Best Language to Learn?

[icepack]

Ihave alot of free time this summer and I've found a site with alot of free tutorials(and I'll probably end up buying an O'Reilly book or two about whatever language I choose).

I am very comfortable with C++, pretty comfortable with Java.

I spent yesterday on the basics of Perl.

My question is, what do you think would be a good language to start learning. It doesn't have to be OOP.
I was thinking PHP, but I know nothing about it(other than seeing the letters PHP in the address bar).

What do you(programmers and such) think would be the most valuable thing to learn?

Also, if it helps, I'm a CSCI major with a Networking minor. I'd like to be able to create/improve network software and such some time down the road. And I'm on a Linux machine.

[Crane]

Well, if you want to do web-based programming I'd suggest PHP. Perl is also a good option but is a lot more involved.

If you want to modify network software I would stick with C++ then! C++ can be used on any OS and linux is a great os to make applications in C++.

If you want to do any windows programming I'd suggest C++ or C#.

As for a best, it all depends on what you like and what you want to do. If I were you, I'd stick with C++ or for web do PHP.

[forumnewbie]

I'd add shell scripting to your list...since you use linux, sometimes its easier to write a quick shell script for sysadmin type of work.

[RobSoftware]

Yes, shell scripting comes in handy. I'd stick with C++. Check out the GUI IDEs that are free for your linux systems. There is the QT and GTK+ IDEs.

[chaganlal1]

Visual Basic is very easy to learn and I have a few ebooks and guides to help you get started if you want pm me and ill send them to you.

[Lassar]

FreeBasic is a pretty easy language and powerfull too.

If it's for the web than I would say either ASP or php.

[Arkie]

I know a little bit of c/c++/c#python/ so i can't comment there but i can recommend you Java because there are a lot of tutorials to be found on the net and one of the easier langauge to start with.

[Lassar]

The is lots of tutorials on Qbasic and Freebasic.

There are Pete's Qbasic /QuickBasic site

There are articles on FreeBasic , QuickBasic :QBasic Express

There are tons of source code : All Basic Code

More resources can be found on Phatcode.net



Lassar

[MeTh0Dz|Reb0rn]

LOL @ FreeBasic being powerful, wow. Don't learn any Basic bs. If you want to learn something else, learn Assembly.

[keller]

I think that at some point everyone should learn some Ada. The only language that I love and hate at the same time.