Hour 1. Becoming a Programmer

What You’ll Learn in This Hour:

• Choosing which programming language to learn first

• Using programs to boss your computer around

• Discovering how programs work

• Fixing program errors

• Selecting a Java development tool

• Getting ready to write programs

You’ve probably heard that computer programming is insanely difficult. It requires a degree in computer science, thousands of dollars in computer hardware and software, a keen analytical mind, the patience of Job, and a strong liking for caffeinated drinks.

Aside from the part about caffeine, you heard wrong. Programming is easier than you might think, despite what programmers have been telling people for years to make it easier for us to get high-paying jobs.

This is a great time to learn programming. Countless programming tools are being made available as free downloads from the Web, and thousands of programmers distribute their work under open-source licenses so people can examine how programs are written, correct errors, and contribute improvements. Even in a down economy, many companies are hiring programmers.

Millions of mobile devices use Android, an operating system whose apps are all written in Java. If you have an Android phone, you’ve been enjoying the work of Java programmers every time you look up a movie, get driving directions, or fire an antagonistic avian at a poorly built fortress of swine.

This book aims to teach Java programming to two kinds of people: the ones who never tried to program before and the ones who tried programming but hated it like Lord Voldemort hates orphaned British schoolchildren. The English language is used as much as possible instead of jargon and obscure acronyms, and all new programming terms are thoroughly explained as they are introduced.

If I’ve succeeded, you will finish this book with enough programming skills to be a danger to yourself and others. You’ll be able to write programs, dive into other programming books with more confidence, and learn new languages more easily. (Programming languages, I mean. This book won’t help you master Spanish, French, or Klingon.) You also will have skills with Java, the most widely used programming language on the planet.

The first hour of this book provides an introduction to programming followed by instructions on how to set up your computer so you can write Java programs.