How much easier is VB than C++? And what about Java...?

[FrogDog]

I tried learning C++ (visual) on my own from a book but I eventually gave it up for a couple of reasons - after a while there was stuff I wasn't understanding and the DOS part of it was really dragging on. So now I want to start reading up on a new, easier to learn language and wait until University to learn C++ (I'm still in HS). What should I go for, VB or Java? I'm under the impression that VB wouldn't be _too_ hard to learn on my own, but I'm thinking Java would be. I have some experience, as I know a little C++ (I think I got about half way through functions, and I did pointers, arrays, loops etc..).

And what are some good books on VB?

 

[Thanatopsis]

Well, I've learned a little Java and C++, but my experience was opposite to yours. I tried to teach myself Java first, but I don't think I had a very good book. This year I took a C++ class in school, and I understand it 10x more than I ever did in Java. I agree, C++ in DOS does drag on. However, I did recall a little bit from my Java endeavour about loops and variables (really just the basics of programming) when I was taking C++ this year. Try Java. It might be easier for you, especially if you have a background in C++.

 

[gittyup]

Go for Java. C++ is very object oriented but Java takes object orientation to the extreme. Everything is an object in Java. I learned Java after I had a grasp on C++.

 

[Fandu]

VB is pretty easy, but personally I would choose Java if I had the choice. You can learn VB anytime, that and it's not platform portable at all.

 

[mk52]

If you dont know programming at all then no lang will be easy but if you know the basics, creating windows apps in VB is really as easy as it gets.
Another good thing about VB is that you dont need to know all the commands and methods of a control, just press "." and they will pop up in a combobox. There're also tons of code samples on MSDN.

Java is a little more complicated, cause its completely based on object oriented programming, everything is structered in classes. So if you're not familiar with the oop concept, its gonna be hard at first.

Either way get a good book and start coding. For VB microsoft's own books are pretty good.

-MeliK

 

[GL]

At my university, we had to teach ourselves C and C++. We had one week of tutorials where a TA would guide us through some concepts but pretty much we were left on our own. First year, we were taught Object Oriented programming in Java and that _really_ helped when going into C++.

I'd suggest you learn Java, then C and then C++. That's the order that I learned them and it seemed a lot easier than when I tried to go about it all by myself in HS (all three I learned within a year and half in university).

 

[Ameesh]

dont touch java!!! unless you know c and c++ you will become just another clueless java programmer. learn vb if you really dont want to learn c or c++.


but imho learn c or c++, dont worry to much about the dos stuff or the windows stuff or any os specific stuff, just learn about memory and data structures.

 

[iamfried]

I would go with Java. Others have posted that a reason to stay away from java is the compexities involved with OOP. There is some truth to that, but...
I took java and we didn't even get into the OOP part until week 8 or 9 of a 16 week course. Everything up to then was very straight forward and super easy. This way, you are able to learn a majority of the keywords and how to use them prior to bogging yourself down with classes. I have a couple of different Java books if you would like the names, pm me. One that we use at UCSD and another that breaks down the programming to a more basic level.

 

[GL]

<< dont touch java!!! unless you know c and c++ you will become just another clueless java programmer. learn vb if you really dont want to learn c or c++. >>



I guess I'm just another clueless java programmer then!

Going from Java into C/C++ is much easier then having to start off learning C/C++. Get a good book (PM me if you want one, the one I used for school was great). Learning Object Oriented-ness and then applying it in Java is a great way to learn the fundamentals. Jumping to C from Java will be fairly easy as long as you keep in mind that you're in a procedural environment. Jumping to C++ from Java will be a little harder but at least you'll have a good grasp of OO and you'll simply need to know how to apply it in C++.

 

[bUnMaNGo]

I started out learning Pascal in APCS back in high school Then I learned the basics of data structures/objects at UCR with C++.... then I came here to UCSC, where they taught only Java and C, and was required to do programs in both. If you have a strong grasp of C++, writing code in Java is trivial. Not only do you not have to deal with pointers, you don't have to deal with garbage collecting either However C is kinda weird, but if you know how to deal with pointers as needed in C++, it's not too bad. The thing I like about Java is that when you get a &quot;segfault&quot;, it tells you exactly which line of code through a chain of dependencies in each file caused the segfault. As said before, Java's extremely object oriented. I think that C++ is a good comprimise between C and Java. Ever tried doing data structures in C? It's a pain in the ass compared to Java and C++

 

[Argo]

<< dont worry to much about the dos stuff or the windows stuff or any os specific stuff, just learn about memory and data structures. >>



Well, the entire purpose of programming is to be able to program under some OS. No matter how hard you try, you'll have to learn either MFC/Win32 API if you want to program under windows environment in c++. But it's a lot of stuff to learn, if you are starting from 0. VB would be a good alternative to all these, however, you'll be giving up some flexebility and speed. The choice is yours, howerever, I would advise against going into forests of Win32 programming, unless you are really serious about it.

 

[Chad]

<< C++ is very object oriented but Java takes object orientation to the extreme. Everything is an object in Java. >>



Actually, not everything is... the primitives aren't. But your right, everything else is.

I learned Java first, it is not as easy as everyone thinks, but if you get the right books, you'll be golden.

Try this book to start with, then go to something like this book afterwards, and I assure you, you will be well on your way by then.

Be sure to read the first book FIRST... before you read ANYTHING else at all. It is the greatest intro to programming and Java I have ever read, and I've read a lot! Well worth the cash. If you really are serious, just trust me.