Which language?

[Matthew1001]

I want to learn a programming language. Which one should I try and learn?

[Thelemac]

Depends. What is it you want to do with it?

Personally, I recommend finding a good programming book and learning how to program. The language is somewhat irrelevant.

It's learning how to think your way through a problem in a way that is acceptable to program in (ie, little steps).

[Matthew1001]

Originally posted by Thelemac
Depends. What is it you want to do with it?

Personally, I recommend finding a good programming book and learning how to program. The language is somewhat irrelevant.

It's learning how to think your way through a problem in a way that is acceptable to program in (ie, little steps).

I have a Java book which I started the thing in the other thread from and I have visual basic. I would like to create a game maybe.

[XWRed1]

Definately the most important thing is to learn and understand the tenets of programming. Once you are intimate with them, picking up languages is a cinch. Its like just applying a different skin to a program, the underlying ideas are still the same. Mostly.

[Gandalf]

I like vb! :D (Visual Basic)

I only know a little, but I made a game that I should really post up here. It is so simple, but it was fun! :)

[CobraXP]

Vb is very good for entery and adnvanced programmers, you can do games for the PC and a few for the net

[naif]

VB, hmm. You can program ur own little trojan in it in around 1 or 2 mintues, lol. ;) Excellent language for both beginners and advanced programmers.

[XWRed1]

Only problem with a VB trojan is you have to send around at least the 1+ mb vb runtime dll, if not more.

[naif]

Thats true, 100% TRUE. This is what I dont like about visual basic(Its runtime libraries). :mad:

[CobraXP]

true, but i think they are a little smaller in .NET

[XWRed1]

But then the other guy has to have the .Net framework installed, which limits your trojan targets quite a bit.

[djb23]

VB is not for advanced programmers.

An advanced programmer needs to have good support for pointer ops, mem management (debatable), advanced data structures, and classes. Last I checked, VB could do some of these, but in a limited fashion.

I would consider Java a good language to learn with because the strict OO structure is a good habit to get into.

My company has a database that does real time sorting on 25,000 records as the user spells the item. Programmed in C++. Impressive? It runs on a Palm. (i.e. requires practically no horsepower)

Ask around, but most important is to ask the person who is recommending a language what they have done with it.

[SrX18]

Visual Basic is nice, but start with Python or Pascal. Python was my first