Ask HN: Picked a First Project to Learn to Code With but Need Language Advice. | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Picked a First Project to Learn to Code With but Need Language Advice.

1 pointrbyrne5 comments

I've been wanting to learn to code for some time now, and most people told me to pick something I wanted to make and build it from the ground-up (Or top-down should I say).

My project is based off extracting certain data from Google Maps API, storing it in a database somewhere, analyzing it for different situations and putting it back out. (At least this is what I plan to do, I have no clue how possible/intensive this is but I guess I will find out).

I'm sure everyone hates these "what language should I learn" questions, but I figure since there may be certain things that work really well with my situation and certain that could work terribly, it could be a valid question.

Thanks in advance.

tl;dr What language to use with Google APIs.

Since you'll be working w/ Google APIs, you'll likely want to go with Google App Engine to deploy your app, and their SDK is available in Java or Python, so I'd recommend Python.

Just my $0.02

+1 for python.

Assuming that you're just starting to code, this project sounds too ambitious.

At least try breaking it into smaller chunks that you can work on independently. For example, moving data in and out of a database. Install MySQL, learn about tables, fields, and a bit of SQL from a MySQL client command prompt. Then learn how to do these things with MySQL using some other programming language with a MySQL library. I think carpentry starts with banging nails, not designing houses.

I started off with Basic when I was a kid. I'd recommend Python to get started these days, ideally running on Ubuntu Linux.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I actually already started Learn Python the Hard Way about a week ago, so this works out great.

And thanks for the advice on the project, I will probably do as you suggested and start with some simpler projects and then expand into what I envisioned, after I get a grasp of MySQL, python etc.

Thanks again, and see you around HN.

Python.

Places to get started:

http://docs.python.org/tutorial/

http://learnpythonthehardway.org/index

http://www.pythonchallenge.com/

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