What topics/abilities are critical to learning a programming language? [closed]

Question

What topics/abilities are generally accepted as vital-to-know of any programming language?

(Can be answered through either language-specific or non-specific suggestions, however)

For example, I wager "Data Structures" would be one. Or if this was for learning a foreign (non-programming) language, "Verb conjugation" might be one.

I've found this, which is a helpful start: http://www.indiangeek.net/wp-content/uploads/Programmer%20competency%20matrix.htm

Answer 1

In my experience, the most important factor is having a programmer's mindset. You need to understand--not just "know" mentally, but really internalize--the concept of solving a large problem by breaking it down into smaller problems, and then breaking them down into smaller problems still, and so on recursively until you have a problem small enough that it fits a known solution, and then applying those solutions and gluing them together.

If you can do that, if you can really understand how to do that, then the rest is just details. Learning a programming language is a matter of learning what small solutions it provides, and what techniques are used to glue small solutions together into larger ones.

Answer 2

I'm answering this with specific regard to 3GL languages.

I know a bunch of them, and while I have two that are my main commercial languages (C# and PHP), I do try to use the "best tool for the job" when a client approaches me to do work for them.

I think the following lists pretty much sum up what is essential to know with a programming language to be truly successful with it.

First of all, you need to get your head around the language itself. This includes learning the following:

• Variable declaration
• Typing - duck, loose, strong, dynamic, etc
• Looping
• Conditionals
• Order of evaluation
• Defining data structures
• OOP factors - classes, interfaces, inheritance abilities, etc

Then, you need to approach the framework and look at what capabilities the languages primary framework has. This will control how you do things such as:

• I/O - Sockets, disk, memory
• Network services
• Threading
• Drawing
• Database access

Finally, you need to learn the nuances of deploying the application for your chosen programming language and framework. These will vary between what you're developing, some things such as pure C apps with the CRT linked in, or Delphi can produce self contained executables.

• Installing the runtime
• Making the server accessible
• Application definitions / pools / etc
• Deploying the actual application