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I'm have a hard time deciding which programming language I should learn first. I have a friend who learned Java and said it's relatively simple, and it seems to have more compatability than something like C or C++, but then I hear the C# will. My friend is using Java to make computer games, and if that's what I decide I'd want to do most, I've also heard Blitz Basic is great for game programming. PERL is I guess considered a programming language, and that sounds like fun because then maybe I could do some CGI stuff for my website.......... Anyone have a personal opinion of any of the above languages? I need help deciding where to start.
You should consider instead what you want to do, then choose an appropriate language to implement it in. Learning for the sake of learning isn't going to stick as well as learning for the sake of doing.
Personally, I started out with BASIC on my dad's Apple IIe. We had old magazines with program listings. You'd enter the program in and run it, then play some kooky little game. The process of doing this (and fiddling with the programs - yay infinite lives!) is what started me up the programming learning curve.
Any procedural programming language with flow control structures will be a decent place to start. Object-oriented languages require a bit more abstract thought. Crazy things like Prolog need an entirely different approach to solving a problem, but they're usually only used in niche applications anyway (though those applications are really interesting).
Anyway, my recommendation is to choose a task, choose any appropriate language, and start.
Well, what about socket programming? I know that you can do that with Java, C, and PERL. I guess maybe I'm asking which language is easiest, and most versatile.
In that case, I'd suggest Java. Most of the hard, low-level stuff is already done for you in the libraries that you can use. You can concentrate on the fun stuff that you want to do once the socket is open.
I'll probably get flamed for this, but Java is easier to develop in, and C/C++ give you faster applications in the end, though it's much easier to shoot yourself in the foot with them. PERL is good for any parsing tasks, and a few other tasks as well.
You won't get flamed - I agree. OK so true, I am a Java programmer and would say that but oh well :P
I think going for a popular language such as Java or C++ is your best bet. There will be plenty of sites out there with tutorials, articles etc. This is what you really need as I don't think you'll want to be spending £20-£50 a time on a book.
Thanks for all the help, guys. I do understand some of the basic concepts and such because I once started both PERL and Blitz Basic........but then the books had to go back to the library, never checked them out again........ makes me sound real lazy I guess. Ok, I guess then I'll try Java. Oh, wait......... What about things like LINUX? I know that some versions have fancy GUIs, but I've heard that it's kinda like DOS and you've got to learn commands, and it helps if you know a programming language. Are there any specific programming languages that are best with LINUX?
Linux is an operating system not a programming language. Most any programming language (with the possible exception of VB) will work under Linux as long as you have the right compiler or interpreter.
Sorry, I'm not getting things across very well today. I know that LINUX is an operating system, and not a programming language. People have told me though that it has built in compilers for specific languages.......which languages though is what I guess I was asking about.
This will depend on what Linux distribution you have. I believe most come with compilers/interpreters for C, C++, Java, Perl, Python and PHP. Of course you will have to ask it to install some of these on setup.
Also Scott - Any Microsoft language (VB, C#, ASP etc.) won't work on Linux unless somebody (not Microsoft) has hacked apart a version to work. But then that's not the original, official language anyway.
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