Where can I learn more about computers?

Where can I learn a lot about computers?

• Hello. I am interested in learning all about computers. I know that I cannot learn everything there is to know but I want to be pretty knowledgeable in the area of computers. I do not know a whole lot now so if someone could please provide me with some websites that have information on computers that would be helpful. I do now want to know how to hack. I want to learn stuff like how to program and do things like fix a computer if it has a virus on it. Any help would be greatly appreciated

• Answer:

  Learning how to hack is a bad thing. I'm pretty experienced in computers, and hacking is a malicious thing. I've done it, and I'm not happy about it. Hacking is only done by kids who want to impress people with their ability or to try to do harm. I would suggest rather learning it for a good cause and to create new and useful things for the community of computer users. You can make a good amount of money on the consumer market too. If you want to learn programming, you first need to select a language. I'd recommend starting with Python because you will soon realize the beauty of it. If starting with Python, you should branch off to PERL, which is again, very beautiful. The typical programmer, however, should start with Java, which can then be branched off to the most flexible language to date, C++. I'd go with path 2, but path 1 is necessito for a professional programmer. You can figure out what to do next with more experience. With web development, go for PHP, Javascript, CSS, and HTML5. ColdFusion is a waste of time, in my opinion. If you feel too confused, go back to the basics and start with a type of BASIC language. Here is a complete list of good languages. Beautiful: Ruby (on rails), Python, PERL, LISP Practical and useful: Java, C, C++ Good to know: Assembly Super complex: C# But, what is more valuable than actually learning how computers work when it comes to hardware? Hardware is much more interesting than software, the logic that goes into it is mind-boggling at first. I'd do some research on how every part of a computer works, like: ALU, Registers, ROM, RAM, GPU, program counter, and the list can go on. If you are up to a challenge and really want to discover how they work with all the components put together, building one is the best option. I don't mean assembling one in real life with some basic plugging in pre-made parts, that's easy. I think it is very beneficial to build a full computer in Minecraft using redstone, no joke. The logic that goes into it is almost exactly the same. You must first research computers, then how redstone works including logic gates, and then you must imagine how the computer would be put into real life by understanding the differences between actual electricity and redstone such as: no power supply, no voltage, and imaginary pull-ups and pull-downs. Building a computer and wiring it up is a great experience and the feeling you get when finishing is amazing. This is definitely the best way to learn the hardware aspects. Keep in mind that Minecraft computers (virtual machines, xD pun), will run very slow and are bulky, so you will need to make it small-scale. You can't have 4GB of memory, the most anyone has ever made is 4kb, and most people stay below 8b. Nonetheless, it's very fun to make. Youtube has some good computer experts that can help, and minecraftwiki and the RDF have some good sites to show you how redstone works. Electrical engineering is good to know for hardware.