Hanover  - Anybody can learn to program. The key is to set small goals along the way. Good programming languages to start with are C# and Java, says programming how-to book author Helmut Erlenkoetter. These languages, known as object-oriented, are clearly structured and easy to understand, he says.

Another good entry level candidate is the newer version of Visual Basic .NET, says Hajo Schulz from the Hanover-based computer magazine

c't. While Visual Basic and C# are designed for the Windows operating system, Java works with both Linux and the Mac OS.

Once you've decided on a programming language, the next question is where to get started. "Beginners are best off setting very narrow horizons," says Erklenkoetter. "Otherwise they won't have any success to build on." One sensible way to get started is by working through problems whose solution are already known. Everyday problems - determining tips, for example - are well suited for this.

Users can draw support from special developer software available on the internet, says Professor Heinrich Ploedereder, director of the Institute for Software Development at the University of Stuttgart. Java in particular features the Integrated Development Platform (IDE) Eclipse.

"If something isn't working, then the user can look there for software components to help with the programming," Ploedereder says.

It can be very difficult without the IDE, Schulz says. They are an enormous aid for beginners. "Key programming terms are marked in bold, for example, or recommendations on how to complete a command appear in a drop-down menu," he notes. A debugger to check the programming code for errors is also useful.

Apart from the internet, handbooks and manuals are another helpful source of advice. How-to guides are relatively good companions to getting started with a specific programming language, Ploedereder explains. "They convey fundamental starting points from which you can write your first small program."

Analytical ability and a logical approach to problems are important characteristics for programmers. "For this reason we offer courses in logic and mathematics here for beginners who've never programmed before," explains Stefan Dewes, director of the adult education college of Dillingen/Saar. This is particularly helpful for absolute beginners, since otherwise they'll struggle with these skills later on. It's also important in making simple concepts like loops and variables more comprehensible.

The courses work on the classic three-step principle, Dewes claims: "Demonstrate, copy and practice." As the detail work is often so difficult, beginners are well served by working in groups.

"Four eyes see more than two do," he says. The programmers themselves often lack the necessary distance from their code, too - they tend to oversee their own errors, even after looking at their work numerous times. Professional-level programming may well require more than just night school courses, Ploedereder notes. But it can serve as a helpful entry. (dpa)