<p>There are many useful resources on the internet. For a beginner with no prior programming experience I’d consider learning about HTML/CSS/JavaScript first before doing any object-oriented programming or server-side scripting. The AP Computer Science A course is not challenging at all, considering that you know what you’re getting into. These are the basics of the very basics, i.e. data structures, iterations, conditional statements, etc. </p>
<p>Just from my own experience, learning a programming language needs a goal beforehand. If you want to learn something that could possibly bring an income, stick with learning basic web design and web development, i.e. HTML/CSS/JavaScript/Ajax and PHP, as well as SQL. The basics of Java won’t get you anywhere, as this is the standard knowledge of any programmer that could do while sleeping. You’d have to spend more money on an object-oriented programming course if you want to be able to apply anything to real-world applications, games or whatever.</p>
<p>The good thing about the internet is that there are many dilligent people on YouTube who have posted entire tutorials on HTML, CSS, Java, JavaScript, Perl, PHP, Ajax, jQuery, C++, C#, Python. It’s only a matter of interest, not a matter of money. Good luck.</p>