Programmers

**gamgee** · 31st August 2005, 18:58

gotta agree, i'm second year info science learning java, well actually learning how to implement databases with java now but thats just bragging

have done a bit of VB and a bit of pearl(very little bit of the later) i like java the best, using eclipse which underlines errors and things you might want to fix as you go which is cool, um basically get into it, start learning the sooner you start the sooner you can start coding the things you want
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/program.htm

**enigma51** · 31st August 2005, 19:02

Originally Posted by Jeremy

I'm going to differ from everyone else and say two other easy to acquire things.

1st choice: Java

Download the Java SDK and get JCreator [Simple editor that just works. No crazy stuff that Eclipse and Netbeans use]

Why Java? It's stable. As fast as C++ (Not as fast as C) and most importantly it gives decent error messages. And error messages are what you rely on when you starting off. And unlike C++ you don't have to deal with namespaces. The documentation is okay, not quite as good as say the MSDN docs.

2nd choice: Visual Basic 6 [Not .NET] . Quick results, most of the problems you'll have are due to poor programming techniques. Buy a decent book. Be prepared to learn maths, your sorting algorithms probably suck because you haven't had proper training not because of the language. Major advantage here is that if you have a runtime error then it'll drop you back to the ide, you can get edit and and resume from where you left off. Stay away from .NET, as you don't want to have to learn to program as well as learn .NET.

Im sorry but you must fresh out of uni to think that java is as fast as c++ and then to say VB is great you must be on drugs.

**enigma51** · 31st August 2005, 19:03

Sniper just go to bloodshed.net they have a cool ide (Coding window) and is pretty easy to use

**Jeremy** · 31st August 2005, 19:08

Originally Posted by enigma51

Im sorry but you must fresh out of uni to think that java is as fast as c++ and then to say VB is great you must be on drugs.

Hey it's not my fault most people don't know that you have to do three things.

1) Strip out the debug info, that switch is there for a reason.
2) Switch the JVM to server mode. Watch as everything runs about 5x faster.
3) Use strings properly, stringbuffers are there fora reason.

**enigma51** · 31st August 2005, 19:10

Originally Posted by Jeremy

Hey it's not my fault most people don't know that you have to do three things.

1) Strip out the debug info, that switch is there for a reason.
2) Switch the JVM to server mode. Watch as everything runs about 5x faster.
3) Use strings properly, stringbuffers are there fora reason.

Sure mate what ever tickles you

**NordieBoy** · 31st August 2005, 19:38

I've managed to stay far far away from C/C++ etc.

TCL/TK for gui stuff.
MySQL for db backends.

Something fun like Euphoria for playing with.

**gamgee** · 31st August 2005, 20:18

whichever you learn first that will be the hard bit over, most languages are very similar so what i'm saying is once you've learnt one language you'll find it very easy to learn more

**Sniper** · 31st August 2005, 20:23

Thanks guys, I having a play with C++. I'll keep you up to date and tell you how I go

**gamgee** · 31st August 2005, 21:02

howstuffworks.com has good tutorials for most languages, take a look

**Wolf** · 31st August 2005, 21:13

Originally Posted by Jeremy

2nd choice: Visual Basic 6 [Not .NET]

He said he wanted to learn a programming language.

**parsley** · 31st August 2005, 21:23

Originally Posted by jrandom

I'm perpetually scared that one day my employer will notice that they're essentially giving me money to do what I'd be doing anyway if I had enough free time.

Yes, but you're a geek.

**dhunt** · 31st August 2005, 21:28

Originally Posted by Sniper

Thanks guys, I having a play with C++. I'll keep you up to date and tell you how I go

Sniper I think you may find object oriented stuff a bit overwelming (sp?) at first so it might be better to learn c and then apply object oriented stuff but up you. C & C++ share lots of similiarities and can be mixed/matched to some degree sucessfully. Main thing is have fun, despire what others may think, IT IS POSSIBLE TO HAVE FUN PROGRAMMING

**Wolf** · 31st August 2005, 21:29

Originally Posted by parsley

Yes, but you're a geek.

Are you saying that's a Bad Thing?

**parsley** · 31st August 2005, 21:30

Originally Posted by Wolf

Are you saying that's a Bad Thing?

I've been programming since I was 8, got a Masters in Software Engineering and been doing it professionally since 19 (ish).

But at least I'm not a geek!