I want to start learning a programming language(s?), and I can be very dedicated with it.
I want to eventually get into the gaming industry, or something at least similar (BS of Computer Science related); but I am only in high school at the moment.
I want to get ahead of the game and start teaching myself slowly but surely, but can’t decide which language to go with.
Some people say I should learn C before C++, others say to go right to C. Some say to learn Python for it’s simplicity, others say jump right to C++ or Java for their functionality. I am just a bit mixed up since all sorts of opinions have been presented towards me.
I am leaning towards slowly learning C++ for it’s relevance to the field I want, and for how big it is. It is so flexible and a behemoth so it is probably the best best to learn since I can go into any language after that and have a good understanding.
The other one I am thinking is Java, due to the fact that I play a lot of Minecraft and have experience with CraftBukkit and plugins for it; all written in Java so it might be interesting to learn Java. Also, Java is supposedly *slightly* easier than C++ even though it is difficult as well. Either way I plan on knowing both (and more) by the time I get my degree and move on to my dream career, but what in your opinion is the best for a beginner to go for?
Also, if you have any books / online books / tutorials that you know of for whatever language you answer about, that would be highly appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
Java is the most used programming language out there. C I think could be learned first but harder to understand. C++ is almost the same as C but easier to understand in my opinion. If you want to impress people with knowledge learn C. If you want to do stuff do C++ or Java. If you are doing CompSci learn a Linux or Unix and be great at Shell programming a scripting.
I just started a beginning programming class and the instructor told us that the computer science department chose for us to learn C++ as a beginning language because it makes one more marketable in the industry. In particular, he felt that learning C++ was more important than learning Java. I think he said Java was heading towards eventually being obsolete but I may have gotten that mixed up with some other language he was talking about. The instructor first started us out using Visual C++ but now he has the PC users using Putty. The following tutorial was for the first day of class in using Visual C++ (http://youtube/o2nZlBnCzFI). If you are using a PC, you can download a free version of Visual C++ (http://www.microsoft.com/express/Windows/) and try the tutorial out yourself. If you have an Apple, you can use Codeblocks C++ (http://www.codeblocks.org/downloads/26) but you’ll have to find another tutorial (maybe also on youtube).
If you are going to be studying cs in college then you will get the chance there to learn several different languages. ‘Easy’ is subjective. It is ‘easier’ to write a hello world program in C than it is in Java, but you will find it easier to write a java program to put that same hello world into a web page. If you are interested in webpage based programming then go with java now… if you are interested in writing PC games with lots of graphics then go with C++. If you are interested in understanding how computers really operate at the low levels – at the intersection between sw and hw – then C is a great language and will prepare your head to study assembly code and micro-code later. Have fun!
C++ hands down and by far the singlemost common programming language in software development in general, and game development in particular. If you’re serious about programming, learn C++ and master designing software solutions with it. Don’t worry about learning extra languages. Learning a new language will be easy after you’re already a master of C++. Don’t bother learning C. It is unneeded unless you intend to maintain legacy C applications, and it will give you bad habits when you start doing C++.