One language to concentrate on?

[NTB]

From the classes I took in college, I know a little C++, a little Java, and some VB - but I don't feel like I know *any* of them well enough to try and get a position where programming ability is required. That is something that I would like to do at some point, so I'm thinking I ought to just pick one language and concentrate on it for a while. Which one would you suggest? One of those three, or something different? Having been job hunting around here for a while, I'm leaning toward Java, but I'd like to hear opinions from other people.

Oh, and I've got a couple of books on those three already, but any other reccomendations would be welcome, as well.

Nate

 

[homercles337]

Windows development using C++ (or as some here will say C#) would get you the most marketable skills, but im sure a more knowledgable soul will chime in.

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: homercles337
Windows development using C++ (or as some here will say C#) would get you the most marketable skills, but im sure a more knowledgable soul will chime in.

yay! more work to do Everything we learned in school C++ wise was CLI programming. I know exactly squat about C++ and GUIs (openGL, DirectX, etc.), if that's what you're talking about.

Nate

 

[screw3d]

Originally posted by: NTB

Originally posted by: homercles337
Windows development using C++ (or as some here will say C#) would get you the most marketable skills, but im sure a more knowledgable soul will chime in.

yay! more work to do Everything we learned in school C++ wise was CLI programming. I know exactly squat about C++ and GUIs (openGL, DirectX, etc.), if that's what you're talking about.

Nate

If you really know your OOP and C++, implementing GUIs should not be much more different than CLI because it also involves looking at a bunch of functions to use and understanding the API (even for openGL, DirectX)

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: screw3d

Originally posted by: NTB

Originally posted by: homercles337
Windows development using C++ (or as some here will say C#) would get you the most marketable skills, but im sure a more knowledgable soul will chime in.

yay! more work to do Everything we learned in school C++ wise was CLI programming. I know exactly squat about C++ and GUIs (openGL, DirectX, etc.), if that's what you're talking about.

Nate

If you really know your OOP and C++, implementing GUIs should not be much more different than CLI because it also involves looking at a bunch of functions to use and understanding the API (even for openGL, DirectX)

hmmm...then maybe I'll get working on C++ again (haven't done much with it in a year or so)

Nate

 

[ike2010]

I'm in a somewhat similar situation, except I have decent Java skills. I made the decision to go for the MCSD though. Why? Well, the main reason is that I now have almost one year of professional experience in C#, ASP.NET, Visual Studio .NET, etc. I work in a Microsoft shop and I didn't think it would make much sense for me to go back to Java and lose my resume experience. I used Java extensively while in school (graduated August '04 B.S. Comp Sci), and seriously considered taking the Java route.

What you need to do is consider what type of programming you like to do. If you are into game developemnet go with C++. For web site development, I would go with Java/Perl. For windows applications I would go with C# or maybe even C++. Also, consider what platform you prefer (Windows/Linux/Unix) and that should help your decision.

I write both stand alone windows applications as well as ASP.NET web apps. C# was the obvious choice for me. One big thing to remember though is that you shouldn't just focus on the language itself. You need to master all of the technologies involved that work in conjunction with that language (i.e. web servers like Apache (w/ Tomcat) for Java web, IIS for MS web apps, software engineering best practices, UML, etc.)

p.s. You might run into alot of MS bashing in online forums when you ask this type of question (I did). Don't let zealots make decisions for you. Base your decision on what you like to do, and then maximize your capabilities with certs and degrees. Java isn't going anywhere any time soon and neither is Microsoft, so I wouldn't worry too much about short to medium term job stability.

 

[homercles337]

I love it when i predict the future. Am i like a modern day Nostrodamus?

 

[beyonddc]

C++ will be my pick if I am you.

I think C++ gives you a solid background when you need to learn other languages.

 

[kamper]

If you're looking at mainstream data applications (whether it be desktop or server based) I think you are really just choosing between .NET and java. That will be an excellent place to find jobs for quite some time but it's not everyone's idea of fun. I myself am very interested in enterprise java stuff. For this sort of thing there's no point in going with an older language like c++.

Of course c++ still has it's place, in gaming as someone mentioned or other times when you're seriously concerned about performance I guess. I'm not so much into that field.

 

[replicator]

I would try to learn either Java or C#. They are so similar learning either of them would allow you to learn the other pretty quickly.

Syntax is one thing, but then you need to learn the API and the design patterns.

Personally, I prefer to work with .NET but there are more Java jobs (currently work in Java shop). The Java language itself is pretty nice, but I think .NET is x10 more productive (especially for web applications, or anything that uses a GUI).

 

[NTB]

thanks for the suggestions, everybody. I just graduated last December with a B.S. in C.S., so I haven't been out of school too long. The programing classes aggravated me - they were fun, but I felt like they were trying to cram too much into to short a time, so nothing was very thoroughly covered. True "entry level" positions are few and far between around here; everybody wants a lot more experience than I've got. So I think I'm going to have to find something else to do while I keep my eyes open for a more CS-oriented job. So I should have some time to "brush up"

Nate