programming, something ive always wanted to pick up

[kooze]

hey crew,
how are we tonight?

ah, programming, something i wish i payed attention in, in high school when i took visual basic and java. my mind has been completely erased of everything i have ever known about programming and I really want to get back into it badly. so i need some advice from you guys (havent seen a question like this on the programming section of the forum).

I need a useful, helpful to me in-the-long-run language to start from the ground up. i have been peeking around and noticed people recommending bash and C, think thats a good direction to head in? to make this question a little more specific i want something that could be useful to me in buffing up security, as well as testing security for holes. I need a good solid programming background with me when i start my networking/IT career. not only that but for the fun of it too. I need the 100% newbie start from the ground up, that will help pay off in the long run with future helpful languages.

thanks guys, and if you could include maybe a good compiler with any language you recommend? if not thats ok im sure i can google one, and as far as java goes i still have my huge java book from highschool

[Siph0n]

What about python? It isn't a compiled langauge, so there is no compiler. It comes with most, if not all, linux distros. Also, it can be easily used on windows too. This tutorial will help: http://docs.python.org/tut/ . Even if you can't use this language in the future, for whatever reason, I think it will give u a better understanding of other languages if you choose to learn them. Plus there are tons of libraries to use (other languages also prob have this too), so you shouldn't have to make everything from scratch. Good luck!

[phil128]

hey crew,
how are we tonight?

ah, programming, something i wish i payed attention in, in high school when i took visual basic and java. my mind has been completely erased of everything i have ever known about programming and I really want to get back into it badly. so i need some advice from you guys (havent seen a question like this on the programming section of the forum).

I need a useful, helpful to me in-the-long-run language to start from the ground up. i have been peeking around and noticed people recommending bash and C, think thats a good direction to head in? to make this question a little more specific i want something that could be useful to me in buffing up security, as well as testing security for holes. I need a good solid programming background with me when i start my networking/IT career. not only that but for the fun of it too. I need the 100% newbie start from the ground up, that will help pay off in the long run with future helpful languages.

thanks guys, and if you could include maybe a good compiler with any language you recommend? if not thats ok im sure i can google one, and as far as java goes i still have my huge java book from highschool
Best language to stick to in my opinion in C. Cause its a good high level language with the ability of linking it with ASM very easily. I'm doing my C programming in my own time and i find it very frustrating at first but as soon as you get the hang of it you start to appreciate the language and it become's more second nature as you use it more. Don't get me wrong there are other languages that are excellent too! I think learning C is the only way other then ASM to get down and dirty in programming! BTW get this book "The complete reference C third edition/or 4th ISBN 0-07-882101-0 -- Thts for the 3rd edition" i brought tht from amazon 2nd hand for a 1 pence.lol. Seriously its a steal and gives a great reference to common functions and dynamic allocation and ASM linking! Its an excellent book! Tht book with "Hacking the art of exploitation" really gives you the hands on to programming and security!!!!. All i can say is good luck!