I have an associate's in Java and want to do modding to help rehone my skills. Looking for a "getting started" type post to help me make sure what I do is compatible got me nowhere, nor did a search on "getting started". I may be a lower skilled programmer than what is typical here, but I want to mod and I want to make stuff forge compatible. I'm really looking for someone to post a link to a post that I didn't see that will make me go "well, that was obviously where I should have started" so yeah, I'm dumb enough to need pointed in the right direction before I even begin.

The Forge documentation explains how to set up a workspace here. It explains some of the basics about Blocks here and Items here. Registering things like Blocks and Items is explained here.

 

If you have any specific questions, you can create a topic in the Modder Support section.

You might be interested in some tutorials as well:

 

• Shadowfacts' tutorials—covers most of the basics
• Jabelar's tutorials—covers a lot of stuff in depth that's not covered anywhere else, also has a list of other tutorials
• Choonster's TestMod3—tons of great example code covering lots of things modders commonly want to do, although sometimes uses advanced Java concepts that are tough for beginners
• TheGreyGhost's MinecraftByExample—again, lots of great example code