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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">Hi there -<br>
<br>
As a general purpose language I'd suggest Python - it's easy to
learn, and has a huge library of support modules, for example see
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://docs.python.org/3.2/library/markup.html">http://docs.python.org/3.2/library/markup.html</a> for its
documentation on parsing xml. <br>
<br>
Python can initially be learned without using objects, but as soon
as you do anything serious, then an understanding of objects is
necessary - though they're not particularly difficult. The
language has both simple constructs - conditional loops etc., as
you say, and also advanced features that can be used as you
improve - glance at
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://scipy-lectures.github.io/advanced/advanced_python/">http://scipy-lectures.github.io/advanced/advanced_python/</a><br>
<br>
I'm biased though - I'm a total Python fan, been programming in it
for a long time, and it fits my brain. To be fair to other
languages - they all have their strengths. I used to go to
Bradford LUG, but haven't been for a while due to moving to
Sheffield, but remain lurking here. I could do a talk on Python in
the new year if there's a demand, either an intro to the language
- or perhaps on the more advanced topics such as using objects.<br>
<br>
Cheers<br>
<br>
- Bernard Czenkusz<br>
<br>
<br>
On 16/11/13 10:38, Andrew Coulson wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote
cite="mid:1287837503.1350.1384598284984.JavaMail.tomcat@domU-12-31-39-05-28-E1"
type="cite"> Good morning everyone, <br>
<br>
It's been a while since I made it over to a meeting, but hopefully
I will manage to get over again in the New Year. In the meantime
I've got a few ideas I'm working on that convince me I need to get
back in to doing some coding. Mostly I'll be tinkering around at
the command line to try out different algorithms or ways of
dealing with data (eg parsing XML in various ways). I know I
could use shell scripts for some of that, and may well do so, but
want to think about taking it further and perhaps using a browser
to present the results of whatever I'm doing so I can stay as
platform (and OS) agnostic as possible. <br>
<br>
My programming experience stems from the eighties - BBC Basic,
Pascal, some C, but mostly coding in 8 bit microcontrollers based
around the 6802. So I have the fundamentals of conditional loops
and such like, but entirely missed out on object orientation and
graphical interfaces. <br>
<br>
Can anyone suggest a good language to update myself with, that
could be applied to the ideas above? Also any suggestions of good
resources to support the gaps in my knowledge? <br>
<br>
Thanks for your suggestions, and hopefully see you all after
Christmas <br>
<br>
<span class="signature"><font size="4">Andrew Coulson</font><br>
email: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:coulson.andy@gmail.com" onclick="return false;"
style="cursor: pointer;" target="_blank">coulson.andy@gmail.com</a>
| tel: 07834 269850<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.ryburntextworks.co.uk"><b>Ryburn TextWorks</b></a>
- <font size="1">Proofreading, Copy-editing, Writing</font><br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.RyburnImageWorks.co.uk" target="_blank"><b>Ryburn
ImageWorks</b></a> -<font size="1"> Landscape and Nature
Photography</font></span> <br>
<br>
<div class="iqtell-signature"> <span style="font-size: 12px;"><em>Sent
from my <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://goo.gl/EWViH" target="_blank"><span
style="font-weight: bold">IQTELL</span></a> Virtual
Workspace</em></span> </div>
<br>
<fieldset class="mimeAttachmentHeader"></fieldset>
<br>
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</pre>
</blockquote>
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