Step One: Suck It Up. Get in it for the long haul, or take up bird watching.
Sure, you can fiddle around and make nifty shell scripts and maybe a small game or four; if you're content with a limited skill set, by all means go for the fast-and-easy route. I'm not trying to diminish the legitimacy of that option at all - some people don't have the time (or even the desire) to become a master programmer. If you don't relish the idea of practicing this craft for ten years before you get good at it, then don't bother - but don't be fooled, you'll always be limited in what you can do and do well. If that is a reasonable trade-off for you, cool! You don't need to finish this article.
Sure, you can fiddle around and make nifty shell scripts and maybe a small game or four; if you're content with a limited skill set, by all means go for the fast-and-easy route. I'm not trying to diminish the legitimacy of that option at all - some people don't have the time (or even the desire) to become a master programmer. If you don't relish the idea of practicing this craft for ten years before you get good at it, then don't bother - but don't be fooled, you'll always be limited in what you can do and do well. If that is a reasonable trade-off for you, cool! You don't need to finish this article.
