Want to learn computer programming but aren't sure where to start? Programming for the Absolute Beginner provides a gentle learning curve in programming for anyone who wants to develop fundamental programming skills and create computer programs. The primary focus is on teaching the reader how to program using a free implementation of BASIC called Just BASIC. As such, the book focuses on developing programs that run on Microsoft® Windows®, but also presents programming principles that apply to different environments, including other operating systems and the Internet. Additionally, the book provides a solid foundation for advancing to different programming languages as you gain confidence in your newly acquired programming abilities. As part of the for the absolute beginner series, Programming for the Absolute Beginner teaches all the concepts through the creation of simple computer games, making the learning process much more fun and enjoyable.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 6 Ratings

Worth EVERY penny!! - 2007-12-15
Reviewer Rating:
Some will be quick to tell you that it's worthless to learn JustBASIC because you can't do much with it and you should instead learn Visual Basic. I started learning BASIC when I was about 5 or 6 (my dad is a programmer and taught me a lot!), but then never used it for a long time. 20 years later, I find myself with the desire to learn Visual Basic. I had told my dad that I wanted to learn Visual Basic to create some software for a non-profit organization that I run. I had said that I felt the best way to learn to program is to go through what I call "bootcamp" which is basically having to code EVERYTHING at first. You'll get a better grip on what's going on behind the scenes and the ability to better appreciate Visual Basic's IDE. He told me that when we went from Quick Basic (or qbasic) to Visual Basic, it was a relatively quick and easy, painless experience because so much of the code he'd been using still applied.

One of the things I wish that this book would do is give quizzes at the end. I can't even tell you how helpful those can be in making sure you understand the information. How else are you to know just how much you learned? Some of the games are a little (lot) goofy in this book, but they do what they're supposed to do: demonstrate the use of the code covered in that chapter as well as previous chapters. You also end up with a few programs that with a little modification could be quite fun to play! I'm working on a slot machine program that will pull up all of the pictures in the folder that the program is found in and display them as you win rather than basing it solely on how much money you have. That way I could cycle through family vacations, weddings, etc. in a more interactive way. While it might not be something I will use often, it's definitely one more Problem for me to try to figure out. Isn't that, after all, what programming is all about? Problem-Solving?

In the end, I'd have to say that this book is very good. Pick it up, learn it, master it and move on. You'll be a stronger programmer in five years if you keep to the simple basics of breaking down programs, using subroutines/functions to streamline your programs and using liberal use of comments all throughout the code. Definitely worth the money!

Good Beginner Book - 2008-12-03
Reviewer Rating:
I bought the book for my 6th grade grandson, who was trying to learn scripting using a book he had purchased that employed a language other than BASIC. He was having trouble with the book and the software from the start. He couldn't get anything to work and found the book confusing. I've been doing programming for years, first using FoxPro then Visual Basic, so I thought I could help. Well I too found the book confusing starting with Chapter One and couldn't get the software to run.

I suggested that if he's interested in learning scripting that he try another book and perhaps consider starting with BASIC. He agreed, so I did some research of available books on Amazon.com, reading comments and passages that were available, and that led me to select this book. From all indications it was a good selections. My grandson told me that the book is very clear in it's explanations and that so far all the software and scripting programs he has tried work. He is happy with the book and believes it to be a very good learning tool.

snail pace leaving out the logic - 2009-10-23
Reviewer Rating:
For kids that want to learn how to play around this book is fine. For anyone looking to build a foundation upon which to build, this book leaves much wanting.

The title speaks well - 2009-05-03
Reviewer Rating:
Programming for the absolute beginner is exactly that! Anyone can pick up this book and easily learn C programming or programming fundamentals. It was used in one of my college courses to introduce fundamental programming techniques and I was easily able to grasp the basic concepts of programming. I also noticed a great improvement in those students who were having a difficult time with grasping the concept of pseudocode. This book is very helpful when using it as one of the first steps in learning programming. After completing and understanding this book, I recommend learning either advanced C or another language derived from C (C++, Java, etc.).

... for the Absolute Beginner. - 2009-02-01
Reviewer Rating:
The author explains programming concepts very well, despite the material making use of the relatively obscure Just BASIC language (a.c.w. BASIC, VB, and other well-known "exemplary" languages). The book also does some explaining of other programming languages (such as Perl and C++) to show differences between programming languages. Its style of training is one of many, so it will not please everyone, and it is not intended to train the reader specifically in Just Basic (which is just a stepping stone to other languages of choice). Novice programmers will have had more experience and knowledge than absolute beginner programmers, so the book's title is apt and therefore gets a high rating for its intended target audience.

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