development environment - Linux programming - getting started, how? -

I've dipped and installed linux (Linux Mint 9 if it's important) on a box - Want to start programming time ... but where to start from

My background:

• Most LOB-Application in C # / WPF> Some XAL-Basic
• One of VB / VBA and Silverlight Small

I would like to turn to a new programming language - but still focusing on desktop applications

What do I need:

• An editor - preferably with good intelligence.
• A programming languages ​​and resources to get started

If someone tells me in the right direction I can be happy for a little push ...

Edit: Thanks for all the advice - I have come up with the following:

• I'll start with Python - and I will use Vim for the editor

I will definitely try to exclude Vala and Pearl later and as a monodewell backup editor - and If everything fails, then i will turn t o ++ i all Abon is elevated because all helped me.

EDIT2: OK - Vim was a bit too hardcore ... cream installed on top.

Depends on how much you want to learn (among the toughest of the easiest options): < Use the bus - which gives you access to most POSIX interfaces via mono.unix, so you can access desktop apps, many Linux libraries, so that you can get more advanced content / Better to integrate. (You can program in - this is an intense clone, type of VS-IIS)

Learn - it's a language compiled for C, similar to C, but the bare minimum Is close to This anti-MS collects people who wanted a response to C # IHHO (in fact it has never been used, but apparently there is a Vala plugin for Monodeblade and the language is becoming more popular). >

Learn - this is a scripting language. It is the most popular libraries (also GTK and QT) (IDE: Anything that can edit text - you can use any dynamic language anyway Binding is not available)

Learn C ++ and QT, or Learn GTK - although these are very low level languages, where you will spend only a lot of time using only for the environment

If you want "something new", but do not want to spend a lot of time learning a completely new environment, I would recommend trying Vella if you have different styles More curious about So, go for Python, which I think is a great tutorial for new people (but not new to programming): Or with Python you have the advantage of being able to have a whole environment available in the package, There is no such luck (yet) with Vla.