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What programming language to learn?

D

Deimos

[H]ard|Gawd
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I'm currently studying for MCSE but when I look for a job here in New Zealand, there isn't a lot going for an MCSE and most jobs require programming skills.

So I have decided to learn to program, but I'm not sure where to start, difficulty isn't really a problem, so not looking for something easy to learn, just something with the most practical applications.

I've thought that C++ would be a good one to learn, and have heard that it is similar to Java, so the skills could be transferred to that with a bit of study, I will probably try to learn CSS as well, it is short jump from HTML which I have experience with.

Are there any languages that are cross platform, or can be modified easily to be cross platform? I know nothing about linux, but might start dabbeling, and have very limited use of Macs (I really don't like them, my step mother has one and it is a POS).

Also, what compilers are good to use?

Any pointers would be great

Thanks
 
Oh yes great question....I was going to ask this myself just never got to it...So I shall await the responses with you ;)
 
Add Perl to your list. It's one of the most useful "swiss army knife" languages you can learn.
 
IMHO, starting with C++ isn't the best idea unless you want to spend some hours debugging code that you don't quite understand. If you start with a language like Java or C# you can transfer the syntax to C++ just fine. Doing it that way it will save you the horrors of pointers and memory management since these language handle it all internally. The C# VS.NET 2005 Express Edition was free last time and checked, and java... well, has always been free. It all depends on what kind of project you'd want to do first. Java is more object oriented, so if you work at a lower level go for C++. If you want GUI's you'd rather use C# unless you have a "legal" version of VS.NET. Java isn't too great for GUI's unless you already know how to code.

So basically the bottom line is :

For object oriented : Java with Eclipse as the IDE (very fast RAD language IMO). You can't go more cross platform then java really. Java works EVERYWHERE.

For something hard but rewarding : C++ with VS.NET or Eclipse (you'll need a pluggin, CDT I think). Things take forever to code in C++ compared to java/c# unless its low level. If you want UI's, it might be hard to go crossplatform I don't know.

Delphi : You can get a free version of the IDE IIRC. Good for crossplatform I heard, not used much in the industry. I'd say its a cross between java and c++ as far as freedom and the API goes.

For GUI apps I'd recommend C# since the GUI builder of .NET is awesome. You can build the UI in a few mins and then jump at the important code parts. It is also a RAD like Java since the framework offers a lot of features. I really doubt this would be cross platform.

If you're really interested in object oriented stuff, check out the patterns (google for dofactory) and use java or C# ;)

LEARN ABOUT COLLECTIONS SOON. They help tremendously.

EDIT: You'd rather learn VS.NET right away if you want to go MCSE since that's probably what they'll use ;)
 
If you're looking to program just to get a job, I hope I never end up working with you...


But, as for which language you should pick up... why not look at what the job market is actually looking for? Check some job adverts, check with the local Department of Labor (or whatever it's called there), call a technical staffing agency, etc.

The big 3 are probably going to be :
  • .NET - VB/C#/etc
  • Java
  • SQL
...and these days, knowing HTML, CSS & how to code web apps never hurts either.

Add Perl to your list. It's one of the most useful "swiss army knife" languages you can learn.
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Knowing Perl would be great if he had any Unix experience - a bored MCSE isn't going to find all that much to use it for.
 
ameoba said:
Knowing Perl would be great if he had any Unix experience - a bored MCSE isn't going to find all that much to use it for.
Click to expand...

I disagree :) I am a MCDBA and one of the first things I did was learn Perl :) It is also one of the most useful things imho as far as db integrated web development. Any decent e-commerce site developed needs to be data driven and with Perl you are able to do automated and optimized SQL interactions on said site. Anyhow, just my $.02
 
ameoba said:
If you're looking to program just to get a job, I hope I never end up working with you...
Click to expand...

Nah, I have been thinking about learning to program for a very long time, and I am quite interested in writing programs just to say I did and perhaps to sell.

