[stray]

I know what I'm about to say will probably not go over well, but somebody needs to say it: try a programming language that is FUN.

Java is not fun.

I'd rather walk a mile barefoot on broken, salty glass in a hailstorm than to ever write another line of Java. At least my memory has mellowed -- I used to really hate it.

Some suggestions:

- Common Lisp: my current love affair. Something about the way the parentheses sort of round off all the sharp edges, and the beautiful symmetry of it all. After a while you can get a feel for how smoothly a form works just by glancing at its overall shape. It feels good to build things that are beautiful in every sense of the word.

- Python: So easy a manager can do it. Loads of awesome libraries.

- Racket: This probably would have been first on the list had I not accidentally organized them alphabetically :-) In fact, I'd even go so far as to suggest working through the book "How to Design Programs". Actually, you know what? If you'll promise to work through all the exercises in the book and pass it along to someone else who is struggling when you're done -- I'll give you a copy (years ago I mistakenly ordered two copies). PM me if you want it.

[SkyMarshal]

Fwiw, How To Design Programs is also available free online:

http://htdp.org

[igneous4]

Racket and Common Lisp seem way more difficult than Python. I learned Python in a very short amount of time, and it was very easy (it's just functions, classes, C-like syntax, and boom, you're writing programs in Python).

Tried learning Scheme and Lisp a couple times and just ran out of steam. (While I'm here: any advice on making it stick?)