FAQ: What programming language should I learn first?
programmingzen.com
programmingzen.com
If your friends don't program (or you don't have any friends), learn Python.
I work 0% in Java now, of course.
But I do find Javascript/HTML to be so pleasant and easy for beginners that I find it hard to suggest anything else. Your "hello world" program is just: "Hello world"
In an html file. ;-)
I'm always surprised to see even seasoned programmers attack Python for its whitespace being confusing. The only confusion or problem I can imagine encountering with Python is the spaces vs. tabs debate, and even that is only an issue if you're working with developers who disagree with you on the debate. In a job environment, hopefully there will be a style guide that's accepted and enforced by the developers. Of course, PEP 8 technically settles it for the Python community.
It's liberating. You don't have to think about it. You don't have to care. About the only thing left to argue about is how many spaces per indent, but that's solvable by agreeable people and whatever PEP (I forget) says how many spaces.
>> left to argue about is how many spaces per indent ...
1) Pick one. It doesn't matter.
2) If you're still asking me after I've given Answer #1, then Ruby or Python. But really, it still doesn't matter.
If your trying to get a feel, then maybe something simple with good tutorials like Small Basic http://smallbasic.com/ wouldn't be such a bad thing.
Weirdly, I would say Postscript and work your way through Adobe's cookbook ( http://partners.adobe.com/public/developer/ps/sdk/sample/ind... ).
Then when you are ready to make the jump, use Python, you already know how to, just continue using it, you are now a programmer.