What is the easiest programming language to learn for a first-timer?

Thinking of trying programming...any info would be helpful :)

What is the easiest programming language to learn for a first-timer?
Javascript.





It does not require you to declare all the variables at the beginning of the program. It is simple to use. Its syntax is similar to Java and other languages. There is nothing too much to worry about when using it.
Reply:For online programming I would recommend PHP. There's a lot of resources out there and php.net has excellent documentation and user notes. And there's a ton of books out there to help.





Java is the most common language for actually getting a job though, at least in the Bay Area. And in the end, that's usually the point. :)
Reply:I recommend JavaScript for learning to program. You can't get much simpler, but the syntax is similar to other popular languages like Java, PHP, etc.





You just need a text editor (notepad works fine) and a web browser.





%26lt;SCRIPT%26gt;document.writeln("HELLO WORLD")%26lt;/SCRIPT%26gt;
Reply:Nothing is really "easy" to learn these days. QBasic was what I would consider easy. I would say it's more important to learn a versatile language. Of those languages, the easiest I can think of is C#. If you start with VB.NET, it will most likely re-enforce bad habits from starting with Basic, which you can avoid altogether.





As far as Java, it's like Paul Graham says:


"Of all the great hackers I know who prefer to work in Java, I know one. Of all the great hackers I know who don't work at Sun, on Java, I know of zero."





Get yourself a copy of Microsoft Visual Studio Express with C# and you can start doing simple stuff quickly. I think you should find your first project on your own - nothing helps you learn better than scratching an itch. Find something YOU think is interesting and go after it, even if it's lofty, you will learn a lot in the process and one day be fluent and able to handle just about anything.
Reply:It depends on what type of programming you are looking to do. For web programming, nothing is better or more common than PHP. But, if you want to create client server software or an exe. I would recommend learning a .Net language like VB or C#
Reply:Java is pretty simple its seeming to me. Visual Basic sounds a bit more in depth and complicated but more viable (maybe?). local colleges usually have good classes for them both.