newbiegeek

YO!!! i am learning proggramming and i started learning python and liberty basic. i like them both but i hear mixed things about them. as a general proggramming languige, which one would be the most useful/powerful? or, should i just jump into C++/Java?

jamiemac2005

Personally i think as a general purpose language Python will get you further and is documented a lot more.

Though just jumping into Java (/c++ but java is my fave) is also a good idea, so it's down to what you're looking to do with the language, you'll find Java is one of the more popular because it's not platform specific etc. But there are benefits of each of these languages.

Cheers,
Jamey

TJ Belfiore

Hi -

I think what will determine what language you should further pursue would probably depend on your will to do so and what you're going to be doing later on in your future (as in what are you going to be making or creating).

C++ is a great language, but it's hard.

Visual Basic is very entertaining and extremely easy - this is a great language to first learn and it's my main language.

Python is very.. strange..

Delphi is very similar to Visual Basic but a tab bit more complicated.

Java is fun, easy, and a great learning experience.

jamiemac2005

I pretty much agree there, you definately need to know what you want to do with it. Because going anywhere near .net would kill a non-windows background. Python is strange, and a bit of an effort to get used to for those of us who started on C style programming (and it makes it hard to migrate to a C style language)...

I'm not a fan of VB myself, but if it was a bad language it wouldn't still be in existance. And yeah Java is definately the one i'd suggest (currently expanding my knowledge on java with a lovely large o'reilly book[or three]).

And just out of curiosity, how old are you? because if you're planning to go to uni (like me) and study any course involving programming (again like me[which is why i mention it btw]) you'll find that most courses teach Java as a foundation language (basically because it's easy to get certified). So it's a big plus to learn it early in life.

Still, any language will give you a decent grounding in programming and that's the main thing. Learn the concepts and you'll be able to apply them to different languages.

(p.s. sorry that was longer than i thought it would be, but yes i agree with what was said and post back with what you plan to do =]).

TJ Belfiore

"how old are you?"

You quoted me, were you asking me? I'm 16.

jamiemac2005

Oh my bad haha, i ment how old is newbiegeek. But good to know, seen a lot of you recently =] 18 myself.

TJ Belfiore

I was thinking of trying Perl but I'm unfamiliar with it - I think I'll Google it later.

This could be a potential language for OP.

jamiemac2005

Haha, i've not used Perl myself... Haven't heard of much supporting/opposing it though so i wouldn't know. And yeah, there are so many different languages i could suggest but until we know what the purpose is it woudn't help much haha.

newbiegeek

I am in middle school... i just wanted to learn early, and be ahead of the game if i majored in proggraming or something. about what i want to do; i really just wanted a jack of all trades languige to do just about anything. i also dont want to spend money on a languige right now. i will only make personal programs now, so i dont care abt. portability. does that change anything?
thanks a lot!!!

jamiemac2005

Okay, if you want to get started early i suggest you learn Java. simply because it's usually the one which unis/colleges tend to teach (as a general purpose language). JDK and some nice IDEs are free, so no spending money. And there's a wealth of tutorials online (though i'd suggest you invest £30 in Oreilly's Java in a nutshell if you ever get a chance because it's brilliant at giving you in depth info on the language. Still, Sun have some amazing tutorials(linked above), NetBeans have their own tutorials, (the netbeans IDE is brilliant).... I'd also suggest that if you go down the Java route you check out Eclipse IDE, but to be honest all you need is a text-editor and the Java Development Kit (Standard Edition).

So yeah, i'd suggest Java, because it's easy to get certified and as a general purpose language it's VERY popular =].

Still, anything will give you a grounding in programming.

(Just my opinion though, i'm sure others will think otherwise). But if majoring in programming is what you're considering i'm sure you'll encounter Java at some point.

Cheers,
Jamey

TJ Belfiore

I suggest Visual Basic.

newbiegeek

alright thanks... do they have a java for dummies? im quite fond of the dummies books...

TJ Belfiore

For some reason, that made me laugh.

jamiemac2005

Haha, same sort of amusement. The for dummies books are too basic with Java, to fully cover the basics of java it takes about 1000 pages, Java for dummies is 384 pages, i feel the for dummies books leave the reader stranded with nowhere to go once they've finished the book. If you want to learn Java get Java in a nutshell (linked above), its a tenner more and it's so much more in depth and will give you a much better grounding in the language.

Cheers,
Jamey

newbiegeek

thanks a bunch!!!

mikeman22886

Perl is a nightmare, but its really powerful. Perl along with cgi are whiney and doesn't render in the browser if your code isn't in perfect order. You need to use putty in order to get anywhere while coding.

neonjuice

I am starting Uni later this year, for my major in Computer Science. Software Engineering is something I perhaps may like to enter after college. Right now, I am playing with C++ and trying to learn that. C++ is an intermediate language and sometimes is confusing, like really confusing at times. I started off learning web programming languages and then worked into learning object orientated languages, PHP is my main language for work. I work in web development as a web programmer.

Learning to likes of JAVA , C++ and soforth is also new to myself and I am finding it very difficult to learn where to start. So, after awhile, I decided I would just go for C++.

I am trying to learn as much as possible about several languages and my next up language is Python or maybe JAVA.

Just so many different languages. It is hard to know where to start.

jamiemac2005

Since you're going towards CS i suggest you go towards Java next, the syntax is close to C++ so it won't be hard to expand. And there are a load of tutorials online, pick a set and follow them, then practice. Or take a look at the book i suggested above. Either way, good luck =]

Cheers,
Jamey

neonjuice

Thanks.

I am actually going to buy the book that you posted. I once upon a time did buy the " For Dummies " series and in particular, one called PHP and everday apps, I was left with no real concept of PHP from that book. I love the in a nutshell series and have read several of their books. Thanks for the links.

jamiemac2005

Haha, i read Javascript for dummies, HTML 4.0 for dummies and Linux for dummies, all left me stranded. The in a nutshell series is immense, i'm currently reading Java in a nutshell and so far it's brilliant.

Cheers,
Jamey