Want to learn computer programming but aren't sure where to start? Programming for the Absolute Beginner provides a gentle learning curve in programming for anyone who wants to develop fundamental programming skills and create computer programs. The primary focus is on teaching the reader how to program using a free implementation of BASIC called Just BASIC. As such, the book focuses on developing programs that run on Microsoft Windows, but also presents programming principles that apply to different environments, including other operating systems and the Internet. Additionally, the book provides a solid foundation for advancing to different programming languages as you gain confidence in your newly acquired programming abilities. As part of the for the absolute beginner series, Programming for the Absolute Beginner teaches all the concepts through the creation of simple computer games, making the learning process much more fun and enjoyable.
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More About the Author
Jerry Lee Ford, Jr. is an author, educator, and an IT professional with over 18 years of experience in information technology, including roles as an automation analyst, technical manager, technical support analyst, automation engineer, and security analyst. He is the author of 23 other books and co-author of two additional books. His published works include AppleScript Studio Programming for the Absolute Beginner, Microsoft Windows PowerShell Programming for the Absolute Beginner, Visual Basic 2005 Express Programming for the Absolute Beginner, VBScript Professional Projects, Microsoft Windows Shell Scripting and WSH Administrator's Guide, Microsoft Windows Shell Scripting for the Absolute Beginner, Learn JavaScript in a Weekend, and Microsoft Windows XP Professional Administrator's Guide.
Ford has a master's degree in business administration from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia and has over five years of experience as an adjunct instructor teaching networking courses in information technology.
Ford has a master's degree in business administration from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia and has over five years of experience as an adjunct instructor teaching networking courses in information technology.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Worth EVERY penny!!,
By comic guru (Kendallville, IN) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Programming for the Absolute Beginner (No Experience Required (Course Technology)) (Paperback)
Some will be quick to tell you that it's worthless to learn JustBASIC because you can't do much with it and you should instead learn Visual Basic. I started learning BASIC when I was about 5 or 6 (my dad is a programmer and taught me a lot!), but then never used it for a long time. 20 years later, I find myself with the desire to learn Visual Basic. I had told my dad that I wanted to learn Visual Basic to create some software for a non-profit organization that I run. I had said that I felt the best way to learn to program is to go through what I call "bootcamp" which is basically having to code EVERYTHING at first. You'll get a better grip on what's going on behind the scenes and the ability to better appreciate Visual Basic's IDE. He told me that when we went from Quick Basic (or qbasic) to Visual Basic, it was a relatively quick and easy, painless experience because so much of the code he'd been using still applied.
One of the things I wish that this book would do is give quizzes at the end. I can't even tell you how helpful those can be in making sure you understand the information. How else are you to know just how much you learned? Some of the games are a little (lot) goofy in this book, but they do what they're supposed to do: demonstrate the use of the code covered in that chapter as well as previous chapters. You also end up with a few programs that with a little modification could be quite fun to play! I'm working on a slot machine program that will pull up all of the pictures in the folder that the program is found in and display them as you win rather than basing it solely on how much money you have. That way I could cycle through family vacations, weddings, etc. in a more interactive way. While it might not be something I will use often, it's definitely one more Problem for me to try to figure out. Isn't that, after all, what programming is all about? Problem-Solving? In the end, I'd have to say that this book is very good. Pick it up, learn it, master it and move on. You'll be a stronger programmer in five years if you keep to the simple basics of breaking down programs, using subroutines/functions to streamline your programs and using liberal use of comments all throughout the code. Definitely worth the money!
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Beginner Book,
This review is from: Programming for the Absolute Beginner (No Experience Required (Course Technology)) (Paperback)
I bought the book for my 6th grade grandson, who was trying to learn scripting using a book he had purchased that employed a language other than BASIC. He was having trouble with the book and the software from the start. He couldn't get anything to work and found the book confusing. I've been doing programming for years, first using FoxPro then Visual Basic, so I thought I could help. Well I too found the book confusing starting with Chapter One and couldn't get the software to run.
I suggested that if he's interested in learning scripting that he try another book and perhaps consider starting with BASIC. He agreed, so I did some research of available books on Amazon.com, reading comments and passages that were available, and that led me to select this book. From all indications it was a good selections. My grandson told me that the book is very clear in it's explanations and that so far all the software and scripting programs he has tried work. He is happy with the book and believes it to be a very good learning tool.
23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ain't Nothin' Small About SmallTalk and Just Basic,
By
This review is from: Programming for the Absolute Beginner (No Experience Required (Course Technology)) (Paperback)
I've happily been a member of the Just Basic community for nearly three years. I've been programming in several versions of BASIC for thirty years. Just Basic allows you to create Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) with the look and feel of commercial programs written for Windows... but it's much easier.
All the programming techniques like IF/THEN/ELSE..., SELECT CASE, string and numerical arrays, DATA, FILE INPUT/OUTPUT, and Graphics are there, in very familiar syntax. The best feature is (aside from the fact Just Basic is FREE!) the online support community of more than 2,000 members at all levels of experience. Share your programs or seek help developing them.
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Inside This Book
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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs):
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conditional logic, debugging your applications, sample window, press enter, drawing demo, texteditor control, new basic file, mainwin window, nomainwin statictext, statictext controls, wait end sub, print print print input, textbox print, ush command, tokenized file, joke prompt, game board squares, specified bitmap, ect case statement, code editor pane, opening prompt, programmers with access, popup dialog window, ose command, set the font type Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Visual Basic, Knock Knock Joke Game, Creating Graphical User Interfaces, Making Decisions, New Game, Creating Programs, Improving Program Organization, Text Files, Start Game, Guess My Number, Ask Mustafa, Process Data, Using Loops, Tic Tac Toe, Jerry Lee Ford, Legend of Mighty Molly, Script Name, Program Files, The World of Just, Doctor Evil, Microsoft Windows, Play Again, Microsoft Office, Display the Pear, Sound Recorder Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
conditional logic, debugging your applications, sample window, press enter, drawing demo, texteditor control, new basic file, mainwin window, nomainwin statictext, statictext controls, wait end sub, print print print input, textbox print, ush command, tokenized file, joke prompt, game board squares, specified bitmap, ect case statement, code editor pane, opening prompt, programmers with access, popup dialog window, ose command, set the font type Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Visual Basic, Knock Knock Joke Game, Creating Graphical User Interfaces, Making Decisions, New Game, Creating Programs, Improving Program Organization, Text Files, Start Game, Guess My Number, Ask Mustafa, Process Data, Using Loops, Tic Tac Toe, Jerry Lee Ford, Legend of Mighty Molly, Script Name, Program Files, The World of Just, Doctor Evil, Microsoft Windows, Play Again, Microsoft Office, Display the Pear, Sound Recorder Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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