Trying to learn SQL, Python, and VB.

Does anybody know of any good sites for dummies? I'm starting to learn all of this, and instead of relying on professors and tutors (which aren't reliable to even start with), I wanted to practice a bit during the Summer. Perhaps in PDF form, or anything? Downloadable pages would be awesome, and I'd appreciate it. But websites works too.

I did use Youtube a couple times for visuals, but some of them prefers to do things the short-cut way, and I'd rather learn it the long route because it's better that way.

EDIT ; I might try Java some time during the summer too. But right now, focusing heavily on SQL and VB. I have SQL classes that I need to take for my major, and I don't really have a deep back-bone support with programming . . .

The best way to learn how to program is to just dive in and start writing code. To begin, it does not matter if the code sucks. The point is that you understand what the code is doing and why the code is doing it. Later on you can learn how to better manage your code and write maintainable code. Writing maintainable code is 100x better than writing fast code!

The reason why I don't like starting with VB is that it's heavily GUI based and uses many, many wizards to create what you want. It's great for beginners, but ultimately teaches you nothing about why it works. As far as programming goes, I'd strongly recommend you pick one language and become very good at it before moving to other languages. Once you learn one language very well and try learning another language, it becomes much easier because all programming languages can be boiled down to four elements:

1. Conditionals (if, else if, else, try, except, finally)
2. Loops (while, do-while, for)
3. Statements (a = b + c
4. Syntax (How to organize and write everything above into a logical program)

The first three are the easiest to learn the theory behind it. The last is the hardest to master and is often what separates an average programmer from an excellent programmer. This is why learning the first language is so hard because you have to do all four things at once. After you've learned the first language, you can concentrate on #4 for all other languages.

For learning Python, I recommend you use Python 2.7. This is because the module MySQLdb, a python module supported by Oracle, only works with 2.6 or 2.7.

As far as using MySQL db, it is extremely simple!

Code:

import mysql

dbconn = _mysql.connect(host="localhost", port="3306", username="root", password="", defaultschema="")

#Then you can start using queries very quick:

myBreakfast = dbconn.query("SELECT spam, eggs, sausage FROM breakfast WHERE price < 5")

print(myBreakfast)

Best way to learn is to jump in and make mistakes and learn as you go.

Strangely, that looks easier to understand than VB. I looked at that 'code' and it made sense. I stare at VB's, and I just sorta cringe. Thanks for the advice, because I have to take a class of SQL eventually, and I wanted to prepare.

I'm not sure how much Python or VB this site has, but it has a bit on SQL.
http://www.w3schools.com/
I use it all the time for HTML and javascript, so it might be helpful, depending just what you want to use VB, Python, and SQL for.

I'm not sure how much Python or VB this site has, but it has a bit on SQL.
http://www.w3schools.com/
I use it all the time for HTML and javascript, so it might be helpful, depending just what you want to use VB, Python, and SQL for.

Ah, someone on my MSN told me about this earlier! I'll make sure to try that website, looks extremely promising.

Oops, forgot to recommend a website. I strongly recommend Dive Into Python, a free redistributable introduction to Python. The site assumes that you have some programming experience, but it's still useful for beginners. It also introduces you to other IDEs rather than using the standard Python IDLE (such as Komodo) or other implementations of Python, such as Jython (Java & Python) or IronPython (.NET & Python).

Oops, forgot to recommend a website. I strongly recommend Dive Into Python, a free redistributable introduction to Python. The site assumes that you have some programming experience, but it's still useful for beginners. It also introduces you to other IDEs rather than using the standard Python IDLE (such as Komodo) or other implementations of Python, such as Jython (Java & Python) or IronPython (.NET & Python).

Ah, thanks Mr. Fiel. I saved your site as well as Hazzy's onto my Favorite's folder.

Strangely, that looks easier to understand than VB. I looked at that 'code' and it made sense. I stare at VB's, and I just sorta cringe. Thanks for the advice, because I have to take a class of SQL eventually, and I wanted to prepare.

Actually the VB version of what Fiel just wrote is pretty simple too;

Code:

set rs = CreateObject("ADODB.Recordset")
cn = "Driver={mySQL};Server=myServerAddress;Port=3306;Option=131072;Stmt=; Database=myDataBase; User=myUsername;Password=;"
sSQL = "SELECT spam, eggs, sausage FROM breakfast WHERE price < 5"
rs.open sSQL, cn

debug.print rs.getstring ()

I suppose for others, but for me, I just hate it. I'll pick it up eventually.

SQL just comes to you after a while of using it. When I was managing a database and mass editing stuff it sorta became secondhand to me without really needing much. Maybe a reference guide or short tutorials or so, but other than that, no.

The VB code just looks more confusing but once you pick it apart it really is so much like the Python code Fiel wrote.