So am a mech. engineering student and work part time in a small IT dept. Well I want to learn programming, unfortunately with a heavy course-load combined with working, I don't have time to take a class so I have to go the self-taught route. I have been trying to decide what language to learn first, which would be the best for a beginner with no prior programming experience. I have been searching forum post and it seems that many programmers suggest that the first program should be geared to the specific type of programing you will be doing. (i.e. web pages = php) Well, I have no specific area. I just want to be a well-rounded programmer. And over time learn php, C++, etc. But where does the average Joe start? So far I'm leaning toward Python, is this a decent "starter" language?
Thanks in advance.