best language to start with?

person · Post by **person** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 6:11 pm

My friend and I are learning C. Is this a good language to start with? we just want to make programs for ourselves. Also What is a good C compiler?

Paft · Post by **Paft** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 7:51 pm

C or C++ are, in my opinion, the best languages to start out learning. They teach you the concepts you need to know in programming while not spoon-feeding you bad habits (like Basic) or focusing too much on high-level programming (like Java).

A good free C/C++ compiler? djgpp. It does what you need it to, and you can customize what you download. You'll probally just need the compiler for now, though the other tools come in handy when you learn how to use them.

Good luck!

cyberskye · Post by **cyberskye** » Tue Mar 23, 2004 1:32 pm

My java developers (application developers) swear that C teaches bad habits, my C/C++ guys (server/systems programmers) say the opposite. Almost like asking "which unix is better". A healthy religious debate...

Depends on what you want to do. For learning, pick one and go with it. You'll always have time to learn something else if you like.

my $.02

Skye

striker8000 · Post by **striker8000** » Thu Mar 25, 2004 2:07 pm

you can also try dev-cpp from bloodshed.net, it can compile both c and c++, so it can handle whichever one you start with

striker8000 · Post by **striker8000** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 4:20 pm

I should also point out that if you decide on java

jgrasp is very useful(until you get to packages, but good for a start)

Greenish · Post by **Greenish** » Fri May 14, 2004 2:37 pm

It really depends on what kind of program you want to make. I started learning PHP as my first because it helped me with some of my websites. Now I have learned Java and C++ as well and am starting perl, python, LISP and Ada.

I would say that Java or C++ would be good starting languages because they both get you focused on OOP with good structure and generally good readability (Java more so, and you dont have to worry about memory allocation with Java)

You really just have to be committed to actually trying to learn it. If you just sit down with a book for an hour a week, you wont get anywhere.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

Also I would recommend the IDE/Compiler Eclipse (http://www.eclipse.org) if you do choose java. Loads of features and it runs on just about any operating system.

And a good C complier is gcc if you run linux. I dunno if there is a windows version. Not sure of any good *Free* windows compilers.

Roody · Post by **Roody** » Fri May 14, 2004 2:44 pm

C or C++. If you get those down then the rest is fairly easy to pick up.

g-c0de · Post by **g-c0de** » Sat May 15, 2004 1:25 am

Yup C or C++

though you could also try Visual Basic, not too cryptic and a very powerful language

Immortal · Post by **Immortal** » Sat May 15, 2004 3:51 am

I started with turing and c++. They're both good starters, also javascript/java is not bad.

My latest programming language was vb.net and that was quite a powerful language.

vvarrior · Post by **vvarrior** » Tue May 18, 2004 8:30 pm

i started with java ^

darlin · Post by **darlin** » Tue Aug 31, 2004 3:46 pm

C/C++ are great, but if you need to turn something out fast, you'll catch he**. I have seen some great apps programmed in Delphi, and I would love to get my hands on that.

striker8000 · Post by **striker8000** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 8:01 pm

vvarrior wrote:i started with java ^

same here

jh

Norm · Post by **Norm** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 10:42 pm

I'd start at the bottom, and work my way up.

Machine code. It's the only thing a CPU understands anyway.

Ghosthunter · Post by **Ghosthunter** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 8:23 pm

I would go C++ over C, only becuase the concepts of C++ OOP are more important to learn.

cyberskye · Post by **cyberskye** » Thu Sep 09, 2004 1:21 am

Pick an OOP language. The concepts are always more important than syntax.

leetdemon · Post by **leetdemon** » Fri Sep 17, 2004 5:04 pm

Visual basic is the best starter language hands down...

Paft · Post by **Paft** » Fri Sep 17, 2004 5:38 pm

leetdemon wrote:Visual basic is the best starter language hands down...

Nein.