What C "language" should I learn?

[hooflung]

I have not seen a single C/C++ job listed on any job searching sites every single time I've ever looked. Maybe it's Minnesota, but here, C/C++ is dead.

I am pretty sure its just you. C/C++ is not only lively, but it is also evolving. Not to mention nearly every single embedded system that needs speed such as damn near every single complex microcontroller in cars use C and assemblyr.

 

[tatteredpotato]

I am pretty sure its just you. C/C++ is not only lively, but it is also evolving. Not to mention nearly every single embedded system that needs speed such as damn near every single complex microcontroller in cars use C and assemblyr.

More and more application programming is going towards managed platforms or web apps, however C/C++ is still big in systems and embedded stuff, so if you're looking and application software jobs you probably won't see as much C/C++.

 

[wantedSpidy]

http://www.scribd.com/doc/57021877/Loop-Recognition-in-C-Java-Go-Scala

so C++ if you're serious about 'development' and already have programming experience.

If your livelihood depends on it, then just go the JVM route.

 

[rchiu]

To find a career as a developer, Java is probably the way to go. C## is mostly for Microsoft shops, but most of the bigger company go with Java route for enterprise application development.

Personally when I hire programmers, having C/C++ background is a big plus. Not only many back-end programs are still written in c/c++, they are also more efficient. I find C/C++ programmers more capable developers too because they need good coding technique and logical mind to handle those lower level languages. Not like those pampered scripting language coder with little sense of how real program work.

 

[Fallen Kell]

C#...

It's not really a C language though. C and C++ are dead as far as career paths though unless you write drivers or video games, but good luck finding any opportunities there. They won't let you put a foot in the door unless you have had previous experience.

C# is more accepted as business development though.

C# is a dot net language, which uses the dot net framework. It's not really much different than a VB.Net (which I'd also learn if you go that route as they are similar)... Basically C# is more C type syntax (semi colons at the end of the lines, etc) version of what you'd find in VB.net.

EDIT: I see alot of jobs out there using AJAX, ASP.net (which is developed in C# or VB.net) and Javascript these days (those combined). Web programming in general seems to be the highest demand last time I looked.

There is a reason that C++ is still used even though it was released in 1985. It is also supported on more platforms than just MS Windows (which when you start programing you will realize there are a lot more things out there than Windows). If you want a career as a programmer, you want to learn C/C++, because then you can write programs that run on phones, calculators, GPS systems, cars, mainframes, Windows, Mac, iPad, iPOD, linux, Solaris, AIX, HP-UX, IRIX, minix, micro-controllers.... The list goes on. Industries like Defense, Aerospace, Chemical, Pharmaceutical, Bio-tech, and Finance (just to name a few) all require programmers who can program in C/C++ because the "big iron" and cluster computers don't typically run Windows (only 5 systems on the Top500 supercomputers even use Windows within it, and NONE use Windows as the sole operating system, they are just a portion of systems that has Windows on them).

 

[BadRobot]

C++ and java, Then you'll have your bases covered.

If you become an expert in those two you should be able to find a job eventually.

 

[pcunite]

C++ seems to be making a comeback, probably because we've reached a wall with processors so the performance gains are still needed. Just be sure you write clean C++ 0x using objects and STL and I think you'll find it a very easy environment to work in.