This is not a good way to start learning how to program. Programming is not easy and it takes a lot of time and dedication (not to mention an eye for detail).

I'm not a programmer. But, I didn't come to this realization easily. I have been trying to learn Python for years (and have spent a lot of money on books). I still can't do it. I know enough now to be able to look through code and sort of understand what's going on, but... That also comes from years of designing around C, C++, Delphi, html, php, asp, ruby, etc.

If you want to learn how to do some of these things, you need to be in it for the long haul. Don't just think that you'll be able to look at a website (like python.org) and know how to make applications for Maemo.

I don't mean to be pessimistic about your intentions, but this is not something to be taken lightly.

Tim

Instead of learning to be a programmer, the best way to develop a quick app might be to offer a bounty for one. Computer books are expensive, and time intensive. You could offer quite a large bounty and still be money ahead compared to learning to be a programmer, which is something like wanting to be a rock star -- most ambitions in that direction are dashed.

I know it is going to take some time, but making little apps, lets call them would be fun to do and make a new star trek theme design for the nokia. I'm also thinking about going back to school for programing, so this helps to see if I want to do it....... I look at Python and had no idea where to go there and it was a little over whelming....
Any help is appericated. Thanks!

Making themes is relatively for Maemo devices is relatively easy (but, don't call it programming):

https://garage.maemo.org/frs/?group_id=36

It is time-consuming and you'll need Photoshop (or something equivalent).

Also, know that there is already a Star Trek theme for Maemo 4:

http://maemo.org/downloads/product/O...cars-complete/

Tim

Cha, you certainly have quite a way to go, but after all no one is born a programmer, so there's no reason you can't do it.

I suggest you do yourself three favours :

1) start with Python, as many have suggested. It's good for beginners, but not a toy language in any way : it'll grow with you and not hobble you as you mature. Above all, it'll teach you early on what clean and readable code means. Learn with simple stuff before you tackle GUI apps so you don't hit a wall right on.

2) When you do however, skip the world of pain that is GTK and go straight ahead with Qt. It's available on N8x0 now, it's the future for Maemo, and there are great tools like QtDesigner and eric4 that you can use on almost any desktop.

3) if you follow 1) and 2) you can save time and despair by buying this book :
http://www.qtrac.eu/pyqtbook.html

Good luck !

Where do I start with Python at? Is there a manual to help with the basics??

That's one starting point:
http://www.google.bg/search?q=python+for+beginners

I'm not into Python so I can't really recommend a source.

I suggest reading this before anything else (it's online and free):

http://www.greenteapress.com/thinkpython/thinkCSpy/

Tim

A free book on programming python is Dive into python by Mark Pilgrim: http://www.diveintopython.org/
Another book I think is really good for beginners that want to learn Python is 'Beginning Python: From Novice to Professional, Second Edition' by Magnus Lie Hetland (http://www.apress.com/book/view/9781590599822), but that book isn't free.

This will learn you to program scripts that you can run within the terminal on your PC or on the N800 (or using launcher programs).

If you want to learn graphic user interface (what most people consider "real programs"), I think the best way is to learn PyQt (I think is it easier than PyGTK, mostly because I think the documentation is a bit better).
The book that has already been mentioned some post before: 'Rapid GUI development with Python and Qt' by Mark Summerfield is a very good one in my opinion.
http://www.qtrac.eu/pyqtbook.html
BUT you should have SOME experience in programming python before you start that book (the book has an introduction in general Python, but I recommend you look at a dedicated python book before you start the GUI book).

Other options are that you look into Web-based applications. The Tablets have a very good webbrowser and this may make it easier to create a graphic user interface (using HTML/CSS). I really enjoy creating web applications using Django (that is also Python)
A good book about Django is also freely available:
http://www.djangobook.com/
But it may be a bit difficult to do if you don't have any former experience in programing websites.

In any case, I think you should first program you application for your own PC, and then tweak it for running on the Tablet.
If you don't have any former experience it would help you gain that this way.

The big advantage of Python, PyQt is that it runs on most platforms, WIndows, Ubuntu, Maemo etc.etc.

I'm looking for help setting up eric4.

I've downloaded the necessary and recommended components (Qt, PyQt, QScintilla, Python, Subversion, PySvn) but I am just flat stumped on how to make all this work. I have found 0 documentation helpful for the setup-- just notes indicating "you have to have this". Well, great... but that heads-up doesn't get a Python newbie very far! Downloading is maybe 10% of the process.

So... anyone know of a good starter resource? http://eric-ide.python-projects.org doesn't seem to be it...

Note: I will be starting off creating an internet web service for twitter before I get into heavy-duty stuff.