Whats a good way to start Programming and what program helps with java coding on mac?
Get a good book. I recommend Programming with Java in 24 hours, although it’s not that detailed. For a really good textbook, I recommend Java Programming from the Ground Up, and Head First Java is a good one too.
Netbeans is a good IDE to use, not sure if it runs on mac. Or you could try Eclipse, but the software doesn’t matter as much as your skills.
check out here.
I used eclipse on the mac until I got my new computer. I thought it was great. Haven’t tried Netbeans yet though.
Welcome to JGO!
In my humble biased opinion, I prefer Eclipse 
And this post helps explains the Java dev scene.
thanks all you that should get me started
thanks Jimmt for the book names
That link…
Man, ASCII console games were awesome
nostalgia
Netbeans or Eclipse work well on Mac. They are both good.
IMO books are a rather “dated” way to learn basic programming. (IMO the future of education lies in interactive applications… but that’s a topic for another day.) Here’s a good place to get you started.
The syntax is different in Java, but the concepts are the same. The best way to learn programming is not by reading about it, but by practicing it.