[Sam]

If you aren't already a programmer but are thinking about learning to code, what would you create and why?

Lots of programmers want to create apps, websites, forum software. Some adventurous ones want to write their own language or create the next Linux/ Windows like OS.

What do you want to build? (Perhaps I can provide some tips to point you in the right direction because sometimes it's hard knowing where to start. )

[oldbuddy]

I am already a programmer, but I want to build even more Mobile Responsive web pages that attract people to join websites that pay us both.

[Sam]

I am already a programmer, but I want to build even more Mobile Responsive web pages that attract people to join websites that pay us both.

That's awesome oldbuddy! What programming language(s) do you know?

For mobile responsive webpages, as you probably know, you need HTML/CSS and JavaScript (or be able to transpile to JS). Bootstrap and other frameworks really speed up the process of creating responsive websites. Have a look at the Bootstrap grid system https://getbootstrap.com/docs/4.0/layout/grid/. CSS offers other options for defining responsive layouts but the Grid System is by far the easiest to learn.

[Allius]

I'm not a programmer. But I think that's awesome learn some programming languages...
I wish I could programm my own planner software, some mobile programs and also some puzzle games

Does everyone could learn programming languages? I don't know if I have the skills for that...

[Sam]

I'm not a programmer. But I think that's awesome learn some programming languages...
I wish I could programm my own planner software, some mobile programs and also some puzzle games

Does everyone could learn programming languages? I don't know if I have the skills for that...

Nice ideas @Allius! Anyone can learn how to program (well almost anyone). It just requires practise, asking lots of questions and learning good techniques and thinking tools. Some people take longer than others: A New Zealander took 10 years to build his own online auction site (like eBay) but you will get there (faster if you learn how to learn to code ).

Java is probably a good language for you to learn first if that's your end goal. Java has Swing for GUIs: https://www.guru99.com/java-swing-gui.html and is native to Android. There are probably some good android frameworks and cross platform frameworks for mobile apps too. Java is generally a good language for games.

Another option might be C#. It's on the CLI (.NET) but even though it's originally built for Windows, it can be used for cross platform mobile apps. C# is also an option for Unity - one of the top game frameworks. You can do something similar in Eclipse (Java IDE) but here's "drag and drop" gui creation for C#: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj153219.aspx.

[Netherrealmer]

I want to make a pc internet browser that gives users the option to make incognito tabs. I also want a program that can surpass data capping for mobile users.

[oldbuddy]

I am already a programmer, but I want to build even more Mobile Responsive web pages that attract people to join websites that pay us both.

That's awesome oldbuddy! What programming language(s) do you know?

For mobile responsive webpages, as you probably know, you need HTML/CSS and JavaScript (or be able to transpile to JS). Bootstrap and other frameworks really speed up the process of creating responsive websites. Have a look at the Bootstrap grid system https://getbootstrap.com/docs/4.0/layout/grid/. CSS offers other options for defining responsive layouts but the Grid System is by far the easiest to learn.

Even though I made my living from a programming business I owned, what I do today is use TEMPLATES that are already programmed, so all I need to do is change the content.

[Sam]

I want to make a pc internet browser that gives users the option to make incognito tabs. I also want a program that can surpass data capping for mobile users.

There are a few areas to explore if you are wanting to build a browser:
1. DNS/ Server IP lookup. A lot of url libraries in languages will do this for you.
2. Rendering HTML, Rendering CSS to a GUI.
3. Running JavaScript and rendering the results.

A proper well functioning web browser would need to be built in C++, C or some other compiled and fast language (Ruse, Nim, D etc.). However, I would suggest you start by creating an application that fetches the HTML of a page that the user types in and renders it back to the screen and build up from there (what happens when you click links, how do you render the css, how would you have tabs etc. - hint: Internet browsers are multi-processor applications. Each tab in Chrome is a process.). You could use Java or Python for this, which would work quite well.

Surpassing data caps is a little more difficult. Probably, the best way to achieve this is tunnel clients traffic through a VPN/ Proxy. On the VPN/Proxy server, you could compress and minify the content to use less data. You could also make a browser application which has some more advanced/ stronger caching capabilities. Java would be a good language to learn for both the server side and the app; although you would need to understand a little about networking and web content as well (HTML/CSS/JS).

[Netherrealmer]

I really wonder why with tablets it is possible to run a regular tab and an incognito tab on the same Window but it is not yet available for PC. That gave me the inspiration of wanting a PC browser with such feature.

[Fergal]

I use SQL and C# at work, to customise automated software testing. My knowledge of C# is limited and I'm not experienced with OOP. I also have learned some HTML and CSS, Java, PHP, JavaScript and Python but again my knowledge of these is limited. One thing I would love to build is a chat bot, but that's well beyond my capabilities at this time

[skysnap]

One thing I would love to build is a chat bot, but that's well beyond my capabilities at this time

Have you tried Socket with NodeJS? It's very easy to make a chatbox and have serve hundreds of user.

[Sam]

I really wonder why with tablets it is possible to run a regular tab and an incognito tab on the same Window but it is not yet available for PC. That gave me the inspiration of wanting a PC browser with such feature.

That's an interesting question. Perhaps it's related to security or maybe it's a design decision to make it clear that the user is operating in a different mode. I really don't know.

I use SQL and C# at work, to customise automated software testing. My knowledge of C# is limited and I'm not experienced with OOP. I also have learned some HTML and CSS, Java, PHP, JavaScript and Python but again my knowledge of these is limited. One thing I would love to build is a chat bot, but that's well beyond my capabilities at this time

If you are looking to create a Skype based chat bot, C# would be a perfect choice (https://github.com/Microsoft/skype-dev-bots). I think if you use C# in your job, that would be the best language to learn fully and develop. I'm assuming you use something like LINQ (if you are using SQL as well)? C# is very much multi-paradigm and the functional side has grown considerably. I never properly learned it because I had a horrible semester when we studied that along with F#. But... I do remember thinking how similar the language is to Java. The method names were reasonably similar e.g. instead of toString() in Java, it's String() in C#. C# is a great language because it run relatively fast on the .NET platform (CLR), is well supported by Microsoft, has good libraries and can do pretty much anything including making top quality games (it's just not a systems language).

You will be able to pick up OOP relatively easily. It's just a way of thinking. You don't have to force it because one day you will "get" it (it took me over a year from first learning OOP).

Just as a side note: F# is an excellent language as well. It benefits from the .NET libraries but is a functional - first language. It seems much simpler than C#. I'd love to pick it up (because I just memorized syntax for the exam).

If you ever want to build web apps but would like to keep improving your C# skills: https://bridge.net/ will transpile C# to JS.

Also: as for tutorials. Have a look at Derek Banas on Youtube. He has a bunch for C# and you can just pick topics you aren't familiar with.