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Saw the answers above and I don't disagree with the advice,
but,
first think of what you want programs to do.
It's like saying "I want to make food" - what food? simple dinner, cordon bleu, cakes, dessert, ...
c# is a good choice, but if all you want is a website it's like using a 283 piece tool set to change a flat tire or even change the oil on your car. For say websites there are far better ways to get into that. (much lower learning curve, far faster presentable results, all around easier). Take a look at w3schools where you can actually learn and try it online - no need to install anything. Within a week or two you can have a site with some really amazing effects, pictures that fade in/out, forms that change depending on answers, mouse pointer changing shape as it moves - using c# it'll take a beginner a few months or more to get even close to those same effects.
So yes you can do all that in c#, Visual Studio, ASP, .net... too, after also installing IIS and a few other bits and pieces (- as a beginner add minimum a week just to get that all together before you even start). And yes it's all free, but oh, you also need a fairly respectable rig for it to be effective, whereas all you need for w3schools is your browser - chrome, firefox, edge or even internet explorer - what you are using right now.
If you want to go up a class from there why not rust (it's in the top 5 of languages employers are looking for - true c# is top 10, but rust is ahead) - and again there are fully on-line learn & try sites, all you need to start is that very same browser - rustbyexample.com and play.rust-lang.org
There's in-between options, more advanced options, free on-line, no need to spend a frustrating week downloading and setting up. (Remember those that suggested visual studio or/and c# have done it before, like a chef telling you it's easy to properly fillet, spice and saute a fish and dress the plate - but why invest in the equipment (even for free) and learn all that if all you want is to make scones (or "biscuits" if your from USA)
Once more: first think what food you want to cook, then search/ask for advice on more pointed to those goals.
Signature ready for installation. Please Reboot now.
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Jon Desrocher wrote: what’s popular?
I suggest strongly that you look for jobs in your general area now so you have a realistic idea about numbers available. That way you can start on something specific. You can use the various online job sites and type in different languages to look for junior programming positions. So like the following
C# junior
Java junior
JavaScript junior
etc
I have also found 'associate' to be a common word used as replacement for "junior".
Following is the best language usage site I have found.
TIOBE Index | TIOBE - The Software Quality Company[^]
Of the top languages.
Java/C#/C++ are similar in general nature, while C is not. So moving between the first three are easier with experience.
C++/C is going to be more useful for "Internet of Things" in relation to "embedded programming" (google that and read several sources about what it is). Experience in embedded programming does not translate well to other businesses and opposite is also true. So if you prefer it you would need to focus on it.
Python and Javascript experience does not translate well to using other languages. However Javascript is likely to be more viable as a broad market skill.
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Jon Desrocher wrote: What’s the best path for steady job outcome?
Years of experience and luck. Sorry, but that's the truth of it -- you have a loooong path ahead of you.
Next wisdom: Find a mentor. While there's a lot of good sites out there about learning programming, a mentor can help keep you focused and teach you things that a course can't. Most importantly, a mentor can become a reference you can use when applying for a job.
Make the following decisions right now:
Pick one: Web development, desktop development, or back-end (no UI) development, such as databases or services, or IoT (Raspberry PI, Arduino, Beaglebone are three common IoT devices.)
Pick one: A programming language. I'd suggest you pick from this list: C#, Python, or Go. If you chose web development above, Javascript is a given.
Briefly - if you choose C# or Go, you'll probably develop a disdain for duck-typed languages like Python. If you choose Python, you'll probably develop a disdain for strongly typed languages like C#. If you chose web development, you'll develop a disdain (to put it mildly) for Javascript. It's just the way it works. If you chose database, SQL or NoSQL comes along for the ride. If you chose IoT, Python is strongly recommended because there's a huge code base out there.
Pick one: Windows or Linux. If you chose IoT, you will be in the Linux world and most likely Python, but I've been pleased with C# / .NET Core 2 in Linux. If you choose Linux and Python, a LOT of what you write can also run directly in Windows as well. Same with Go (I think!)
Don't concern yourself yet with what tech industry you want to jump into. It's way to premature to think of that.
Advice: I almost always try to learn a language by programming a simple game. And I mean simple. Tic-tac-toe. You can then advance to something like checkers (two real players, no AI!!!) I enjoy coding Hunt the Wumpus in a new language.
The above exercises help you to learn the indirect skills such as using the IDE, how to do debugging, how to set up source control (Git is my personal recommendation), etc.
After demonstrating minimal competency at the above, further pathways can be explored to develop your skills.
Last suggestion: As I enjoy mentoring, I'd be happy to help. Email me directly if you want. If you chose Go, then we both get to learn something as I have no experience with Go. The other options I can handle.
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I have always liked the books by Apress. Take a look at this:
Quote: Pro C# 7: With .NET and .NET Core 8th ed. Edition
At Amazon. Troelsen and Japikse are great authors.
Get me coffee and no one gets hurt!
