Which Programming Language should i start off with?

[AznMaverick]

Well, at this moment i have a lot of free time on my hands and am thinking about learning a programming langauge. I have a pretty good understanding of BASIC, html, little in javascript (know how to steal scripts), and that's about it. I've been wanting to learn Visual C+, Visual Basic, Java, ASP, Perl, and PHP. I also know you need to know a little of one to code in another...

I was just wondering, what is a good order to learn them in...which should i start off with first?

 

[Urinal Mint]

pseudocode

 

[warcleric]

BASIC, not Visual Basic, just BASIC, oh, i see you already know BASIC, then go for PERL or some DB programming, that is where the real money is.

 

[Windogg]

Logowriter

 

[Descartes]

Why would you honestly tell someone to waste their time on BASIC? Then Perl?

Perl and BASIC both elicit some seriously bad habits. Do yourself a favor and pick up a language you can be productive in (Java, Visual Basic (still, bad habits, but still demonstrates many aspects of OO, etc.) and learn the concepts behind solid software construction. Then, and only then, should you move to a language like Perl.

Perl is acid for the development world. Trip at your own risk.

 

[Scrapster]

TeX is a good one to learn.

 

[markjrubin]

Right now, my vote is for Python

It requires strict coding conventions and is object oriented.

Mark

 

[amdskip]

Qbasic then C++ baby

 

[Elledan]

PHP is excellent to start with since it's very easy to learn (took me one week). I'm now learning C\C++ and Java, and have recently learned Perl (took me 3 days).

BTW if I were you I would stick to C++ and don't pay any attention to Visual C++.

And another thing: VB is a terrible language to learn, it's slow and has nearly zero applications. I tried VB 5 and hated it already after a few hours.

 

[miniMUNCH]

I'd say C/C++...

but it more important to know your algorithms, data structures, and good principles of Object Oriented syste design if you want to make good money.

 

[StageLeft]

VB is a terrible language to learn, it's slow and has nearly zero applications.

That is 99% false. First of all VB is much easier to learn than Java or C++. Secondly there are THOUSANDS of jobs in VB right now. In terms of it being a "bad language to learn" its still going to teach you techniques applicable to other OO languages. To pretend that it has nearly zero applications either you've never worked a day of your life in IT or you work in an area of IT that is off in a tiny corner in a basement somewhere

Anyway what to learn? Either java, VB or C++/V C++. I would say in pure earning power from highest to lowest if you could be a master of either language would be C++, Java, VB. On the other hand that is also the exact reverse order it is in how easy they are to learn.

Problem with C++ is that you can spend many hours and still not really be able to do anything. VB you can spend a couple of hours and already be making applications. Java is somewhere in between. In terms of learning a language just for the sake of it VB may not be the best, if only because it isn't case sensitive and what not. Plus if you've mastered java or C++ you can jump into VB easier than the other way around.

But, like I said you might get bored or frustrated with the other ones because you can spend hours and not really be able to do much with your knowledge until you really devote a lot of time.

 

[Rickten]

UC Davis starts off all computer science majors with C, then C++. It is a good foundation for all programming.

 

[ManSnake]

Learn SQL and Visual Basic, database programming is easy and a lot of companies are hiring people for that, learn some of that and later on it is easy for you to find a job, co-op, internship, etc.

 

[StageLeft]

Oh yeah - what people are saying about database programming is definitely right. You'll find that as your applications get any sort of size most need a database backend. Only problem with that is that learning database programming is probably the most boring of all of these! Still, no pain no gain.

 

C++ is what universities go into.
If you have no idea how to write top down logic wise code.
Then start with Pascal and then go into C and C++

 

[Mday]

<< Visual C+, Visual Basic, Java, ASP, Perl, and PHP >>



should take you several years to master all of them =P

 

[Mday]

sorry, my finger slipped.

 

[GTaudiophile]

My progression:

BASIC -> Visual Basic -> Pascal ->C++ (I learned HTML somewhere in there.)

Not bad for a MGT major at Tech, eh?

 

[chinman75]

howz about simple HTML

 

[lucidguy]

I second (third?) Python.

Python is pure OO. Once you get into OO, you will find it darn easy to learn all other OO languages. Java, C++, you name it.

And since you have already polluted your brain with BASIC, a procedural language, you need a language that is as OO as possible, to help you make the paradigm shift. Python is it.

 

[Hyudra]

C++ is easy for the basic stuff, but then it gets pretty confusing if you can't get any help.

 

[Descartes]

Elledan, no offense, but you need to procure yourself a clue.

You tried VB for a few hours, and determined it was no good? Hmmm.

Fact: VB is presently the world's most popular development tool. You don't like it? Don't worry, it won't hurt the market any.

Fact: VB.NET will leverage the same power as any other managed language in .NET (including C++).

The fact that you have such limited experience and make such strong statements is unfounded.

 

[Homer_Simpson]

Start off with Assembly and machine code...j/k

Homer

 

[Elledan]

Descartes, I didn't just decide all of a sudden to start coding VB, I first read what could be done with it, the most used applications etc. Then I bought a book to learn it (Visual Basic 5 in 24 hours ). More than 10 hours (and many chapters) later, I decided that it was nothing for me. With VB limited to only one OS (Windows) and it being unable to write certain programs that would run fast, like emulators etc., I decided to spend my time learning more universal languages, like Java and C/C++.

I usually program on my Linux box, BTW, so VB would be a very bad choice.

 

[Shazam]

I would pick Java. It's a pretty good implementation of OO, and it abstracts enough so that you don't have to worry about some idiot programmer mixing pointers and references in the code.