Thread: School options

As this is my first post I'd first like to say sorry if I'm using the incorrect sub-forum for my question. My question is what are some decent options to learn the language? So far I've spent some time on youtube tutorials, followed oracles tutorials most of the way through and various other tutorials. Other that I am brand new to programming, and computers in general too, so that might not be the best start for me But I'm looking into a site called javaonline.org and was curious if any of the veterans have heard of it? If not, what would be another online option with limited funds and a current full time job in mind? Any advice is greatly appreciated, oh and hello for the first time. I can't wait until i can contribute to this forum as much as i can and get my code on!

Thanks Kevin, unfortunately i think that's my biggest problem is that I am unsure of which route I'd like to take, because i don't know enough about programming to even know which options to consider. The whole reason I'd like to learn is to work towards a career change. I do not enjoy what I am doing currently. Browsing through this forum i learned that i should make the switch from an IDE to using notepad and the command prompt, which makes perfect sense to give me a deeper understanding of the code I'm writing. But the reason I'm considering that particular site is because I'll be graded on the lessons I've spent my time on. My code will be critiqued and i will be told what i can improve on. I've spent lot's of time and written quite a lot of very "meaningless" code so far and just feel stuck. Nothing that I have learned has given me that AH HA moment where i can see how what I'm learning can relate towards getting a job someday, if that makes sense. The hardest part for me is coming up with projects for myself, example, I'm learning inheritance and how to create objects. I made a car class and gave it certain fields that every car has, then some other classes which have additional features to add to my already made "car". This is not something that will ever be useful but it's how i can relate to things i guess. Please bare with me, It's hard to describe my frustrations when I don't know all that much, i will get better though, at least i hope

Making myself a project around my other interests is somewhat difficult because my interests are cars/driving, skateboarding, shooting and i used to spend a good amount of time playing COD on xbox (never played computer games, either), that is until Java took over. Although, i do also really enjoy music and have always thought making a little music player/radio widget would be very fun but i wouldn't even know where to start. Even better, I'd love to make a little music player that could access my google music so, again easier said than done for me. I just feel like i am so far away from being capable of doing anything useful yet despite having roughly 2 months of pretty determined practice under my belt. I realize this isn't something somebody can learn overnight but on the same hand i feel like the amount of hours i have put in i should be able to reflect something I'm proud of. I know one thing i need to do is read less and code more. Very glad i joined this forum, thank for not treating me like a nooblet i appreciate all the advice.

Boom, perfect. Pong sounds like an awesome starting point. I'll check out those tutorials tonight. Thanks again Kevin, you've a big help. I'm sure we'll speak again. Since you're the only person I've talked to here I'll try to resist the urge to spam you with my questions via PM's

Originally Posted by ///M Dood

Since you're the only person I've talked to here

some of us remain quiet as Kevin provides you with excellent suggestions.

Originally Posted by ///M Dood

I'll try to resist the urge to spam you with my questions via PM's

Please do, what else would we read throughout the day

You could read all of the threads that say i have a problem, what would your code look like?

Originally Posted by ///M Dood

You could read all of the threads that say i have a problem

Unless I am out of the country, I usually read every post on this site, (plus)

Originally Posted by ///M Dood

what would your code look like?

Usually lengthy and boring, littered with javadoc to the point the code becomes almost hidden.

I was just kidding man, the first time i browsed these forums i mostly read threads asking a question, getting a fully coded answer and you replying with the "problems with spoon feeding" thread. Which by the way makes perfect sense after reading it. I'm glad that's a rule.

Originally Posted by ///M Dood

I was just kidding man

But of course, all in fun

Originally Posted by ///M Dood

the first time i browsed these forums i mostly read threads asking a question, getting a fully coded answer and you replying with the "problems with spoon feeding" thread.

Yes, in my opinion a very gray area. Sometimes a snippet of code is just what is needed for the OP to "get it", and sometimes the OP was just about "do my homework for me". We are challenged every day to try to filter out the "give me" from the "help me" (though sometimes it is not very clear).

A. I really need to learn the multi-quote trick, fancy stuff! And B. I've been trying to read up on here to see what a well written question looks like, hopefully no bad threads started by me (except this one, obviously). Cool forums, you guys do a good job here. New to forums except for mostly lurking on bimmerforums.

Word, I'll give it a read. On top of trying to learn java I picked up a new computer yesterday and trying to familiarize myself with it. Pretty pumped as well as confused. But I'm going to ditch eclipse all together until i have a good idea of what I'm doing. Never compiled or ran a program outside of eclipse, wish me luck!

Got a mac