(04-06-2012, 04:42 AM)scummos Wrote:(04-06-2012, 02:42 AM)Shonumi Wrote: learning how to program in XYZ language is just a matter of getting the syntax down.Not sure about this.
Of course you wouldn't be. As you didn't quote the whole sentence, I think you missed the larger context.
(04-06-2012, 02:42 AM)Shonumi Wrote: I think that once you get the basics into your head (program flow, conditional statements, loops, variables) e.g. the core concepts that almost every programming language will use, learning how to program in XYZ language is just a matter of getting the syntax down.
Essentially, once you know what variables are, how loops are supposed to run, all the common, core concepts that most programming languages share, etc, picking up other languages is easy. Knowing the underlying mechanics of programming enables you to jump from language to language relatively easy. Elegant code is a different matter, as it requires experience and practice with a language. Not knowing how to create elegant code, however, doesn't preclude one from transferring those core concepts I mentioned and using a language effectively.
It comes down to making analogies, like "Oh, I've seen this control structure before, it's a for loop." From there, you have to learn how language XYZ expresses for loops as opposed to language ABC, which you already know. Granted, some concepts and features aren't available in other languages, but there are plenty of shared concepts wherein the difference is mainly syntax.