Choosing A New Language - Developers

Hey, I've got to a stage in Web Development that I feel comfortable with, and see no reason to progress any further into PHP, Javascript or JQuery. So the time has come for me to pick a new programming language to venture into and begin to learn. First of all I'll explain what the choices are (open to suggestions out of the choices, but still) and explain why I'd like to do each. Of course some of you would say "do them all" or something similar, and perhaps I will; but first I need to know which to start with. Main Choices: [LIST] [*]Java - It seems like a fun language, and can be used easily with the web and to quickly communicate with clients. Easy to use especially for developing on my own, and can quickly be introduced to large audiences. I've never touched any java code properly. [*]C++ - For systems programming, probably more useful when/if searching for a programming job in the far future. More functionality in the library. Started to learn C++ back in the day, have multiple books; some which have never been read. [*]C# - Not really sure, haven't done much research but it's still an option. I have little experience from previous programming. [*]VB - Will be doing this in college, have used it before and doesn't take much learning (bearing in mind I was probably 9 or something stupid). It'd be useful to learn, for college, but then I doubt I'd need any more experience than anyone else, and the language itself is quite easy. As previously mentioned, I have previous experience. [/LIST] So I think it's learning towards Java/C++, probably Java; but I'd like your input. Please provide some kind of reason or explanation too, as otherwise it'll just be some pointless internet poll. Which do you think I should pick? Thanks for all replies!

C# and Java are very similar, except C# is better. Would not bother with VB at all. Python is a good option, too. C is also an option, but if you have good C++ books that's a good place to start. In the end it matters naught which you choose. Just stop fluffing around, pick one and get going.

I'd vote for C++ here because I do believe it's easier to find a job. The second choice would be C#, because it's awesome. Java is probably going to get down voted a lot on this forum, I'm sure someone will bother to explain why, someone always does... And VB, I don't really know, I think it has the same capabilities as C# but more beginner orientated, wouldn't do it my self.

[QUOTE=blankthemuffin;23550523]C# and Java are very similar, except C# is better. Would not bother with VB at all. Python is a good option, too. C is also an option, but if you have good C++ books that's a good place to start. In the end it matters naught which you choose. Just stop fluffing around, pick one and get going.[/QUOTE] Yeah, I definitely need to just pick one. I wont waste more than today dwelling on the issue, well not more than a few hours I presume. Thanks for your input! [QUOTE=Darwin226;23550574]I'd vote for C++ here because I do believe it's easier to find a job. The second choice would be C#, because it's awesome. Java is probably going to get down voted a lot on this forum, I'm sure someone will bother to explain why, someone always does... And VB, I don't really know, I think it has the same capabilities as C# but more beginner orientated, wouldn't do it my self.[/QUOTE] Yeah, I think together you've ruled VB out completely together, I think the scales lean towards C++ now; thanks a lot for your input as well!

I would not worry about what's likely to get you a job. And if you were worried about that you'd certainly not be picking C++, you'd go with a .NET language.

Surely not for game development. Tho I do think C# is awesome for games, major companies probably wouldn't agree. Blizzard for example hires people with extensive C and C++ knowledge.

[QUOTE=blankthemuffin;23551058]I would not worry about what's likely to get you a job. And if you were worried about that you'd certainly not be picking C++, you'd go with a .NET language.[/QUOTE] I think that depends on what kind of job you want.

[QUOTE=rakkar;23551116]I think that depends on what kind of job you want.[/QUOTE] Yeah sure, but my point remains. Actually if you're doing it to get a job, go back to web programming.

I'm not doing it to get a job, it was just something I listed as a bonus for the language. You have more chance of being hired, I would think, for having knowledge of C++ over Java.

I would disagree. You play down the penetration Java has in enterprise.

