Which Language to learn?

[Compact]

OK, this sounds very vague and stupid, but I want to learn a new langauge.
At the moment I use windows 2000, asp, and am learning and installing Linux.
But, I want to learn a language for various reasons such as, being bored with working with servers and operating systems, want a better job etc.
What i want to get from learning the language is one which is flexible, I can use to make games, or windows based applications.
My current level of understanding is VBscript in asp pages, Lingo in shockwave to make small games.
I would like to make something to move characters i make in 3d studio or to make 2d platform games, but I would also like something that will be useful in the workplace.
So come on santa clause, which language would be ideal for me??
(ps i know my ideas are probably impossible for a beginner in any language)

[Karrade_246]

Personally I would start learning C or C++ this may not be what others would choose but the good thing about C is that even if you don't stick with it or like it you will be able to take what you learned from it and apply it to other languages you learn. Plus it is a strong language.

[Compact]

Cheers Karrade, without sounding lazy sod who can't be bothered doing his homework,
what is the difference between c and c++

[Br1an_g]

Originally posted by Compact:
Cheers Karrade, without sounding lazy sod who can't be bothered doing his homework,
what is the difference between c and c++

c++ provides more support for object orienting your programming whereas c was procedural. i would probably go for c++ or Java. java is based on c++ so if you can do one you can learn the other. im teaching myself java just now and finding it a bit hard going but the features are immense. great support for web design so if you know java you can apply yourself to several different areas of employment.

hope this helps

Brian

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its only easy if you know the answer.

[Karrade_246]

Br1an_g hits the spot. Java is intense, especially if youve never done any object oriented programming. But if your willing to read up on it and ask a lot of questions then you can get through it and after that you will feel like a GOD. Java is great but if you don't have as much dedication or time try starting with C++.

[Compact]

I think that i'll start with c ++ as i',m fairly busy at the moment.
Cn you recommend any good books?
Maybe any that lean towards computer games style examples, as those are the ones that i would work hardest on to understand.

[Br1an_g]

Originally posted by Compact:

Cn you recommend any good books?

for c++ my book of choice is:
hands on c++ by allistair stewart.

everything you need to know about the language. not much about games, though it does give the old bat and ball code as an example lol.

good luck with c++.

regards

Brian


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its only easy if you know the answer.

[Bettina]

Maybe you would like to visit this site:
http://www.free-ed.net/catalog/itcat01.htm

happy study!

[Compact]

After speaking to a million people and reading quite alot I think I might move to learn Java, as it seems to be better than c++ as it is not Platform dependant and usefull for the web.
Does anyone disagree?

[Karrade_246]

If you can learn java to the point that it becomes useful then you will defenitly be a happy programmer. Your right it isn't platform dependent, but when I tried to learn it I got frustrated. So, good luck... try checking out some of the free java scripts on the internet to get examples while you try learning. I know I learn best by example and often books and other resources don't have a lot of them.

[mikek147]

The choice between C++ and JAVA is dependant on what you plan on doing with it. If you're interested in interactive web design, then you woud want to go with JAVA. If you're interested in games and such, maybe C++ would be a better choice. If you're only interested in doing stuff on PC's, maybe Visual Basic would be a better choice.

For the most part, JAVA is platform independant. But then again, for the most part, so is ANSI C. C only needs to be recompiled on the new platform. Just depends on how you look at it. Also, JAVA is more of an interpreted language, while C++ is a compiled language. The difference is that any compiled language runs faster than an interpreted one.

So, again, it just matters what you want to program. -mk

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Start off every day with a smile and get it over with. -W. C. Fileds's MAXim

[Compact]

OK, cheers for that
Definately a c++ or Java thing, with C++ winning at the moment.
What is the difference between c++ and Visual c++?

[mikek147]

Since I work in Unix, not windows, I would guess not much, except that it's more geared to the Windows environment. Microsoft's versus anyone elses. -mk

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Start off every day with a smile and get it over with. -W. C. Fileds's MAXim

[Br1an_g]

What is the difference between c++ and Visual c++?

my understanding of the difference is that in any visual language you build your interface with buttons etc and then code each objects task. whereas with a c++ builder program or turbo c++ you have to start at code and then build your interface from it.
and mike is right, java is ssslllloooowwww.

just thought i would see if you guys had seen this:
general programming forum?
so you think its a good idea?

regards

Brian

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its only easy if you know the answer.

[This message has been edited by Br1an_g (edited 11-07-2000).]

[mystic]

Hi there!

Originally posted by Compact:
OK, cheers for that
Definately a c++ or Java thing, with C++ winning at the moment.
What is the difference between c++ and Visual c++?

Visual C++ is Microsoft's implementation and it is more geared towards Windows than portability.

My best advice to you is start off leaning standard ANSI C. It's not much un to start off with, but you'll pick you the grammar and basic commands very quickly. It's also 100% portable to any platform or OS you care to name (with the possible exception of Commodore 64 ;-)

The definitive textbook on this is "ANSI C" by Brian Kernigan and Dennis Richie.

After you've got a good feel for ANSI C, take a look at C++. It's a natural progression and has a few more features to it. Certainly, give Visual C++ a go. If you're already familiar with VBScript in HTML, you'll find it pretty easy to migrate, as it's just the Object Oriented bits from Visual Basic (driven by text boxes, Command buttons, all your old friends..) with C++ as the backing rather than VBScript.

The beauty is that becuase C++ is based in C, all of your ANSI C code will work straight off in C++. So, you'll learn the C++ stuff as you need a particular feature.

I'd recommend that you learn C and C++ first, then go for Java after that. Maybe you should pick up Visual Basic while you're at it. (Before you start saying it's too much, if you're comforable with VB Script and/or VBA such as Access, you can pick up Visual Basic in couple of weeks.)

Lastly, speaking as someone who know a couple of languages, here's the most important advice I can give you, a piece of wisdom give to me by my programming teacher many years ago:

Don't concentrate on learning the commands of a language for their own sake. Think about what you want to do (e.g. print something on the screen, work a printer), and then find out how to do it in that particular language.

Once you know how and why a process works, you can use the same process in any programming language, simply by learning the implementation in that language.

Basically, programming uses the 3 common structures of Sequence (executing code one line after another), Selection (choosing an action based on the contents of a variable)and Repetition (executing the same block of code a number of times).

In most languages, Selection is done using a "if" statement. The syntax varies from language to language, but in almost all of them, there is a true of false condition, and what to do if the statement is true or false.

Likewise, Repetition is usually done using a "for", "while" or "loop" command and will include either a number of times to repeat or repeating until an expression is true.

So, once you know what you want to do, it's just a matter if working out how to do it in your chosen language, and you'll find new languages easy to pick up.

Best of luck,

Mystic




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"What I tell you three times is true." -- The Bellman