Robert Jepson

Max has opened me up to how interested I am in this whole coding business! So I'm looking to start learning some languages, probably javascript to start, but really I want to learn whatever I can.

Thing is, Max has such immensely good documentation all within the software that I'm at a loss as to where to begin. Are there any IDEs or programming environments for any languages that have features like Max's help & reference files for specific objects? Or what would you guys suggest as the best way to get into text coding?

Max has opened me up to how interested I am in this whole coding business! So I'm looking to start learning some languages, probably javascript to start, but really I want to learn whatever I can.
Thing is, Max has such immensely good documentation all within the software that I'm at a loss as to where to begin. Are there any IDEs or programming environments for any languages that have features like Max's help & reference files for specific objects? Or what would you guys suggest as the best way to get into text coding?

any-programming-environments-similar-to-max-in-documentationreference

Coming back to this a few years later as a professional web developer I've gotta say that using javascript in Max was really helpful in getting my head around general programming concepts. But to answer my own question for completion's sake, it turns out that, because of the ubiquity and vastness of programming, Google / Stackoverflow / Github are really the best pieces of 'documentation' to learn with, and I haven't really come across anything like what I'm asking for here (a self-documenting IDE)

Coming back to this a few years later as a professional web developer I've gotta say that using javascript in Max was really helpful in getting my head around general programming concepts. But to answer my own question for completion's sake, it turns out that, because of the ubiquity and vastness of programming, Google / Stackoverflow / Github are really the best pieces of 'documentation' to learn with, and I haven't really come across anything  like what I'm asking for here (a self-documenting IDE)

Max is rather special in that respect. I think it's a good model to follow for other documentation.

I don't know why there isn't something similar for client-side web programming. Closest one comes are those online code editors, but they are not good learning tools IMO.

Max is rather special in that respect. I think it's a good model to follow for other documentation. 

I don't know why there isn't something similar for client-side web programming. Closest one comes are those online code editors, but they are not good learning tools IMO. 

Have you looked at Grasshopper? You are more likely to know about it if you're an architect, but....

Javadoc comes to mind when thinking of self-documentation and vvvv in the case of documentation similar to max

Thanks Robert for giving that update. I am in the same place as you were 3 years ago - inspired by Max, wanting to learn how to code, and looking at Javascript as a good entry point in a large part due to its implementation in Max (as well as C for a low-level understanding of CS concepts)... so I'm glad to hear Javascript in Max worked for you and it's awesome that you are now a professional web developer.

Learning to code has been and probably will continue to be less straightforward than Max. Do you have any other tips about what helped you get from A to B (particular online classes, methods of programming, open source projects etc.) and if you're open to it, sharing about how this led you into professional coding? (This question is open to anyone else who may have had a similar journey).

Thanks Robert for giving that update. I am in the same place as you were 3 years ago - inspired by Max, wanting to learn how to code, and looking at Javascript as a good entry point in a large part due to its implementation in Max (as well as C for a low-level understanding of CS concepts)... so I'm glad to hear Javascript in Max worked for you and it's awesome that you are now a professional web developer. 

@zach https://www.youtube.com/user/shiffman/videos

I think the Max documentation is my *fave* documentation of ANY software I use.

SO much of what i have learned came through the simple action of:

Right-click Open "______" help or Open "______" reference

All is revealed. With working usage examples

SO much of what i have learned came through the simple action of:
I look at someone else's patch
I say "wtf does this object do??"
Right-click   Open "______" help    or    Open "______" reference
All is revealed.   With working usage examples
No online needed.

Is 100% awesome.

Any programming environments similar to Max in documentation/reference?