Learning to write scripts

[turninforhome10]

New to the scripting game. Would like to learn the basics. Understand VBA is a good starting point. Any suggestions as I am very green to this.

[chickenhead]

I suggest Python. It is a really friendly, readable, productive language. The library support is very powerful, you can do just about anything with a line or two of code. Large active community of people using it.

Based on my own experience I'd say it is both an ideal first language to learn, and just an awesome environment for getting things done in.

[turninforhome10]

Thanks much and will try.

[iRNA]

PERL is also an good choice.

[WPL]

I've been a 'perl scripter' for 20+ years. Python is far more user-friendly/readable with all the same functionality and more. Python is a better choice, imho. Once you can 'hang your hat' on either language you'll find either scripting choice is adequate. Not that long ago every studly university was teaching java as part of their CS curriculum. Now they are almost all using Python for the same courses. If you make your bones with Python you won't regret it later worrying that what you learned became obsolete or too arcane. It is nearly executable pseudo-code.

[Jake]

Originally Posted by chickenhead

I suggest Python. It is a really friendly, readable, productive language. The library support is very powerful, you can do just about anything with a line or two of code. Large active community of people using it.

Based on my own experience I'd say it is both an ideal first language to learn, and just an awesome environment for getting things done in.

Agree completely. I had my daughter learned it, now uses it in her grad courses in genetics. Very friendly, amazingly powerful.

[vegasone]

Really depends on what you are going to do with it. All the above or Javascript if you are doing websites also.

[turninforhome10]

I use Quickhorse and have tweaked it radically. Trying to write scripts to do the handicapping for me. It is a really simple process, but would like to expand my programming skills to do more automation. Thanks for the input.