I want to start learning Programming, which language would be considered best to start with?

For a beginner, I would recommend Q basic Language. It is easy to debug and the code is simple and easy. Because you are not majoring in computer or programming, C++ maybe a good choice for a Finance Major.

Hi, As per your details given above, I think you wanted to learn programming for two reasons and both of them are entirely different. (1) As a hobby. (2) Using your programming skills to improve you career profile. When you will learn programming to cater your hobby then you must wanted to explore the large horizon of programming implications. So I will suggest you to learn that language which have large usage base so you can create normal calculation based program to some interactive games. I strongly fill that JAVA is very nice programming platform for achieving this goal. Using it you can create normal program to very interactive games for PC to Mobile devices. So You should learn this. Finance is one of the oldest business situation which was solved using computers. So a finance based application for larger enterprise will involve ample amount of sophistication which will involve multiple languages and platform. Though Now a days whenever a new Finance based project is carried out they only use Object oriented language for re usability purpose. And for that JAVA seems to be a best choice. Hence I will suggest you take a en hale of JAVA programming language so you can catch a large horizon of usability.

If you have not learned any computer language before, then better go for C, then u may jump over any language. Because u will be exposed to the programming language basics, syntax etc. Better go for C first. :)

As a beginner, I think C is your best choice. Four good reasons: (1) The C language is NOT object-oriented. This greatly simplifies things for you. (2) C is a good procedural language that will teach you a great deal about basic prograqmming concepts, such as structure, flow control, the passing of control by calling a function ( or a method), parameter-passing, source-code compiliation, and MOST OF ALL, syntax. (3) With C, you can write programs that don't rely on a lot of complicated frameworks. If you have some pre-written utility functions that you want to use in your program, you simply include the appropriate library using an include statement. Building object code is much simpler in C than most other languages, (4) Knowledge of C leands itselt quite readily to the study of Java in the future. The concepts you learn by starting with C are extremely important. If you learn the basic concepts behind things like program structure, data types, development, compiliation, building, and packaging from the beginning of your career..... you will be "way ahead of the game" compared to those who try to advance their abilities, but have an insufficient grasp of these basic concepts.

You do not want to become a professonal programmer? Stay away from C or C++. You will only waste your time on those horrible languages. Python or Ruby are my recommendations to you.

Personally I like Java but I wouldn't say it's best for finance. I would read up on Excel and Visual Basic.

You can start learning computer for hobby right now. Later on, when your interests become more pronounced you can learn languages related to finance. For a beginner or for a school student, the easiest language is GW Basic. The language is very easy to learn; mistakes are easy to beidentified and corrected. Most importantly, there is no upper case and lowercase mistakes cropping up. And these makes things easy for the learner and keep his learning interests in tact. This BASIC language was later developed into visual basic( with GUI) , which was further developed into VB.Net(with Object Oriented features etc). By learning BASIC, you can have a good idea of normal input/output statements, conditional statements, multiple switching,loops, nested loops,functions, subroutines etc which forms the basis of all programming languages. It does not support advanced features like object oriented functionality, pointers etc. But this is a blessing in disguise., since you need not worry about them. A hobbyist can do without theses advance features. Personally I know, C,C++,Java, VB.Net, COBOL, Pascal and GWBasic. I have found GWBasic to be the ideal first language to learn.But it is not sufficient. You have to move on to higher languages later. comparison of BASIC with java for a beginner --------------------------------------… for example, if you want to print "hello" in java, you have to write the following lines. Class helo { public static void main(String args[]) { System.out.println("hello"); } } For understanding this, you should know what is a class, under what filename, this should be saved, what is meant by public, static, void , main, System , System.out etc. Compare this with the GW Basic code 10 print "hello" 20 end Once you learn the basic concepts, you can go ahead and learn VB.net, which has all the advanced features including GUI, internet based application environment etc. In finance field, some special functions are available in excel, part of MS Office suite.Excel can be clubbed with VBA to create Macros and these macros make Excel powerful. But there are advanced finance oriented softwares like Oracle Financials, Financial packages of SAP etc. that come at the top end of the spectrum. You can condiser these softwares, if your interests are deep enough.

Visual Basic is actually easier than Java, and while it is not as mobile, it is still free, powerful (albeit a little slow) and you can build applications REALLY FAST. The IDE (VB.Net Express Edition) automates A LOT of work for you. For hobby, go with VB.Net Express Edition. Don't waste your time on regular Basic. VB is like Basic, but it is so different that you might as well have no background in Basic before starting VB. And don't waster your time on C or C++ either. C# is good, but again, go for VB.Net