christie

HI
I'm looking to learn a programming language, the problem is i'm not sure which one would be the best. I'd like to eventually write my own frontend programme.
Does anyone have some suggestions?

AntiBNI

I suggest you start with Visual Basic,so you can create a base with it.

Learn the principals of programming and then when you really know you are ready,you can jump to what ever intermediate language you desire.

By "Intermediate" i mean Java,C/C++,etc.

Note:
You can make a Front End with any Programing language.
yes,even Visual Basic.


Have Fun ^_^.

2k1Toaster

I would halfway agree with above. I would actually start with C# or VB.NET because they are easy languages. Then move onto something like C or more lower level languages more for learning how things actually work down under rather than all the high level stuff. Learn why you cant add an integer to a string, or why strings are arrays of characters and that sort of thing. But for learning and with easy gratification I would use C# or VB.NET.

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galvitron

I agree. The .NET environment is intuitive and easy to get going with. Once you master VB.NET and C# you can move to lower level languages. Pay close attention to Object Oriented Programming principles.

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Enforcer

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SFiorito

stick with c# if you're going to work within the .NET Framework...VB as a first language will encourage a lot of bad habits

Sonicxtacy02

if you're completely noobish start with autoit because it has the most "beginner-level" documentation and support. From there hit up vb.net.

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skuller

do c++
they're very easy to start with, java is a little bit more confusing then c++ IMO

2k1Toaster

No newb should be given access to pointers in this day and age

Learn managed. If you dont, and you are teaching yourself with no guidance, C or C++ means many freezups and hard resets are in your future.

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skuller

well.. pointer is the hard stuff on c++
but c++ is very powerful.

it all depends on the willingness to learn then

mnwcsult

I am long time Software Engineer, since 1973, to simply get started, VB.net, Java will get you going. Your real goal is to learn program logic development, then a starting language. However also know VB.NET and JAVA are easy and projects using them can easily be off-shored.

From an architecture/organization stand point I like C/C++ with heavy leaning toward C. Yes I really love pointers. C++ considerably more complex, however designed with large projects in mind, not trivial.

I met one of the developers of Gears of War, they use C++, "I feel the need for speed" There really is nothing else.

http://developers.slashdot.org/artic.../01/08/0348239

Two professors emeritus of computer science at New York University who have penned an article titled Computer Science Education: Where Are the Software Engineers of Tomorrow?

In which they berate their university, and others, for not teaching solid languages like C, C++, Lisp, and ADA. The submitter wonders whether any CS students or professors would care to respond.

Quoting the article: "The resulting set of skills [from today's educational practices] is insufficient for today's software industry (in particular for safety and security purposes) and, unfortunately, matches well what the outsourcing industry can offer. We are training easily replaceable professionals... Java programming courses did not prepare our students for the first course in systems, much less for more advanced ones. Students found it hard to write programs that did not have a graphic interface, had no feeling for the relationship between the source program and what the hardware would actually do, and (most damaging) did not understand the semantics of pointers at all, which made the use of C in systems programming very challenging."

I argue with the authors.

Note: to tk1toaser I agree with your assessment, word to the wise "save often"

Curiosity

Bah. VB FTW if your intent is only a frontend and not a career.

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blk02si

I was able to write a functional, fast, basic and ugly (redmond GUI) frontend after a few days of messing around with AUtoIT. Its a free and small development suite that is quite powerful on a windows box. At least it will give you an idea of what coding looks like and how to comprehend software language.

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Turby

@ mnwcsult...

I'm with you 110%...

I've been in the industry over 20 years and have to agree with you 100%, the only reason we have use C# / .NET is because of a client requirement. The amount of "bloat", sluggish performance, massive hardware resources and general instability is a constant source of concern - it doesn't help when the Visual Studio 2005 .NET IDE regularly flakes away on the developers and testers.

Embedded systems use ANSI C, ASM, Delphi 7, Pascal - all depends on target platform and available tool sets to meet safety requirements.

The actual writing of code amounts to no more than 20% of the effort, the rest goes in requirements, design, test, documentation and maintenace - all of which is rarely taught these days in college as basic software engineering principles. The documentation we get provided by some "out-sourcers" is basically reversed engineered from the code using tools such as DOxygen - reams of fancy looking stuff that looks good but is more or less useless for maintenance purposes or even understanding the basic software architecture.

The likes of VB and Java has its place for short term / throw away software that has a minimal lifespan - ie college coursework, GUI prototypes and small home projects.

galvitron

In the case of projects that members of these boards are usually starting, you will need rapid prototyping and instant gratification when it comes to getting the visual elements up and running. .NET kind of lends itself to this.

For commercial development where performance is crucial and the level of expertise of the developers is usually higher, C++, other lower languages, etc. may be the best bet.

For someone who is writing a little tool for their PC and hasn't programmed before. It is hard to say that .net is a bad choice.

__________________
2006 Lancer Evolution IX MR In-Dash PC Project - WIP

Planning:
[----------] 100%
Purchasing:
[----------] 100%
Installation/Fab/Assembly (Revised):
[----------] 80%