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If you were suited to it, you'd already be doing it.
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Congratulations on your desire to learn how to build software and welcome to CodeProject! You may find this answer[^] on Quora helpful.
/ravi
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Or how 'bout this one[^]...
I'm retired. There's a nap for that...
- Harvey
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Best advice I've heard and been given is:
Find a project. It could be a basic website to show holiday pics, or a mobile app that shows a joke of the day, or a desktop app that reads in a spreadsheet and outputs a simple report. Something you need or something you think would be cool. Focus on that, choose your poison (I mean, language), ask around about the franeworks, libraries and free code available for that language, and dive in.
Learning by theory will only get you so far. Get your hands dirty and see if the bug bites. If it does then you're set (and a lost cause, like the rest of us!)
cheers
Chris Maunder
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Chris Maunder wrote: Find a project ... and dive in.
/ravi
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Chris Maunder wrote: Best advice I've heard and been given is:
Now I'm curious -- what was your first foray into programming? Language? Platform? Motivation to learn to code?
Latest Article - Code Review - What You Can Learn From a Single Line of Code
Learning to code with python is like learning to swim with those little arm floaties. It gives you undeserved confidence and will eventually drown you. - DangerBunny
Artificial intelligence is the only remedy for natural stupidity. - CDP1802
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It was odd, really, though maybe a familiar story.
I had a friend who could program BASIC and I thought that was pretty cool. In High school all we had were about 3 BBC computers that we used to muck around with, but in College (that's year 11 in Canberra where I grew up) they had actual XTs so I took a course in Pascal. I sucked pretty badly the first year - it didn't gel - but over the holidays I bought a book, read it a couple of times, and suddenly it clicked an I was lost. I ended up with 103% for my final course score and went on to do summer jobs coding for food.
My main motivation after the initial hit was in my physics degree. I needed (OK, wanted) to be able to graph the results of our lab work and there wasn't anything available to do what I needed so I spent roughly 98% of my lab time perfecting my code and making it awesome and the rest doing actual science-y stuff.
cheers
Chris Maunder
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Chris Maunder wrote: ...and the rest doing actual science-y stuff.
Mud cake making is not science-y stuff.
Michael Martin
Australia
"I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible."
- Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
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PhD's have been earned on less.
cheers
Chris Maunder
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Opening hours of course!!!
Clicking the Google-Doodle of today, the 'Top stories' are opening hours of different shops... And I was hoping for some relief after six months of end-of-the-year-sale adds...
Skipper: We'll fix it.
Alex: Fix it? How you gonna fix this?
Skipper: Grit, spit and a whole lotta duct tape.
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Don't worry, the New Year, Easter special, Spring event, Summer markdown, Autumn blowout, Back to School double discount, and Hallowe'en special sales, will soon be announced.
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You forgot Valentines, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Leprechaun's Day, Old Uncle Tom Cobley's Day, ...
I'm sure most of these are made up by Hallmark... 
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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you forgot Chinese New Year (middle of Feb this year.)
Yang Male Earth Dog / aka Brown Earth Dog.
If you want a dog, get one now before the price goes up, or if you want to get rid of a dog, do it now before it's bad luck.
For the real feast Bacon Pig is up in '19.
I like cats... I just can't finish a whole one by myself.
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Most important is getting to the Redemption Center early, before the line forms, so you can redeem your tabloid reality fake-news stamps for virtual Happy Meals.
«While I complain of being able to see only a shadow of the past, I may be insensitive to reality as it is now, since I'm not at a stage of development where I'm capable of seeing it.» Claude Levi-Strauss (Tristes Tropiques, 1955)
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My Dad lost the fight with stomach cancer a few days ago. I was able to make the 12 hour drive straight to the hospital and stayed with him for his last day during which he was pumped full of morphine and semi-conscious. He passed peacefully with my Mom and two brothers at his side. The funeral service and burial were yesterday.  At last, the pain and misery he has endured for most of the last two years is over.
Tomorrow, I'll head back home for a few days off before getting back to work.
If your parent(s) are still around, give them a call and tell them you love them. If not, take just a minute to pause and remember and honor them.
"Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse
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F*** cancer, sincerely.
Lost my mom a five years ago and my father in-law this year. I believe I can relate.
I wish you and your family a better 2018.
Jörgen
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![Rose | [Rose]](https://codeproject.global.ssl.fastly.net/script/Forums/Images/rose.gif)
Bastard Programmer from Hell 
If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]
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Yes, indeed. My dad was taken into hospital in the evening of 31 Dec 1999… so we spent the turn of the millennium at his bedside, where the nurses brought us cheap fizzy wine in plastic cups at midnight…. He survived that stay, but eventually succumbed much like yours a few months later. They say, no matter how old you are, you never really grow up until your parents are gone, and there’s a certain truth to that.
Good luck, and may next year be better.
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My deepest condolences.
I also lost my dad this year.
/ravi
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My condolences!
Someone's therapist knows all about you!
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