Question

I’ve taken the plunge and installed Linux (Linux Mint 9 if that’s important) on one of the boxes – and I’d like to start some small-time programming… but where to start.

My background:

• Mostly LOB-applications in C#/WPF
• Some XAL-basic
• A wee bit of VB/VBA and SilverLight

I would like to turn to a new programming language – but still focused on desktop applications.

What I need:

• An editor – preferably with good intellisense
• A programming languages and the resources to get started

If anyone can point me in the right direction, I’d be happy for a little push…

EDIT:
Thanks for all the advice – I’ve come up with the following:

• I’ll start out with Python – and use Vim for the editor

I’ll definetly try out Vala and Perl later and have MonoDevelop as backup editor – and if all else fails, I’ll turn to C++. I’ve upvoted all answers as they all helped me.

EDIT2:
Okay – Vim was a bit too hardcore… Installed Cream on top.

Answer 1

Depends on how much you want to learn (from the easiest option to the hardest one):

• Just use C# via Mono – that gives you access to most of the POSIX interfaces via Mono.UNIX, access to GTK# so you can do desktop apps, access to many linux libraries, so you can do more advanced stuff / integrate better. (you can program in Monodevelop – it’s a Sharpdevelop clone, kind of VS-ish)
• Learn Vala – it’s a language compiled down to C, very similar to C# but closer to the bare minimum. It’s gathers anti-MS people who wanted a response to C# IMHO. (never really used it, but apparently there’s a Vala plugin for Monodevelop and the language itself is becoming more popular)
• Learn Python – it’s a scripting language. It’s got bindings to most popular libraries (also GTK and QT) (IDE: anything that can edit text – you won’t get good intellisense from a dynamic language anyways)
• Learn C++ and QT, or C and GTK – although those are very low level languages where you will spend a lot of time just getting used to the environment. (IDE: Anjuta, Kdevelop, Monodevelop with C++ plugin, Eclipse+CDT, emacs, vim, etc. – anything goes really)

If you want “something new”, but don’t want to spend loads of time learning a completely new environment, I’d recommend trying out Vala. If you’re more curious about different styles, go for Python, which I think has a very good tutorial for new people (but not new to programming): Tutorial or Beginner’s Guide. With Python you also have an advantage of having the whole environment available in packages in any distribution, no such luck with Vala (yet).