I would like to learn programming but haven't been able to get started. Advice appreciated, both high-level (you should try learing language X) and low level (you can find a program that will run language X here), the latter has been a particular problem for me, I don't really know how this sort of thing works.
I am currently studying maths and physics, and I have a particular talent for the former, so I would probably do well with a language that plays to that strength. My only actual experience with programming was when my father let me play around with Jython a bit when I was about 13, I had some fun calculating prime numbers and approximating pi but never got any farther.
Thanks in advance for all suggestions.
Think up a good project to work on. This is going to give you extra motivation, plus create synergy with your other goals. Let the choice of project guide your choice of initial language toolset.
A good intro project should be small, self-contained, and well-defined. For example, if you like boad games, trying writing an implementation of some game to you can play against your friends online.
For extra points, post a note to LW committing to the project, and setting a deadline to complete it.
Yes. This is good advice even for learning your nth language. For learning Python, I built a very simple package for simulating process engineering unit operations (heat exchangers, reactors, distillation columns etc.) and stringing them together. This worked very well.