Looking for a programming language to learn

Colbaker

Colbaker

Colbaker

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Joined
8 Dec 2004
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1,970
Location
Paignton, Devon
Hi all,

September my 4 year old goes to school and due to my job being late evenings i will have all day and am thinking i want to learn a programming language, I want to be able to throw together applications for windows so am thinking maybe C++ or JAVA.

What one should i go for and are there any free compilers? also any good resources online?
 
C#/C++ are always good. Java is good too. There's more than enough resources for all of them. If I were you i'd browse jobs in your area and see what they're asking for. Also if you haven't, read up on what it's like being a programmer. I hear it can be soul destroying :P Gotta love it.
 
Python for learning how to program as the syntax is very simple and it is a great beginner language.

Once you have learned the fundamentals move onto C++/Java and you will find them much easier with the python experience.

You could also just jump into C++/Java but they will be much tougher to learn.
 
for java use eclipse
for C++ look at MinGw (this is a cmd compiler)

also, i would advise to get a book onthe particular language as they not only provide useful information but often have supporting websites and forums free to use that will realy help
 
I started out learning P (An almost identical language to C, used for coding of a few things including a San Andreas Multiplayer Mod for the PC!) But eventually got distracted by web coding like PHP and CSS, if you're not really set on any specific purpose for your programming. Don't discount web programming straight away :)
 
If you want to make windows apps then certainly look at the MS .NET stack. You can quickly apply what you learnt about making desktop apps to web apps, mobile apps and other future MS platforms. Mono even provides good support for non MS platforms.
 
If it's windows then MS .NET and C#. All microsoft dev technologies have a strategic focus on consolidating on the .NET framework with C# so you can't go wrong.

Learning silverlight is also something to explore as it's how their windows 7 platform works.. write on the PC and it works on the mobile too.. (within reason)
 
Another vote for C#/.net. Its really very easy to "jump straight in" and make windows applications without much faffing about. Visual C# Express edition is great too. (A cut down free visual studio based IDE)

I guess it depends what sort of applications you intend to develop though?
 
Another vote for C# and .NET - as others have said, download Visual Studio 2010 Express and SQL Server 2008 Express for free and you're away :)
 
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