Need suggestions for learing material

General Discussion Other

fxmech

Need suggestions for learing material

in General Discussion • Other • 9 months ago

So after a 2 years of arduino programming and one of working with processing I am realizing that I am not learning as much programming as I'd like. Mostly I've been "quilting"...my little coined phrase for taking other peoples code snipets and stitching them together to build something I need...

I'd like to take a step backwards and learn some basic fundamentals about non linear programming.

I'd like to be able to look at a library reference sheet and understand how to use various classes, understand how to take advantage of inherited methods from other classes... etc

I still don't understand things like that... I don't know terminology like modifiers, public, etc

So my new years resolution is to hit the books hard...

Any suggestions on free or purchased tutorials, videos, books etc that would help me out???

I am already building some pretty elaborate programs but I'd like to be able to say I am "writing" some pretty elaborate programs.

I saw lots of books out there but they are mainly geared for the visual artist. I am looking for basic understanding on how to program in processing more than anything. My requirements tend to involve visual but a lot more for interacting with arduino and the visual end is usually involving screens for calibrating devices, gui's for adjusting settings etc.

my current project involves wireless communication via Bluetooth from sensors----through arduino---- to processing and then some java control such as using the robot class. Again at this point I am limited to modifying code that is close to my needs but if something I need is not within the examples provided I often get stuck... I have a good understanding of most of processing's core commands, but when using libraries it gets much more complicated if the library is capable of doing something but the examples don't directly utilize those features.

It sounds like basic stuff that I should have learned before getting as involved as I have, but the "stitching" approach to programming doesn't really get me that knowledge...

If any of you can suggest a good approach I'd really appreciate it.

I am even open to try tutoring... just a full blown college course in C is out of my reach since work would probably interfere way to much and keep me from working at someone elses pace.

Hope you guys have some good suggestions for me.

I already own the

Processing: A Programming Handbook for Visual Designers and Artists

book but I think I need something more about learning processing and less about implementing it for a specific purpose

Thanks

Replies(6)

Chrisir

Re: Need suggestions for learing material

9 months ago

see
http://forum.processing.org/topic/java-tutorials

I currently enjoy reading Think like a programmer - he's using C++ but the principles are the same.
http://www.amazon.de/Think-Like-Programmer-Introduction-Creative/dp/1593274246

It's not about C++ though but how to solve problems / write programs on a general level.

But if you understand classes and recursion and breaking every problem down into easy steps - you'll become better in processing too.

I assume you know the excellent learning section
http://www.processing.org/learning

I own

Generative Design
Hartmut Bohnacker, Benedikt Gross, Julia Laub, and Claudius Lazzeroni.
August 2012, Princeton Architectural Press. 472 pages.

and

Processing: Creative Coding and Computational Art (Foundation)
Ira Greenberg (Foreword by Keith Peters).
Published May 2007, Friends of Ed. 840 pages. Hardcover.

for both see
http://www.processing.org/learning/books

But you might also turn to learning JAVA itself.

Greetings, Chrisir