So I think the choice would come down to: make things that I can easily share via browser to friends or make other programs that can't be as easily shared but has a bigger library, or something like that? I'm not sure. I just found a "core JAVA Fundamentals" book too. I'd like to do what you said and just pick one but I'm really not sure. I might hit Java as it looks nice, though I'm not sure if I'd rather hit C++ (for the fact I thought it was more professional and job opportunities were greater, but seeing as you've denied that I suppose it sort of rules it out). I think the scales lean to Java for now then?

Why? If you don't want C++, go with C#, I never said the posters here were wrong about Java. C# looks almost the same as Java except it's better (opinionated). C++ is a good choice in my eyes when you want a job, C# is a good choice if you like coding (and sanity).

I don't think the job criteria really matters, bearing in mind for a job it'd probably be easy to just slip back to web development anyway. As for the C# liking coding well I think you'd have to like coding for any of them. You seem to like C# a lot? :v: Hmmm. So I either pick C++, Java or C#.

No, I was just saying you should pick C# over Java. Only mentioned C++ as a better business option.

Well I read around a bit and there's apparently a lot more Java developers, yet more companies use C#. I think I might go for C# but when developing I like to share stuff out to friends and let them test: is this as easy as it seems to be in Java (I mean, when programming in C# is it easy to share programs)?

You send the program, they run it. It's shared. I don't see why the language would make any difference. Also, I think Silverlight can replace Java applets but don't take my word on that.

I mean uploading a file to your website and telling a client to go to the url is much easier than sending them a file, especially if they don't wish to file transfer or keep questioning why your .exe says it's malicious.

Get new friends XD

I think it's time to pick out of a hat; this is getting nowhere. There's reasons for and against C++, C# and Java so it's impossible to decide. :v:

[QUOTE='[ApS] Elf;23560216']I think it's time to pick out of a hat; this is getting nowhere. There's reasons for and against C++, C# and Java so it's impossible to decide. :v:[/QUOTE] It doesn't matter. If you start out with C++ and later find out you'd rather try Java, then learn both. If you want to try C# at some point, learn that too. In the end, you're not going to stick with one language forever anyway, so go out and try everything you're interested in (but perhaps not concurrently :v:). If you just want to try a language for applications or games and you really don't care which, you could build on your already existing knowledge of PHP and JavaScript, and try other dynamic languages, like Python, Ruby and Lua. But again, it doesn't matter, so right now you should definitively choose whatever you fancy the most.

Well my picking out the hat ended in Java, well Java just won't go away. I also chose PHP over Java five years or so back so I think I'm going to at least try it for a while. As you say, they're very easy to switch to and from so it doesn't really matter. Thanks for all your help!

Java and C# have very similar syntax anyway, so learning one would mean you'd have a massive head start if you later decide to learn the other

[QUOTE=Darwin226;23552167]Why? If you don't want C++, go with C#, I never said the posters here were wrong about Java. C# looks almost the same as Java except it's better (opinionated). C++ is a good choice in my eyes when you want a job, C# is a good choice if you like coding (and sanity).[/QUOTE] You'd be better off learning C# if you want a job... Sure there's some C++ jobs but not nearly as many as there is C# jobs.

I don't think that applies for the gaming industry. I know that games might not be what he wants, but it's what I meant.

Games is more the direction I suppose, yes. But as Chris said, you learn one and you get a huge head start in the other anyway. It's annoying learning Java from scratch though, it just repeats everything I've already learnt but with some different syntax. Does anyone, by any chance, have any Java programs or anything that I can use to look through? It'd be much easier and faster - and it's what I did for PHP.

Ruby, because it's fun to work in, and you will most likely feel much more productive. If you are going for jobs, Ruby is excellent. TONS of Ruby jobs out there.

I'm not sure, I've never really seen anything done in Ruby and my mind is pretty much set on Java as I've started now.

Github is filled with cool Ruby projects.

[url]http://www.tiobe.com/index.php/content/paperinfo/tpci/index.html[/url] Not sure how accurate this is, but it seems to give a fairly rough interpretation.

Haskell. Even if you never use it in a business setting, which you probably won't, just learning it will introduce you to a new type of thinking, which will boost your problem solving abilities tremendously.