Which should I learn?

[joerow]

I've been trying to get into programming lately and just can't decide which language to focus on. I've tried Java, and a little C++, also i've looked at vb. I guess what i'm asking is, is there a superior language to be learning? I'm only learning for fun at the minute.

[Ganty]

I suppose it depends on what your aim is - creating websites, or applications? Databases or games?

Answer this one and it's be easier to narrow down the languages

[Freddy]

What do you want to achive? PHP/mySQL for web based server coding is a good idea.

[joerow]

I guess i'm wanting to at first make some sort of portable software which could work on mobiles maybe, definitely more interested in making games than databases etc.

[BBK]

C++ for games, java for mobile devices I think, but I'm more on the web side so not really too up to speed. Either are a fantastic grounding though I would say.

[OrangeJuicey]

I wouldn't worry too much, bbk is right there. Once you've learned a language changing from that one to another is a lot easier. Neither is easy though. C++ and Java are very similar as they are both object orientated. I'm a java programmer myself and the downside is you can't make standalone application executables, its very good for web servlets and applets which you'll see all around the net. C++ is what you'd use to make serious games with. Microsoft has a set of tools you can use for c++, and if you decide you want to use java then I'd go for the eclipse editor although a lot of people use netbeans. I can't recommend a book for C++ but for java try O'Reilly Java in a Nutshell.

Good Luck,

Visual Studio C++
Ecplise Java ide

[Booyakasha]

I wouldn't worry too much, bbk is right there. Once you've learned a language changing from that one to another is a lot easier. Neither is easy though. C++ and Java are very similar as they are both object orientated. I'm a java programmer myself and the downside is you can't make standalone application executables, its very good for web servlets and applets which you'll see all around the net. C++ is what you'd use to make serious games with. Microsoft has a set of tools you can use for c++, and if you decide you want to use java then I'd go for the eclipse editor although a lot of people use netbeans. I can't recommend a book for C++ but for java try O'Reilly Java in a Nutshell.

Good Luck,

Visual Studio C++
Ecplise Java ide

Nice advice given there m8.

[canardo]

J2ME for mobiles

Probably worth learning Java as from there most C based languages are easy

if you want to start game programming learn to program bouncing balls and your away

[DJAd]

I would say Kung-Fu.

[nitelife]

As already said, it depends what you want to do.

What are you long term goals? Are you just doing it for the fun of it and nothing more? If so pick something you enjoy.

let us know what your plans are for a more specific answer. Apart from that, what they said!

[blacksheep]

You can program mobiles with C++ and infact more modern games for them are being made with C++ and opengl.

Would learn C++ if you can be bothered putting in the time and effort and learn it properly as it is a fair bit different from Java ie it doesn't hide all the nasty/nice (depending on view) memory management stuff which can be very useful and give you a greater understanding of programming.

If you're looking into mobiles via J2ME have a look at netbeans as the mobile add on packs are very easy to set up/use and if I remember right the Sun website even points you towards using netbeans.

and for OrangeJuicey you can make executables - have a little google

[OrangeJuicey]

Ok, well I've never liked netbeans, I would have said that eclipse was better, tons of plug ins!

First time i've heard of java executables, thanks for the info!

[joerow]

Thanks everyone orangey juicy, Nightlife and Black sheep in particular. You've all really helped me. I've downloaded most of the programs mentioned in the thread and I'm just gonna have a play with them see which I like the most, I've decided i'm gonna start with java, for the mobile apps.

Are you just doing it for the fun of it and nothing more? If so pick something you enjoy.

Yeah i'm just doing it for the fun of it. So if i dont like it i'll just try the C++.

Thanks again

Joe.

[OrangeJuicey]

Its OrangeJuicey with an e long story!

Enjoy yourself and if you run in to any problems don't forget to post up we can all help you out. Make something really trivial to start off with then add features functions as you get a better understanding.

Take easy

[blacksheep]

yup have used both netbeans and eclipse - would probably use eclipse myself but Sun tends to try steer you towards netbeans for the J2ME stuff.

[Guba]

I'd like to tell my opinion.
If I understan well, you want to program for fun.
If web is in your intrests I suggest you to try ColdFusion by Adobe (former Macromedia).
It has a very flat learning curve, it may be integrated with Java and other langauges with ease. And it is tremendously porweful. Version 8 has the thread management and image drawing and management commands.
But overall, I reapeat, it may be learnt really in few time. After yuo have installed it, the first program - not just the "hello world" but a real query form/data display - will come out from your fingers in less than one our.
ColdFusion 8 may bw downloaded and istalled for free on the Adobe website.
I'm and enthusiat since ColdFusion 3. It is a great language.

Enjoy.

[addictive1]

For games, especially on PC, use C#. You can get C# 2005/2008 totally free from Microsoft, and it is a great IDE. Tie this up with the excellent XNA Game Studio 2 and you have a great set up for PC games, which will also work on XBOX360. Note get C# Express 2005 as XNA GS 2 only works with that at the moment.

Also, C# with .NET will serve you well in many other areas going forward.

[Roo]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned 'Python' it was one of the first programming languages I learned and it sets you up perfect for the other programming languages. Its simple and a good starting point.

[soniceffect]

Anything C based would be a good starting point as it'll set you up for later programming. Things like php for the web, C# for windows apps (and xbox360 once a get going) which will give you a good building block also for asp, and java for mobile stuff as its more portable to the many mobile platforms ya come across these days.

Visual Basic is a good language to learn for beginners, however its a bit differently wrote than the others, and there's not really anything you can 'offshoot' from it other than asp using the .net framework. On the other hand, if you want to just have a play, simply to see if you have the aptitude to learn it, I started by writing vba addons for microsoft applications such as excel.

[mysterym]

My advice to anyone would be c# .net as talked about above, its a great time to start looking at visual studio .net 2008 (WPF\WCF) since its only just come out (it builds on previous versions of visual studio). C# (via XNA) is a great way to start off looking at games development, and you can use c# & asp.net for web development.