What languages Should I learn C, C++, C#, Java, or Python.

[The Michael]

I've been wanting to create a game for quite a while now, and I was wondering wht kind of code I need to learn in order to make a game, right now I'm learning basic stuff like XHTML and CSS, but I want to be able to make games and other stuff, I hopefully plan to learn all of these, but I need to know which ones will jump start me into my project.

[krystianpants]

Publicado originalmente por Hashbrick:

I'd like to know how so many of you think Java is dieing when it is the mobile market! That makes absolutely no sense in the least. Regardless of the vulnerabilities it possess it's not going anywhere.

Dalvik is simply based on Java, it doesn't rely on Oracle or any updates it is its own flavour. Dalvik is not dying that's for sure. ;)

[ManiacMal]

Publicado originalmente por kehcorpz:

Publicado originalmente por Hashbrick:

I'd like to know how so many of you think Java is dieing when it is the mobile market! That makes absolutely no sense in the least. Regardless of the vulnerabilities it possess it's not going anywhere.

Dalvik is simply based on Java, it doesn't rely on Oracle or any updates it is its own flavour. Dalvik is not dying that's for sure. ;)

So the concern is more on the Oracle VM not the actual language per say, I think I understand why all the doubt now. I haven't really kept up on the Java flavor of things nor do I intend to in the future. Thanks for the info.

[Keonyn ♣]

So basically what I'm taking from this discussion is that everyone is saying something else and there is no real right answer on which one to go with. The general consensus seems to be there is no general consensus, lol.

Seems for everyone saying "go with x" there's someone else saying "definitely don't go with x". Only one that seems to stand out is C++ as most say it's a good move, it's just the toughest to learn.

[Morton]

Publicado originalmente por GreekStrike:

Alright so I have a question for all the programers out there. For instance, if you really wanted to make something like a game or an application, would you have to look at your notes to remember all the different commands? I learned a little python when I was about 16 years old from a beginners book, and it taught me some very basic things but it seemed like there was a ton to memorize. Then again, I dont plan to go into programing but to me it just seems like a basic coder has so many different things to know and think about. How bad is it really?

As far as memory goes, I never work without a browser on the second screen. You need to know keywords and language constructs and some basic functions for working with strings, arrays, collections, etc. You should know about many other more specialized things to be able to use them when they are needed (google is your best friend in this).

There are tons of different functions and classes in standard libraries of any language and even more in other libraries you may need to use, but the thing is, you use them to build your own and then use these to make the program (game or any other software).

There is also a thing that you should be able to gues what a class or function does from its name and most IDE will give you the name by writing dot...

And you should be able to quickly forget about things that are not used anymore... nothing lasts forever.

[76561197960265758]

Publicado originalmente por Keonyn:

So basically what I'm taking from this discussion is that everyone is saying something else and there is no real right answer on which one to go with. The general consensus seems to be there is no general consensus, lol.

Seems for everyone saying "go with x" there's someone else saying "definitely don't go with x". Only one that seems to stand out is C++ as most say it's a good move, it's just the toughest to learn.

I think any sensible person would have a hard time disagreeing with starting with a language that is powerful (in that it can solve real problems, not just junk academic cases), dynamic and high level (you're learning the basics of talking to a computer, not how a CPU works), clean readable syntax, and well supported with an easy environment (such as an interactive interpreter) to focus on learning the language and programming and not focus on configuring your build machine.

that leaves python, so the answer is python.

[Mivo]

Publicado originalmente por MikeJ:

that leaves python, so the answer is python.

And Ruby! Ruby is so much nicer than Python. :) /fanboy I agree, though, that Python is a more obvious choice. Better documentation, and Pygame's excellent.

I still recommend http://www.codecademy.com for some orientation and a taste of Python (and JavaScript as well as Ruby).

[Keonyn ♣]

But what about all the criticism that has been brought up towards Python from other posters above? I mean, Python has received some glowing recommendations here, but also its fair share of indictments.

[Mivo]

Every language has pros and cons. The first language, I feel, should be one that teaches the fundamentals and "programmer thinking" in an easy to understand way. Python achieves that because, to name some examples, the syntax is somewhat English-like and not overly obscure (whitespace issues aside), the interactive shell offers instant feedback, and you don't have to compile anything. Getting started with C++ is much more intimidating to most people, at least in my opinion.

He won't learn just one language. At least he shouldn't. Python would only be the start, and then he could look into other languages. C (and C++) are easier if you have some previous knowledge. But at the end of the day it doesn't matter which language he starts with. I feel it's more important to find something that is appealing and, especially, that he has or can get a good book for. (I really do recommend the "Head First" series.)

[Keonyn ♣]

Well, what gives me pause is what Knight of the Void wrote back at the end of page 2, about Python being so different from other languages that it actually makes it harder to transition to learning another language afterwards. I would have to say that of the remarks made here about Python, that is probably the one that gives me the most pause.

[76561197960265758]

I'm not a strong believer in the idea that a language corrupts you in some way that makes it hard to transition. I started in Visual Basic and now I do as much programming as I can in Haskell for AI/research stuff. so if I can go from VB to Haskell (well, there was a lot in between lol) then you can certainly go from Python to Java or w/e. What you're primarily learning in the beginning is organizing imperative computation instructions into procedures with good concepts of structure and flow control using functions, loops, and working with data structures and basic algorithms. That will make starting with any language (that's imperative at least) a matter of adjusting to its specific syntax, as well as learning any abstraction concepts it employs (like OOP) or lack thereof (like lower level concepts such as pointers, stack vs heap management etc)

Starting with C++ and having a beginner just trying to understand the template library to use something basic like dynamic containers (such as a STL vector) just seems like a pretty convoluted approach to start off with that I can't see as being very helpful for understanding.

[The Michael]

Thank You for all your arguments and statements about which language/s that I should learn. After reading all of this I've come to the self closed agreement that I should just head into a language reguardless of what it is, but since I plan on doing game devolping I've heard that many numerous games were made in c++, but at the end of the day you could program it in just about any of the languages presented in the arguments stated above. I guess it is really just my personal choice of which language to learn and though some say its hard, I think it would be better if i just dived in and stopped being scared of if the language I learn is hard, if ever want to achieve my goals I need to be able to cope with problems and deal with them intellectually instead of taking the easy way out.
AS again, I thank you all for helping me dabate over what to choose.

PS. I eventually plan to learn many languages, and I'm in no hurry to make any deadlines, so if get done with c++ and realise I should've chosen something else, I'll try something else.

[The Michael]

It was all good til I got to using strings and ints with private to public to main, but I'm still progressing through, this is just going to take me a little longer to understand

[Ledow]

If you think you can learn any programming language in a week, you're sadly mistaken. If you think you can learn it in a month, you're probably wrong, especially for a first language. Think how long it would take to learn French, say, and to get to the point where you could actually "talk" about any subject you liked with confidence. It's not a "Learn C++ in 24 Hours!!!" kind of thing.

Stick at it. You'll be surprised the benefits it has in everything from diagnosing your own PC, writing your own software to save you time, fixing other's software, and even silly things like learning a bit of maths / physics / graphics / audio / whatever along the way.

If you need help, once you get properly started and not just "reading about it" (which is the death of all "programmers" who think that reading a book about a subject is equivalent to knowing how to do something - no 747 pilot got to where they are by reading "Airplanes for Dummies", I can assure you), I frequent a forum where people are very knowledgeable in C and C++ and help out novices: http://cboard.cprogramming.com

[Mivo]

There is a good essay on this topic.

Teach Yourself Programming in Ten Years: http://norvig.com/21-days.html