Learning a programming language

franco_22 · 7 Dec 2011 at 19:06

So I'm looking for something to do with my spare time and I wanted to do something productive as opposed to gaming or watching TV, I want to learn a useful programming language and specific I would love to learn how to develop Mobile Phone/Table Apps.

Does anyone in this forum have any knowledge of it and know which programming language would be useful to learn for a complete beginner? I was thinking about C#.

PermaBanned · 7 Dec 2011 at 19:16

If your aim is developing phone apps, then for what platform? If it's Android then you'll probably want to learn Java, but if you want to go down the C path personally (and this is only my opinion) i would start with just plain C then make a more informed decision when (if) you come across something you can't do with it.

If do want to develop Android apps then you can't do much better than this set of tutorials:

philip2009 · 7 Dec 2011 at 19:19

Does anyone in this forum have any knowledge of it and know which programming language would be useful to learn for a complete beginner?

You're probably looking at Java/Android ...

If you're interested in developing for Apple(as opposed to Android) head over to iTunes U and take a look at the free online lectures e.g. UC Davis iPhone development lectures.

franco_22 · 7 Dec 2011 at 19:39

Thanks ^^

kierenharrold · 7 Dec 2011 at 23:02

There's basically two options.
Android development using Java or, iOS development using Objective-C. They are both great languages to learn without any past experience, but you need an intel based mac to do iOS development.

EDIT* Also the Stanford University lectures are great way to started

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkMDCCdjyW8&feature=channel_video_title

Throrik · 7 Dec 2011 at 23:24

There's three options if you want to do Windows phone development.

Jamie1994 · 8 Dec 2011 at 01:14

Throrik said:
There's three options if you want to do Windows phone development.

I'm guessing C sharp (this stupid international keyboard has no hash key).

What are the other 2?

nex20 · 8 Dec 2011 at 10:37

Jamie1994 said:
I'm guessing C sharp (this stupid international keyboard has no hash key).

What are the other 2?

java and html 5

kierenharrold · 8 Dec 2011 at 11:08

Throrik said:
There's three options if you want to do Windows phone development.

But no sane person would want to do that

Edit* - Im not into windows dev, but i heard windows phone / metro etc was all going to be C++

franco_22 · 8 Dec 2011 at 11:57

kierenharrold said:
There's basically two options.
Android development using Java or, iOS development using Objective-C. They are both great languages to learn without any past experience, but you need an intel based mac to do iOS development.

EDIT* Also the Stanford University lectures are great way to started

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkMDCCdjyW8&feature=channel_video_title

Thanks, I don't own a mac so I guess I'll have to stick with Java

Really looking forward to getting started in this.

Phunky · 8 Dec 2011 at 12:36

Or you could just use web technologies and produce apps that can run over all platforms with HTML5, CSS, JavaScript and also use them on desktops.

Really depends on what you want to produce as to which would be the right approach.

Throrik · 8 Dec 2011 at 22:34

Jamie1994 said:
I'm guessing C sharp (this stupid international keyboard has no hash key).

What are the other 2?

Oh I wasn't referring to languages lol, just three serious options with iOS, Androind and WP7 development.

kierenharrold said:
But no sane person would want to do that

Edit* - Im not into windows dev, but i heard windows phone / metro etc was all going to be C++

Troll <3

The Asgard · 9 Dec 2011 at 03:56

I am a windows software developer with experience in all the main languages. My primary language now is C# and I absolutely love the language, highly recommended.

lemonade · 9 Dec 2011 at 11:42

kierenharrold said:
But no sane person would want to do that

Edit* - Im not into windows dev, but i heard windows phone / metro etc was all going to be C++

WP7 app dev is done in C#, .Net and Silverlight. I'm trying to get into C# and WP7 app, so i must be insane :cool:

franco_22 · 9 Dec 2011 at 16:10

The Asgard said:
I am a windows software developer with experience in all the main languages. My primary language now is C# and I absolutely love the language, highly recommended.

A lot of people really recommend me to learn C# over anything else, could you elaborate on that?

kierenharrold · 9 Dec 2011 at 18:47

franco_22 said:
A lot of people really recommend me to learn C# over anything else, could you elaborate on that?

TBH the language isn't that important, you need to learn the fundamentals first, i would go for the language which has a great selection of help documentation and tutorials.

C/C++, Java and C# all have great tutorials freely available on the web, and there's a huge selections of books as well.

If you want to start doing mobile development, develop for the phone you currently have.

The Asgard · 9 Dec 2011 at 19:08

kierenharrold said:
TBH the language isn't that important, you need to learn the fundamentals first, i would go for the language which has a great selection of help documentation and tutorials.

C/C++, Java and C# all have great tutorials freely available on the web, and there's a huge selections of books as well.

If you want to start doing mobile development, develop for the phone you currently have.

Exactly. The language just translates your thoughts into steps. The language is more a preference than anything.