Which programming language should I learn and why?

I think before we can recommend a language, we'll need a bit of why from you first! Is there anything in particular you want to achieve? If you're just after a place to start, I'd recommend looking at C# or Java for applications, and PHP if you're after web-based development.

But if you're after doing something in particular, there may be a more appropriate language...
 
I would say VB.NET or C#.NET to start with. I prefer C# myself, depends how you get on with the syntax. You may find VB easier to start with, but you will soon move to C# pretty soon no doubt.

sfx
 
I was using visual basic the other day and thought about going back and trying C again.

I don't actually have a project in mind as yet but I think as I progressed with using the language I would come up with some ideas based on tasks I do everyday on the pc.

Hopefully though I could progress to working as part of a team modding games.
 
I would also recommend VB.NET, C# or Java, all of which are good languages to get started on, as they are all fairly modern, C# and VB.NET both having the .NET framework at their disposal. I would tend toward C#, but that's just preference :)

However, as xyphic said, it depends on your preferred application of the language. The above mentioned languages are all good general application programming, whereas PHP is a good place to start with web programming, as xyphic said again.
 
C# because:
* Very similar to java which is obviously very popular with none windows platform peeps.
* Similar to C++ which the programing industry is still very popular with. C# is quite new, so if you go to a company odds are their code will be C++ unless they are wanting you to develop new software... which is much less common than just maintaining existing code.
* Even thought VB.Net is as good as C#.Net in terms of what it does.... well the VB name is for ever tarnished as a n00bs language :P
 
You've already chosen it, but I would have recommended C# also. Lovely syntax, massive range of libraries built-in to the .NET framework, completely feature-rich, easy to create good-looking UIs with WinForms, etc etc.

For an IDE, download Visual C# Express Edition from Microsoft; it's free, and gives you all the functionality of Visual Studio at 0% of the price.

If you're not adverse to spending a little bit of money, however, you'd do well to buy either Learning C# (if you're new to programming in general) or Programming C# (if you're familiar with OOP and general programming concepts, but are just new to C#), both by Jesse Liberty and published by O'Reilly. They're well-written and comprehensive, and should have you to intermediate stages within weeks :)
 
Another vote for C# here. Contains all the best bits of most of the languages I've worked with: C, C++, Java and yes, there's even some stuff from VB in there too ;)

You can also make calls to C++ libraries from C# should you need to.

Might be worth picking up a text that deals with C# 2.0 (the latest version supported by Visual Studio 2005) as there are some new features worth a look in there.

Visual Studio is an excellent IDE as well.

cheers
v.f.
 
voodooflux said:
Might be worth picking up a text that deals with C# 2.0 (the latest version supported by Visual Studio 2005) as there are some new features worth a look in there.
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For reference, both the books I mentioned deal with C# 2.0/.NET 2.0 in their latest editions :)
 
Assuming you're just going into it just as a hobbyist, I agree that C# is a good place to start. It won't take a lot of learning to make some you can use with a graphical interface. If you're serious about becoming a proffessional programmer then C would be a good place to start, although maybe that would be throwing you in the deep end a bit.
 
Ordered Visual Studio 2005 from a well known auction site but I'm concerned its a pirate copy. Trying to contact the seller to clarify cos if I wanted a fake I could have got it from p2p myself. :mad:

I'll check out the books mentioned as soon as I'm up and running.
 
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Thrash said:
How much is Visual Studio costing you, that should give you an idea if it's a fake or not...unless it's a fraud.
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Yeah thats what got me thinking it was. I never expected to win it in the first place but the guy ended the auction early and took £10.

What do you mean by a fraud?
 
at £10 it's ether a pirated version or just the free download burned to a CD-Rom. Go and download the express edition and have fun. Oh you can probably report the seller for selling pirated goods when you recieve your CD-Rom and thus get your cash back.

HT
 
Meths said:
What do you mean by a fraud?
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If the price is very low you would likely either receive a pirated copy, the express edition you can easily download yourself for nothing or nothing at all, ie fraud.

Generally if something is too good to be true then it is.
 
C# 2.0 has some powerful features.

C# is my language of choice but it's really not about the language so much as the development platform, and as such the .NET Framework 2 is just awesome, whatever you want to create.
 
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