If you want to learn to program, the internet is infinitely better than any university or any one text book you could find. There are insane amounts of tutorials and explanations in every way imaginable.
Sites To Look At Source Code of Completed Programs
(preg) Replace foo with the programming language you'd like to learn. Sorry this is so generic, but it holds true with any programming language you can imagine. I highly recommend learning python as a first language because it's flexible and closer to english than any other programming language I've seen. Many kids and teens often want to make their own games. I recommend Macromedia Flash for beginner game creators. For advanced tutorials try the Game Programming wiki.
List of foo Compilers
foo documentation
foo installation guide
site:wikipedia.org foo (check external links at bottom)
site:wikibooks.com foo
foo forums
foo installation guide
foo tutorials
foo step by step tutorials
foo beginner tutorials
foo getting started tutorials
foo FAQ
foo common problems
Foo ebook
foo ebooks
foo videos
learn foo
site:sourceforge.net foo
foo video tutorial
foo beginners guide
foo source code examples
foo source code
Search peer 2 peer networks, google video and youtube for tutorials and free media and tutorials. Arrange by shared/rating/viewcount to find the best of the best.
If You Get Stuck
Search the error you got on google
Check the Documenation
Ask in different programming forums, be sure to include the code as a text attachment or describe your problem VERY thouroughly. You can even try asking your questions in yahoo programmers chat, yahoo answers and wondir
Be persistent, programming is frustrating.
If you dont understand something in a tutorial search for another one that describes the same topic until you find one that explains things in a way you can understand
If you try to find a temporary code mentor for any given task in forums, express your ambitions of wanting to program without stating things to the effect of, "I just wanna start makin' loads of money" or, "TEACH ME EVERYTHING!!!". Be very specific about short term goals. Show them you use the documentation and have tried for a few hours. Show them what you've done, what you want to do, and what is stopping you from advancement.
Educational
