This is really 2 questions....?

Question

What is the best programming language around(read: most versatile)?

What is a good resource to go about learning it? (link to a book or website)

I have visual studio 2005, but i dont have any programming knowledge right now

Answer 1

The most versatile language around is hard to call, since the answer would depend on what environment(s) it is to be used in, the purpose(s), etc. in each case. As a broad sweeping generalization, of which none are true, I'd say it is among C, C++ and Java as top contenders across a wide section of non-overlapping platforms. All three can be used in web design, application programming and system level programming to some extent. C has its strengths in embedded designs, procedural designs, libraries, applications including Win32 and Win32s APIs, operating system programming (Linux) and dynamic memory handling. C++ carries most of C's strengths into the object oriented paradigm. It has some trouble with extremely low level programming, and makes up for it with better database connectivity and error handling. Java has the advantage of reaching near perfect platform independence by use of tokenized code designed to run on a "virtual machine" environment that can be created once for almost any paltform. It can also be compiled to native code for other uses.
Now that I've given you three opinions instead of the one asked for, you can look around at the URL below to find tutorials, articles and free tools to explore different languages and learn them as well. The bottom line is this: everyone wants to cut down their investment in time and frustration learning a language, but it just doesn't work out that way most times. In the real world, you learn a first language to learn how to program, not to learn how to program *IN SOME LANGUAGE*. Then you add another language with some more complexity to it and then another and then you start to understand what features allow what to be easiest. Next thing you know, you're pretty good. I hope this helps get you started on the right foot.

Answer 2

The best is subject to opinion and "religious argument".

For tool-building and most any small project, Python is pretty much the best of all I have used. It has libraries for "everything", and is used in al sorts of interesting places.

For doing literally anything, and for having rock-solid libraries, C++. It has a high learning curve, but the advantages are well worth the effort.

For cross-platform, on and off the net, JAVA is an excellent choice, and has the best employement prospects.

http://java.sun.com/ has lots of java stuff from development tools to basic tutorials.
c++ is "everywhere" on the net
Start at http://python.org/ for python info and language download.

Answer 3

With no knowledge, I would suggest to start with Visual Basic.
A good book in my opinion is Blackbooks, because it starts with an example from the beginning and builds it up.
Good Luck

Helmut

Answer 4

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Answer 5

with no programming knowledge u can try books of WROX (WILEY) publications they are really very very good and when u get to learn somthing u can buy MICROSOFT PRESS books or SAM's unleashed series