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What operating system and tools should a beginner use to learn programming? (self.programming)

submitted 11 months ago by cactus_head to c/programming

34 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I want start with python but I don't know what operating system and tools to use. I have a 6 RAM icore3 180 GB hard disk Notebook laptop running Linux mint. I plan to save up to Buy a PC in the future but for I have to make due my old laptop

I am also wondering how does the programming market look like in terms of operating system. Does it matter which operating system you use? In terms of programming institutions (universities bootcamps, etc..), do each institutions have its own preference or does it let its student choose?

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[–] [email protected] 17 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (2 children)

The OS won't matter much in the beginning, though it helps that you're already using Linux as you likely already have Python and GCC installed.

I don't think you need a better PC than what you already have if the only goal is to learn programming, so I'd spend that money on something else.

I'd suggest you go through Harvard's CS50 if you've never been exposed to computer science before: https://www.harvardonline.harvard.edu/course/cs50-introduction-computer-science . You can audit it for free, you don't really need to pay for the certificate (which IMO doesn't have much value at that level anyway).

Also, try to get into a computer science degree if you want to do that as a career, bootcamps and MOOCs are nice additions but will never replace a real degree.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago

I also liked Harvards course. I got to like chapter 8 then I switched to start learning Rust because I liked it more than Python.

[–] pkill 2 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

I don't think you need a better PC

This will hold true as long as OP doesn't trash his IDE's performance with too many plugins where even smaller project might run into performance issues if this mistake is made. But it doesn't mean OP has to distract themselves with learning a modal TUI editor, although it'll probably be beneficial for their productivity if they persevere and better to do that early than waste time hopping IDEs just for the sake of it. Tip for staying somewhat flexible if you still haven't decided yet is using something like vim plugin to vscode or vice versa, trying Neovim "distributions" (see awesome Neovim for some examples) and switching to a more feature-rich, GUI-based IDE.