currently i have taken a few years of college level programming classes. But have never really learned how to make anything past CLI apps. I have looked into doing it but everything has always been so intimidating.
What i have done:
for school: java - 2 classes, intro and data structures c++ - wrote MPI sorting algorithms for a summer job c/asm - a few months experience in a computer architecture course. Processing - tinkered with this, only visual thing i've ever done. python - self taught SML and soon Racket - from Programming Languages course on coursera
So basically the only thing i've ever done that wasn't a CLI program was a bit of playing with Processing. I really did like how easy it was drawing shapes. And wrote a decent little shape drawing application in it.
But now i've tried learning kivy, but after the tutorial it's a bit over my head. Does anyone have any advice for transferring from academic programming ( algorithms and such) towards building real world applications? the language doesn't matter but i'd prefer something i know, and could potentially use for 2d games ( silly things like chess/poker).