when do you actually know a language?

[Joey]

when can you actually say you know a programming language? you would have to know every single statement right? i think that is impossible. or very hard. i dont think we can say we know it. cause i doubt we know everything in the language. oh well, im still gonna say it.

[AGI1122]

Well I consider being able to say "I know it" whenever I can program in it and make programs, without needing to use a manual or reading a list of commands.

[ark]

I would say that you know a programming language when you're comfortable with the basic structure and features of it. It is practically impossible to memorize every single nuance of a programming language. You know the language when you can write programs with it comfortably. There is no clear-cut definition of "comfortably". I "know" C++ but I frequently have to consult references for the little details of keywords or to find a library function to do what I want to do. I "know" the Windows API but I have to consult an API reference with great frequency -- I can say I know it because I understand how the API works in general and I look at references for details and not to get the basic idea.

[Sami_Tervo]

Hey Chris, add a new test/quiz to your site which would ask various questions about AGI commands, syntax etc.
And ofcourse after finishing the test you would be informed how much do you know about that stuff.

Yeah, a helluva job, but why not

[AGI1122]

Actually that is quite a good idea and with my knowlege of php and such I could make it pretty good.

[Andrew_Baker]

I don't know about y'all, but I always leave the help window open whenever I'm working on a project. It helps to have a constant reference even when I "know" a language.

[Sami_Tervo]

Chris, you know any good site containing ready PHP-scripts? I just started learning that language and I'm trying to create somesort of guestbook and chat (if you wanna laugh yourself to death, check out my 'chat' at http://koti.mbnet.fi/sterv/vieraskirja.php)

[AGI1122]

Well for ready scripts... not too sure... question does your chat use flat file or php? Also the refresh rate on the chat is too fast. You also need to learn about sessions to properly make users.

Any info you might need can be found at php.net

[Kon-Tiki]

Yep, the refresh's too fast and it deletes what you've typed while refreshing it. I had problems just typing 'Kon-Tiki-

-Kon-Ti

[Joey]

is php easy to learn like qbasic and html. probably not, but i would like to know anyway.

[AGI1122]

PHP is easy, fun, almost every site/host has it and when used with MySQL it is awesome.

Trust me php rules!!! Out of all the languages I have tried php is my favorite so far.

[Joey]

is it as easy as html and qbasic?

[AGI1122]

Well qbasic is easy... well except for it's graphics... that takes alot of skill and dedication to work with.(and then your graphics still look like crap ).

I only showed you some "basic" html, trust me tables arn't fun... although a basic knowlege of tables is necessary for alot of html things.

PHP is very easy to learn, it has easy commands and a very extensive manual to help you learn... best of all php and it's manual are free.

[Joey]

chris, i am taking a tutorial. it is easy. im on the 8th chapter and its really cool. i think its great!!! i think i may want to learn php now.....

DAMNIT CHRIS!!! your getting me into web design now!!! its cool thogh.

[AGI1122]

Web design is cool, also have you considered web games... games are what you wanted to make in the first place who said you can't make them on the web and multiplayer(using php and mysql).