4 replies to this topic

[vaironl]

hello forum vaironl here. Some of you already know me for asking very basic questions and for not being able to easily understand them ( sorry for those moments). I have decided to take a step forward into finding out if I like programming, or if I don't. My HS offers programming in the Java language which has made me sad since I have never use it, and I wonder if the applications are as powerful as C++ ( I know something I don't have to worry about at the moment).

Heading back to the main question, What do you guys recommend me to do over the summer?/ Practice.

And is Netbeans a good IDE for this?

[Alexander]

Java has many great portable libraries, and has the ability to run as a web applet, server page, mobile or desktop application so it is a good choice. C++ is a compiled language (non-VM) so you may have more trouble with certain things. For example you require platform specific libraries to create a graphical application or work with networking/threading. (later C++ 0x et al. standards provide some interfaces for a few of them however.)

Highschool programming courses should not expect too much, I would likely see it focus on the productivity of its object oriented paradigm and use learning tools such as applets or interactive applications to better teach.

As for an IDE,
Netbeans is a good option, a heavier one is Eclipse which is a full blown working environment, others enjoy lighter options such as jEdit.

For practising, I've never worked with Java before. You may wish to follow the various small tutorials that Sun (now Oracle) provides for Java. They have some good looking exercises.
Trail: Getting Started (The Java™ Tutorials) (getting started portion)

[vaironl]

Alexander said:

Java has many great portable libraries, and has the ability to run as a web applet, server page, mobile or desktop application so it is a good choice. C++ is a compiled language (non-VM) so you may have more trouble with certain things. For example you require platform specific libraries to create a graphical application or work with networking/threading. (later C++ 0x et al. standards provide some interfaces for a few of them however.)

Highschool programming courses should not expect too much, I would likely see it focus on the productivity of its object oriented paradigm and use learning tools such as applets or interactive applications to better teach.

As for an IDE,
Netbeans is a good option, a heavier one is Eclipse which is a full blown working environment, others enjoy lighter options such as jEdit.

For practising, I've never worked with Java before. You may wish to follow the various small tutorials that Sun (now Oracle) provides for Java. They have some good looking exercises.
Trail: Getting Started (The Java™ Tutorials) (getting started portion)

Thanks Alexander like always providing reliable sources. Do you think the course might still be challenging if I actually start to love the subject?
Or since I already have some C++ knowledge it's difficulty might be reduce?

[lethalwire]

Quote

Thanks Alexander like always providing reliable sources. Do you think the course might still be challenging if I actually start to love the subject?
Or since I already have some C++ knowledge it's difficulty might be reduce?

Knowing another programming language like C++ will help you move through Java much faster. There are numerous similarities and differences between Java and C++.
In the end, the language you'll want to use for a project depends on what the project requirements.

[Alexander]

vaironl said:

Thanks Alexander like always providing reliable sources. Do you think the course might still be challenging if I actually start to love the subject?
Or since I already have some C++ knowledge it's difficulty might be reduce?

I would say it purely depends on the lecturer/teacher, I've known people who have taken a Java course in a highschool near here and it was just verbatim reading from a book with handout exercises more or less. If it is hands on, and interactive it should be simple with any basic programming knowledge (C# and C++ are a plus if you understand them to understand Java.)

I would go for the course if it does not impose on your others, it is the language to learn if you are interested in development and can always grow after you finish the class.