24 replies to this topic

[codegirl]

I'm a little new to programming and there is so many software out there to choose from.
Wanted to ask what is the best program to study in making a software? So far Visual Basic is the only thing I can think of. Anyone has an opinion?

[LuthfiHakim]

I recommend to start learning Delphi (Object Pascal) language. The fact that Pascal was initially developed for teaching in software programming making it is very easy to read and to comprehend, and of course very easy to learn.

With Delphi, you will get Pascal accompanied with RAD (Rapid Application Development) framework and tools. Allowing you to be able to develop real application in short time.

[cdg10620]

When I started programming I started with C++. After C++ I learned Java and C# (which are very similar). Also, PHP is very popular and would be a good choice. Basically each language has its pros and cons. It really depends on what you want to program. Most of my experience is building web based applications using ASP.NET and C#.

[codegirl]

codegirl said:

I'm a little new to programming and there is so many software out there to choose from.
Wanted to ask what is the best program to study in making a software? So far Visual Basic is the only thing I can think of. Anyone has an opinion?

I've never heard of Delphi but where is the best place to learn it? And how advance programs could it make? Could it make programs that login into my facebook and post to my friends?

[codegirl]

cdg10620 said:

When I started programming I started with C++. After C++ I learned Java and C# (which are very similar). Also, PHP is very popular and would be a good choice. Basically each language has its pros and cons. It really depends on what you want to program. Most of my experience is building web based applications using ASP.NET and C#.

Is there a tactic or flow of remembering codes? I'm familiar with website css. So is it like remembering "border: 1px solid #000" or ".page, #wrapper, length: 50px" etc ?

:)

[rocketboy9000]

I recommend a scripting language such as Ruby.

[Smilex]

In my programming class, which if for beginners, we started with Java. Java can teach you a lot about programming fundamentals and it's not hard to learn, if you put some effort into it. I started off with C++, which can take some time to learn, and I think I could've gotten into programming much easier if I knew about Java or C#, at the time.

[ZekeDragon]

I recommend Python, to be honest. You can get the Python Interpreter here. It's a language that doesn't have as steep of a learning curve as most other languages and is a bit more forgiving, but is nonetheless a language you will be able to use professionally and it will teach you some of the basic concepts, such as Object-Oriented Programming.

[DarkLordofthePenguins]

Fu¢k Delphi! Object-oriented Pascal? Combines the weakest of the Wirth languages with the most tedious of programming paradigms.

Fu¢k C++! It's the ugliest, most painful language in existence. Seeing C++ code makes me want to puke. cout <<? cin>>? Why can't you use normal stream I/O functions like everyone else?

Fu¢k Java! It forces you to use classes even when a procedural method would be more efficient, and programs run slow as $hit. Don't even think about using the WYSIWYG editor in NetBeans. A friend of mine did that, and it produced hundreds of lines of code for a single window.

Fu¢k Python! Why write standalone applications in an interpreted language?

Ruby I don't know much about, though it sounds interesting as it's a functional language.

[Smilex]

lol, do you say that in your job applications too?

[WingedPanther]

Believe it or not, there are companies running the core of their businesses in large Delphi apps. I view it as the best of VB type syntax with the power of C++. You can also try Lazarus if you want a free environment that is very similar to Delphi.

[DarkLordofthePenguins]

I'm sorry, but this really bothers me. It seems that for 95% of programmers, all of the languages they know or have any intention of learning are both:

1. Object-oriented

2. Imperative

3. Accompanied by a framework

4. High-level

5. Usually proprietary and/or Windows-only

Whenever I tell people about functional programming or programming with alternative platforms like Mono, they get all dismissive, like "Exploring new ideas and possibilities? Who the hell does that these days?" It seems most people are only interested in the final product.

Another thing that bothers me is all these people who say "Use .NET. It's all you'll ever need." and then complain about Linux not having enough good software written for it. You have only yourselves to blame.