Hey guys,<p>my cousin is about to start his summer vacation and we were talking about stuff he could do over the break. He expressed an interest in computers and I figured I would help him get started with some basic programming. I wanted to compile a list of online sources where a newbie could get started. Here's what I have so far -<p>http://www.freenetpages.co.uk/hp/alan.gauld/ - intro to programming<p>http://w3schools.com/ - HTML, CSS, Browser/Server Scripting<p>http://www.cprogramming.com/ - C and C++<p>http://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide - Python<p>http://rubylearning.com/satishtalim/tutorial.html - Ruby<p>http://docs.rinet.ru/P7/ - Perl<p>http://www.gigamonkeys.com/book/ - Lisp; also downloaded PG's 'On Lisp'<p>http://www.javabeginner.com/ - Java<p>Any other resources you think I should add?<p>what about reading up on hardware?<p>Any advice regarding how and in what order my nephew should get started would also be appreciated.<p>Thanks!!
I would advise against so many languages/technologies at once. This was the mistake I made in the beginning and I haven't really recovered. I can dig in to many things and make them work, but I think I would have been better off if I tried to master one or two things.<p>Find out what your friend is interested in and make your recommendations based on that.
This one is the first document any hacker newbie should read.<p><a href="http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/hacker-howto.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/hacker-howto.html</a>
I have nothing to add to the list, just make sure he is not bored by all the theory - let him build some very very simple apps // hmm I'm probably saying obvious stuff
How about poignantguide.net and <a href="http://learnyouahaskell.com/" rel="nofollow">http://learnyouahaskell.com/</a>
and mitpress.mit.edu/sicp/<p>Though it looks like you will have to turn to the printed word for anything beyond language tutorials. I would suggest intro to algorithms and head first design patterns.<p>As far as hardware goes introduce him to an arduino or a pic and some parts and let him explore.