Short programming courses

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jamesla

85 posts

Master Geek

#32170 15-Apr-2009 11:56

Hi I'm looking at doing a short programming course like the one at ames http://www.ames.ac.nz/site/windev.php which teaches a bit of c# and dotnet 2.0 and is orientated around creating simple windows apps and then at the end you sit your mcts for dotnet2.0 in windows apps.

The reason I want to do this is to learn how to make some simple apps to sell on the net, I'm currently a systems engineer and enjoy interaction with people so I'm not looking to change career paths to programming :). However doing what I do, I see quite a lot of niches where a simple windows tool could be made to make IT easier for various people and make me a bit of money, so that is why I want to do this or a similar course.

Now the question I want to put out there is, can anyone recommend any training providers to do a short course like this? I have only heard bad things about ames but the course they offer looks quite good.

If anyone can recommend somewhere it would be greatly appreciated :)

edit::sorry should have mentioned im in auckland

d3Xt3r

697 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 132

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#207163 15-Apr-2009 21:06

If all you want to do is create simple apps and not make a career in programming, then there's no need to pay money and sit through a course.

Just download the latest Visual Studio Express Edition (Free!) and mess around a bit with it. The included MSDN libraries have sample apps and everything you need to make your first "Hello World!" app. There are also plenty of free training videos on the web - and on Microsoft.com itself!

Once you're familiar with the controls and basic programming techniques (loops, control structures, functions, etc), just dive into creating the apps you need. Start with the simplest app. Think how your problem could be solved and work out a pseudo-code (on paper, if need be). Every time you need to know something (like say you don't know how to display a message box), just check MSDN. Everything is in there.

If you aren't picky about the programming language, then you could start off with VB. It's much more easier than C# and its best suited for rapid application development.

If you want an *even* easier solution, check out AutoHotkey. Writing a program can be as simple as opening Notepad and writing a single line. For instance, if you want to display a message box, all you need to write is: "MsgBox your message"! Then save it as a .ahk and your program is done! You could even compile it to an exe if you want, to distribute it on the web. I've even make quick money thanks to ahk, by bidding for traditionally C/VB projects on freelancing websites and finishing it in real short time in AHK (A 100 line C program could be done in 10 lines in AHK!). Of course, the disadvantage is that AHK wasn't really designed for large and complex programs, not that it can't be done, but in that case you'd be better off using a more traditional platform.

hellonearthisman

1819 posts

Uber Geek
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#207213 16-Apr-2009 08:37

I'm teaching myself to code and can see the advantage of a class, in that you can ask questions about an abstract of the language and the tutor can translate that into relevant information about the question.

Having said that, The online resources are great, that c# visual studio, very nice and if you need the tutor then your time and money it could be better to get a private tutor for a few hours.

AutoHotkey is nice and good at what it does, but I found that it required a lot more 'work arounds' that c#

timestyles

424 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#207222 16-Apr-2009 09:14

Have a look at http://www.learnvisualstudio.net/ which has videos, and may be of some use. Having done a few courses, my experience is that the greatest amount of learning is done when you do a course assignment, especially 50+ hours. I wish there were a repository of programming assignments, they are very useful but hard to find online. It doesn't mean that you need to take the course, just do the assignment.

jamesla

85 posts

Master Geek

#207330 16-Apr-2009 15:54

Thanks heaps for the advice much more than i expected :-)

The problem that I have run into is that that reading book s you are taking the knowledge in but you dont get a chance to lock the knowledge in by getting your hands dirty. I know they have questions in the back but they are never very complicated like you would get at a course. For example the book im currently using is teaching C++ and the hardest question at the end of each chapter is something like create a short program using classes with class functions to create a triangle and work out the hypotonuse and area, and I find that you just start getting into it and bang you've finished.

Anyway I have called ames and it sounds like there is not enough interest so they barely ever run these courses, I guess if you want to learn programming these days you have to do it yourself or spend 3 years doing it at university.

I will get my hands on a windows machine and download visual studio express and muck around

appreciate the help :)