One thing though, why would anyone learn to program if not to make money? its a significant time/money investment to learn, so I can't really see the point of learning to program just for the sake of it...
 
Excuse my ignorance, but what is an IDE?

I think I might have a look at VB since part of MCSE is VB based but you don't have to know any to get MCSE.

Some great pointers so far, I think I might start with the easy stuff first (CSS) and move on to something harder later on (C# or Java)
 
Deimos said:
Excuse my ignorance, but what is an IDE?
Click to expand...
Integrated development environment. The basic idea behind an IDE is that you edit your program, and build it, and test it in the same application window. In the old days, you'd do this with different applications: an editor, a compiler (and maybe some other tools), and a debugger. An IDE integrates those into one GUI application.

CSS is not a programming language.
 
mikeblas said:
CSS is not a programming language.
Click to expand...

No need to nit pick, all I said was I was going to learn CSS, that will be all I have time for until I finish my MCSE.

After which I will get in to the other stuff, just wanted to know where to start is all.
 
Deimos said:
No need to nit pick,
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I'm just trying to help you out. And the difference between a programming language and a non-computational language is hardly a nit.
 
I learned a lot of "standard stuff" in college, and then got a job doing VB6, lots of SQL stored procedures and xml explicit output, and xslt stylesheets. Just recently started working on a vb/asp.net app related to the original program.

People get way way too caught up in learning languages. Learn how to program, and learning languages becomes easy after that.
 
Deimos said:
One thing though, why would anyone learn to program if not to make money? its a significant time/money investment to learn, so I can't really see the point of learning to program just for the sake of it...
Click to expand...

It's not a significant monetary investment at all, you can learn to program without spending a dime. I started teaching myself when I was 12, because I enjoyed it, and still do and do so on a hobbyist basis when I am not working on school projects. You wouldn't believe how many of my own independant projects have been turned in for A's in school :cool: :D
 
I think I will start with VB since it would be helpfull for my MCSE, then move to Java and C# after I have got to grips with it, since I am totally new to this it will be interesting, I'm kind of starting late though - I'm 27 I hope my brain doesn't have too many cobwebs...
 
CodeX said:
yeah, he asked for programming languages... :rolleyes:
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because scripting languages aren't useful either? lol

scripting languages buy me all the unneccessary crap that makes me [H]
 
Zinn said:
because scripting languages aren't useful either? lol
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Nope, because he asked for recommendations. He could've gotten a hollow list of languages with no useful insight by scanning the bookstore.
 
since you just wanna program something try see if you can get a copy of qbasic or try Kids Programming Language It's not by far chance the most efficient language but it's was really easy to pick up and i think it's good enough to satisfy your interest to program something :D
 
i highly recommend learning php, c, c++, c#, java, lisp, python, bash, perl, assembly, basic, matlab, fortran, ada, pascal, smalltalk, ruby, delphi, or cobol
 
Id recommend PHP for web programming. Its pretty easy and super popular so there are tons of resources to learn from.



If youre more interested in making programs for windows then Id say .Net (C#). You can download the express version of Visual Studio for free to play around with.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/visualcsharp/

If you go that route it wont be much to pick up on ASP.net (for web programming) while youre at it because theyre very closely related.
 
I just started with Ruby as of a day or two ago, it's pretty well documented and easy to understand. Ive been following the first result on google for "ruby tutorial" and it is extremely well written and holds someones attention fairly decently.

I had a few VB classes (hated it) and a C++ class in highschool and didnt really take to them, although I am more serious about learning now than I was then. Im more of a network type and not a programmer and I was looking for a language that I could use to create/replace shell/batch scripts. Ruby works for me.
 
I approve of this post

fluxion said:
i highly recommend learning php, c, c++, c#, java, lisp, python, bash, perl, assembly, basic, matlab, fortran, ada, pascal, smalltalk, ruby, delphi, or cobol
Click to expand...
 
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