Date: Fri, 1 Jul 2016 14:35:53 -0400 From: Allen <bsd_atog@comcast.net> To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: "Simple" Languages in FreeBSD Message-ID: <20160701143553.159d8c72@KoggyBSD.org> In-Reply-To: <86poqx31vh.fsf@WorkBox.Home> References: <20160630175243.063e07a7@KoggyBSD.org> <86poqx31vh.fsf@WorkBox.Home>
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On Fri, 01 Jul 2016 08:48:50 -0500 Brandon J. Wandersee <brandon.wandersee@gmail.com> wrote: <*SNIP*> > I'll echo what some others have said, and recommend that before you > learn any language you should learn about the fundamentals and > different paradigms of programming itself: variables, loops, > branches, and all that. Most programming language tutorials I've seen > assume the reader already has a general understanding of how to > string logic together when writing a program. Given the length of my last Mail, I've snipped my portion out to keep this a little smaller for everyone reading it :) I agree with you; Every book or how to that I seem to see, assumes from the get go that you already have an understanding of this, and I don't really. > Since *nix is your platform, and you're looking for something > "simple," I'd have to recommend starting with Bourne shell > scripting.[1] Every Unix/Linux implementation uses shell scripts for > common tasks, and shell scripting will both teach you more about how > Unix-like operating systems work, and save you from being buried in > the low-level, highly abstracted, get-your-hands-really-dirty sorts > of tasks other programming languages are suited for. The Bourne shell > (/bin/sh) is found on all *nix platforms, and anything written in > good old Bourne syntax can be interpreted by any other shell (Bash, > ZSH, (T)CSH, Kourne...), so it serves as a good starting point for > learning how to write scripts for your shell of choice, and your > scripts will work anywhere a Unix shell is available. And since many > things in FreeBSD---including all the rc(8) and periodic(8) > scripts---are written in Bourne shell, learning that will give you > insight into how FreeBSD does some things under the hood, and > possibly let you change some of your system's behavior with relative > ease and without having to hack the operating system itself. OK, this is what I'm aiming for as one of my short term Goals. I want to be able to customize System Start Up and all that, but also be able to write things I can use as well, and that seems like it's exactly what I should do. Although I do eventually want to be able to Hack on the Kernel, that's going to take me some time. It's one of my Long Term Goals. It's one of the reasons that I asked my question here, because BSD is one of my main OSs of Choice. I've supported it in every way I have been able to for a long time (I still have the box and book and CDs that my FreeBSD PowerPak came in which came with FreeBSD 4.0-RELEASE, heh, and I have purchased just about everything from the FreeBSD Mall, and helped whenever I could with Money, but to be able to help with Code, would be nice). By the way, slightly OT; If anyone reading this is new to FreeBSD, or Unix in general, the books and Magazines available on the FreeBSD Mall are WONDERFUL! I've got like 5 Pairs of the BSD Boxers, Hundreds of Stickers, Bumper Stickers, the CD-Case, every Book sold there, and a bunch of the Tee Shirts and I did have a FreeBSD Hoodie but a guy I used to be friends with stole that, so I'll have to buy another since the quality and overall feel of those is great. /*End Shameless Plug for the FreeBSD Mall, which also sells things for Patrick Volkerding at the Slackware Store*/ > The tutorials at Codecademy can also be a fun way to learn a bit while > passing the time.[2] I'm a perpetual novice myself when it comes to > programming, so that sort of thing appeals to me. > > [1]: http://www.grymoire.com/Unix/Sh.html > [2]: https://www.codecademy.com/ > Thank you :) I'll look into these as well. I think I should have renamed the thread a little, because "Simple" Was probably not the best word to use for this, but again, thanks for replying. -Allen
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