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Several small problems.
Revolutionary
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Long time reader, new poster.
Just some queries here, thought I would kill a couple birds with one stone.
Programming
I am 15 years old (do me a favor and take me seriously) and since I was 13 I have had a fascination with programming. I started with ActionScript (the code in flash games/movies) and recently made some ground with VB.NET. However VB gives me an unrealistic expectation of 'real' programming and I would like to try a new language.
From what I've heard C# is good, although there may be a high learning curve I'll try persevere. Python, Perl and Java (which I will avoid, apparently it is similar to AS2.)
Public Speaking
I also have an issue with speaking to crowds, in an ordinary speech or an on-the-spot scenario I'm fine and quite confident. But when it comes to recitals (i.e. a sonnet or poem) I tend to forget lines despite knowing them with confidence beforehand. Any advice on this? It is very frustrating.
Small Explanation
Finally, can someone give me a basic explanation of what a server really is? Is it really just a hard-drive with an IP as opposed to a directory?
Any advice is greatly appreciated. ;-)
Just some queries here, thought I would kill a couple birds with one stone.
Programming
I am 15 years old (do me a favor and take me seriously) and since I was 13 I have had a fascination with programming. I started with ActionScript (the code in flash games/movies) and recently made some ground with VB.NET. However VB gives me an unrealistic expectation of 'real' programming and I would like to try a new language.
From what I've heard C# is good, although there may be a high learning curve I'll try persevere. Python, Perl and Java (which I will avoid, apparently it is similar to AS2.)
Public Speaking
I also have an issue with speaking to crowds, in an ordinary speech or an on-the-spot scenario I'm fine and quite confident. But when it comes to recitals (i.e. a sonnet or poem) I tend to forget lines despite knowing them with confidence beforehand. Any advice on this? It is very frustrating.
Small Explanation
Finally, can someone give me a basic explanation of what a server really is? Is it really just a hard-drive with an IP as opposed to a directory?
Any advice is greatly appreciated. ;-)
Revolutionary on
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― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You'll Go!
It's almost like coding theory. Regardless of the language you choose, the programming principles will always be there. BASIC is an extremely easy way to dive in (I learned a majority of the language in 2 days) and actually code things from start to finish.
Python is really good to learn on, and its one of my favorite languages. C++ is always a good thing to learn on, once you get the basics down from something easier like Python. C# is good, too, but I haven't used it much, although I hear it's supposed to be a lot like VB.NET. Also, if you want to learn 3D stuff, get good at understanding algebra, trig, calculus, and linear algebra.
In "real life" you won't ever have to memorize some random thing and read it back to a group of people. Public speaking is much easier when you're talking about something you're comfortable with / have been working on a while, like a research project or something.
A server has a pretty broad definition. Basically, it's something that does stuff for other computers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Server
This is a simplified explanation, and like many simplified explanations it leaves out a lot and isn't totally accurate, but I'm hoping it'll answer your question:
A server is basically any computer or application which makes information available over a network. So a web server is a computer that provides web pages (or web applications, like Flash) over a network. A file server is a computer that provides files over a network.
Lots of people just use the term "server" when what they mean is "file server." Basically, a file server is a computer that runs a server application or process that makes its files available over the network. Your question about it being "just a hard-drive with an IP as opposed to a directory" isn't quite on target - most (almost all) computers have hard drives, IPs, and directories; it's just that most computers don't make the contents of their hard drives available via a network connection. Servers do.
the "no true scotch man" fallacy.
Do not be so quick to put aside VB.NET. It, just like C# or Visual C++, has full access to the .NET framework, making it extremely powerful as a Windows-based language. C# is much the same, but gives you finer control. C++, on the other hand, gives you total control and cross-platform compatibility (when used properly) but is somewhat syntactically clumsy.
This is an assumption you may not want to be so quick to make. I have some experience with AS, and it is powerful, but in an extremely limited manner. It can't teach you much about Object Oriented programming, and the many buzzwords that go with it EX: encapsulation.
If your high school offers it, try taking a class in Java, or C++, or really any modern Object Oriented language. The theory is invaluable.
And I'll give python a look, it sounds quite popular. And as for learning maths, that is quite literally my worst subject. But at least I'll have some motivation when learning things such as trigonometry; I think I am beginning it at school in the next week or so.
Thanks for all the help so far; but I would like some more guidance on the programming issue. Knowing the internet, there are going to be a lot of opinions raised on the subject.
Edit: Sushi appears to have posted while I was typing this. I think you are missing the point of this, VB is a very good language, and I'll continue to use it if I need an application made fast, but I'm looking for an alternative thats gives me a more real taste of programming and what I'll really have to work with.
