The material in Absolute Beginner's Guide to Programming won't help you get a job, at least not directly. You see, this book emphasizes QBasic, which is a very elementary programming language designed to help programming novices learn about the fundamental concepts of writing computer programs. The idea is that novices will be able to take the programming knowledge they develop under QBasic and apply it to more powerful languages that are better suited to solving real business and technical problems. (Such languages include C, C++, COBOL, and Java.) That said, this book does a good job of teaching the essentials of programming in the QBasic environment. It helps regular people start to think like programmers.

Author Greg Perry put this book together in 1993, when Windows 3.x was still standard and the Internet had yet to reach the popular consciousness. More importantly, object-oriented programming languages weren't as big a deal then as they are today--a procedural language like QBasic has less relevance now. Still, Perry's coverage of basic calculations, variables, loops, data structures, searches, sorts, and other fundamental concepts remains relevant today. He also helps get new programmers into the commercial mindset by explaining the importance of clear documentation and advance design work. Your biggest challenge in following along with Perry may be getting a copy of QBasic, but don't worry--many sites make the language available for free download. --David Wall

Topics covered: What computers are; how computers use programs; what programmers do; how to plan and write a program; and how to use variables, operators, loops, arrays, files, graphics routines, and other essential elements of the QBasic language.


SAMS Pub.
Perfect for the person who wants to program but needs a good starting point! This book teaches readers the thought process and design behind programming as well as which languages fit their individual needs. "Provides an introductory discussion of using the QBasic language. Includes a complete guide to programming and programming languages. Covers programming concepts, languages, and products". Covers QBasic.


From Book News, Inc.
This book is written for individuals with no programming experience, companies that want to train nonprogramming computer users for programming careers, and students in introductory computer language and systems analysis and design classes. In a reader-friendly style, the book explodes myths on who can learn computer programming, overviews types of computers and programs, and covers the history of programming languages, various languages including C and HTML, and maintenance and business issues. Perry is a computer programmer and trainer who has written other computer books.Copyright © 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR


Book Description

No prior programming experience necessary!

Absolute Beginner's Guide to Programming helps readers understand what programming really is. Readers not only get an overview of the job of programming, but also learn which specific skills are needed for certain jobs.Coverage includes how a computer interprets a program's instructions with insight into what goes on "under the hood" when a computer runs a program, how programming can and does relate to the Internet and the skills required for adding security to programs, and compiled versus interpreted languages like JavaScript and HTML. Absolute Beginner's Guide to Programming offers "hands on" programming for the "absolute beginner". Though there are hundreds of books for beginners about specific languages, this is the only book that takes today's programming environments and explains why each is important and where each works best.


From the Back Cover
No prior programming experience necessary!Absolute Beginner's Guide to Programming helps readers understand what programming really is. Readers not only get an overview of the job of programming, but also learn which specific skills are needed for certain jobs.Coverage includes how a computer interprets a program's instructions with insight into what goes on "under the hood" when a computer runs a program, how programming can and does relate to the Internet and the skills required for adding security to programs, and compiled versus interpreted languages like JavaScript and HTML. Absolute Beginner's Guide to Programming offers "hands on" programming for the "absolute beginner". Though there are hundreds of books for beginners about specific languages, this is the only book that takes today's programming environments and explains why each is important and where each works best.


About the Author
Greg Perry has personally taught thousands of people how to program in the classroom and lectures, as well as impacted the computer world through the sale of more than two million computer books internationally. He has been a programmer and trainer for the past 20 years. He received an undergraduate degree in computer science, followed by a master's degree in corporate finance. After working as a supervisor of financial systems for a Fortune 500 company, he turned to teaching at the college level, where he remained until he began to write full-time and lecture at programming conferences. Some of his other book titles include Sams Teach Yourself Visual Basic 6 in 21 Days, C by Example, and several books in the 24 Hours series, including Sams Teach Yourself PCs in 24 Hours, Sams Teach Yourself Office in 24 Hours, and Sams Teach Yourself Windows Millennium in 24 Hours. He has also written articles for several magazines, including PC World and Data Training. He is fluent in several computer languages and speaks a little Italian as well.

FROM THE PUBLISHER