For the love of god, please don't start out with How To Design Programs.
Learn Scheme and Java. Use SICP for scheme, that will make you think like a programmer. Then you can learn Java using HeadFirst Java.
That way you'll have a "normal" language that a lot of colleges will use, as well as scheme... which is incredibly powerful and functional. Some colleges do tend to use scheme as well.
SICP is great for self-studying beginners if they have an IQ of 180. Otherwise they would probably be better off to start with HTDP, which is essentially SICP lite, and then move on to SICP.
I actually tried starting with SICP. I remember looking at the table of contents and wondering why they devoted the entire fifth chapter to cash registers.
No assistance. At around age 16. Started with a Commodore 64 around three years earlier. I did not do all the excercises in SICP, but the text was not too difficult to read and understand.
The Design Template -> I don't have an issue with it per se, but it just frustrates me. If you've seen Donny Darko, the love/fear scene (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q38N9QvsdzU) pretty much is how I feel about the design template.
SICP is what I started with for scheme, and what I took away from it was "there is power in wishful thinking." After having read/watched SICP, going into HtDP was more like "Use the design recipe and everything you make will be easy."
I find programming/computer science a little more romantic than that.
Comments
For the love of god, please don't start out with How To Design Programs.
Learn Scheme and Java. Use SICP for scheme, that will make you think like a programmer. Then you can learn Java using HeadFirst Java.
That way you'll have a "normal" language that a lot of colleges will use, as well as scheme... which is incredibly powerful and functional. Some colleges do tend to use scheme as well.
Where are you heading for college?
SICP is great for self-studying beginners if they have an IQ of 180. Otherwise they would probably be better off to start with HTDP, which is essentially SICP lite, and then move on to SICP.
I actually tried starting with SICP. I remember looking at the table of contents and wondering why they devoted the entire fifth chapter to cash registers.
Hmm, I got along with SICP in self-study nicely. And my mind lacks at least some points to the 180.
As a rank newbie, and with no assistance?
No assistance. At around age 16. Started with a Commodore 64 around three years earlier. I did not do all the excercises in SICP, but the text was not too difficult to read and understand.
> For the love of god, please don't start out with How To Design Programs.
Care to explain?
The Design Template -> I don't have an issue with it per se, but it just frustrates me. If you've seen Donny Darko, the love/fear scene (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q38N9QvsdzU) pretty much is how I feel about the design template.
SICP is what I started with for scheme, and what I took away from it was "there is power in wishful thinking." After having read/watched SICP, going into HtDP was more like "Use the design recipe and everything you make will be easy."
I find programming/computer science a little more romantic than that.