And I did do an enrichment class (which introduced me to AS) in year 7, but I don't think there are any advanced alternatives. I'll look into it, however.
CS IS a branch of math. The logic in CS is exactly the same as the problem solving logic you use to solve a math problem. In fact, a good deal of the stuff you learn in CS classes was developed before there were computers. Or even electricity, for that matter.
Lots of high schools suck at teaching math, are taught by people who don't really understand math, and use books that suck and are full of mistakes... So, it would be really good for you to try to grab a book or two off amazon (the Schaum's outline books tend to be really good. And do lots of examples, examples are how you learn. (The Shaum's books have solutions to all their exercises, and have lots of examples). And there're lots of helpful internet sites you can find with google, too.
I teach speech, and in my experience, the only reliable way to improve in this area is with practice. My guess is that, by nature, you're not a performer. And that's quite alright, very few people are without practice. You're all of 15, which is an excellent age to be thinking and improving this skill.
You stated your primary problem being remembering lines, especially rehearsed lines that are not your own. You're forgetting them because in your practice setting, likely alone or in a small group, you are able to make your own pace and rattle off the lines uninterrupted and without distraction. Even saying lines quite loud, in your own voice, can be distracting the first time you try it. Your pacing will be different. You may have to pause if your audience laughs. You also have to recover if you lose your place or stumble upon a word.
The absolute best way to remedy this is to practice exactly how you will present. This means speaking at full volume, not skipping any sections, and projecting your body language as if you were in front of a crowd. If you can, talk a friend or family member into watching your presentation so you have a live audience. Hell, use your dog or cat. The more you continue to let go of your practice restrictions, the more it will become second nature.
In short, the reason the lines escape you when you go to perform is because it is the first time you are doing so in those conditions. Replicate your conditions to the best of your ability and the results will show.
Warframe: TheBaconDwarf
I assume you mean something that is used mainstream for a particular area. .NET is used for a lot of application development, but Perl/PHP controls a large percentage of web stuff (like this forum).
One thing I have to say is that it is really important to understand what the language is doing, not just know that this particular function does this, or this syntax gives you this result. It's maybe a fine distinction, but I really believe it is important.
You can always look up functions on the web or in books, but you need the ability to apply them. This means that if you want to get into programming as a general interest thing with no specific area of specialisation, you will be able to adapt to new languages, new purposes because of your solid understanding of programming in general.
Hewn, it feels great to know someone of your profession is helping me. I'll try this (foreseeing and playing out the audience setting) next time I have an oral assignment, many thanks.
And ha ha, I can already imagine by cat immediately clawing my door anxious to get out. Maybe I'll own the first cat that can recite Shakespeare. Where for art though, puss?
I think that solves my queries! If anyone has anything else to say, confide it to me via PM. Otherwise, this can be locked.
Thanks again everyone, you have all been a big help.
I just wanted to address this since it's pretty inaccurate.
I'm assuming you have some interest in what a server is or else you wouldn't have asked about it.
So, with that.. a server is just a name for (as was mentioned) something on a network providing access to "something".
It doesn't have to be a special OS or a special PC. Those types of servers are made to handle large loads or special purposes. If you take your home PC and share the printer, you've turned your PC into a print server. Share a file/folder, it's a file server. Load in Apache and you can turn it into a web server, mysql it's potentially an sql server.
Point is a server can be made out of pretty much any PC (Mac, *nix, Windows, and others) and the server aspect is limited only to what you are able and desire to share on a network (printers, files, applications, terminal sessions, music, movies, etc).
Yeah, exactly.
A server does not necessarily have to be a "special" computer. All modern computers (whether they're running Windows, Mac OS, or some flavor of Linux) have the ability to act as a server just by turning on file-sharing or printer-sharing. A home computer or laptop that's acting as a server will not be as efficient at it as a dedicated server running an actual server operating system, but it is still technically a server.
I think part of the difficulty here is that the term "server" is typically thrown around to mean three or four different things. A server could be:
- A software application that provides network services. "Apache is a web server."
- A computer running a software application that provides network services. "My web server is a home PC running Apache."
- A specially-designed computer built to run a network services application efficiently. "My home PC was slow as shit running Apache, so I bought an actual server."
- A cluster of specially-designed computers built to run network services applications efficiently and in tandem. "I play World of Warcraft on the Exodar server."
- Some unspecified combination of the above. "Gmail is my e-mail server."
the "no true scotch man" fallacy.