard

I took a bit of a hiatus from programming. In June I went for a week class in Ohio to increase my skills in teaching the Bible to people that are deaf. Then I visited friends in California for 10 days. It was a crazy month and I had few opportunities to study programming. So my few days using Codecademy.com has been my only attempts so far to learn how to use Python.

I did however get my two books and was able to read the first two chapters of the "Python Programming" book. It is very interesting and takes a slightly different approach to teaching than Codecademy. For example I noticed this has not used if or elif loops, but Codecademy used them fairly early. This early in my venture I have no idea which is a better way. I intend to use both for the time, especially since the book seems more in depth and Codecademy's purpose appears to give an introduction and overview of learning the languages it offers.

Another hindrance to learning is that I didn't have access to a real computer while I was away. Yes I had my iPad but I can't type on it. The absence of tactile feedback causes me to believe a touch screen keyboard will never replace a real keyboard.

I'm not sure when the pocket reference will come in handy, but I think it will be when I learn more things in Pyhon so I will know what I'm looking for in that book.

Finally I arrived home July 3rd after being on an overnight plane. Now I've had a few days to try out what I learned! Will explain when I have more time to write.

Codecademy

Just signed up for Codecademy. I only did the first two lessons in Python. Overall it is teaching the syntax. The first two lessons were "Python Syntax" and "Tip Calculator".

I thought it was a nice way of learning how to begin writing programs. It makes it simple, which I feel is very important for a beginner. Just show some things you should know and learn through writing simple code. Look forward to doing this a little bit each day. Will update when I get my books I ordered on Amazon.

Computer

I received my new computer today that I will use for learning how to program. Still waiting for my Python books. A friend of mine suggested codecademy.com. May try there and see what that's like.

Asus X551M

Processor: 2.4 ghz

RAM: 4 GB

HDD: 500 GB

Last year I bought my first Apple laptop. It took about 5 minutes to set everything up and about a week to get used to the UI and different terminology. Now I very much love my Mac. This new computer is my first venture with Windows 8. It took about 45 minutes to set everything up with Microsoft and have it get things ready so I can use it. Then I have to delete all the fluff like Twitter, and other worthless apps. (However I realize this website might be in the same catergory as Twitter)

I know I shouldn't be quick to judge, but I can't see buying a non Apple computer product. I bought this Windows computer so I can have something inexpensive and not have to worry about clogging it up with things. It seems like it should serve this purpose, but if I ever need a computer that I want to do actual work on, it would take something outstanding to convince me that Windows is currently superior.

RIP XP...

Also, I wrote this on my iPad. Finishing this up on my new computer and yes, still very strange to use. Why do I have to change Internet Explorer to be used in desktop view? Why put the address bar at the bottom in what I'm assuming is some kind of app based usage of IE. Is that more convenient? I can't imagine getting used to that.

Learning to Program

I have an interest in learning programming. There is a local college offering a class but after some online research, and the classes not fitting into my schedule, I decided to teach myself.

After more research in online forums I decided on starting out in Python. It seems generally accepted that if one is new to programming, Python is the place to start. I did have a C++ class in high school, but as of now, that was 10 years ago.

I bought a computer online and two books about learning Python programming language. Once I get the books I will begin posting here my adventure into the world of programming. I will try to document what I'm learning and what my accomplishments and thoughts are as I learn. If anyone out there stumbles upon this and has any helpful suggestions, please do so. My next update will be when my computer and books arrive at my home.