Programming, where to start?

I'm really interested in learning the basics of programming, any pointers about where to start from your personal experience?
Or any advice about programming at all would be helpful!

Like how hard is it to learn, etc.

Thanks!

If you like I can put up the booklet my uni gives us to teach C as a PDF? Also bools are used in loops and conditional statements

Depends what you are looking to program and whether you wish to sit and learn theory, I learnt the theory first from many books and documents on designs at techniques thou you have to be very driven to go that route. Alternatively you can jump into an IDE with some video tutorials and you can get the same results. I recommend thinking about your learning style as well when choosing how to learn.

Also different languages are used in different circumstances, I don't know your level of ability and I neither wish to talk techy language or to insult your intelligence in the programming field so I have tried to just glance the subject without actually going in depth as I do not know how to gear it.

If you are just starting I would recommend Java, and I once again I don't know your knowledge in the area and this may be basic but I just wish to make sure that it is understood that Java and JavaScript are two different things. I wish you all the best in your programming ways and hello world! Lol

What about Python? I've just started learning Python (3.3) and it's relatively straightforward. Dad says it's the best to begin with, in his opinion. There's an excellent book 'Introduction to Python' and the stuff's all free to download online.

Java is good too though, but I think it's a little more advanced? It depends on what you eventually want to do

Start with Java. I recommend using thenewboston tutorials to familiarize yourself with basic concepts, then far far superior tutorials of Derek Banas. He is incredible person, provides full tutorials on Java, PHP, MySQL, just started Android series where he will show how to build apps his users want. http://www.youtube.com/user/derekbanas

Why Java? A lot of transferable skills. Android is programmed using Java, Oracle uses Java to manage DBs. Good luck because programming is surprisingly difficult.

TheNewBoston On youtube is incredibly helpful.

Yes, programming is an art. You have to do it, do it a lot in order to become better. Also I advise you strongly HERE! Stop reading books, and DO PROGRAMMING!! Write code, bad code, ****ty and buggy code it does not matter. Write code :}