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Most Important Language?

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  • 22-04-2010 2:16am
    #1
    sudzy
    Registered Users Posts: 170 ✭✭


    Was wondering what you guys might think is the most important single language these days?

    I already know a bit on C/C++ and java, and I would like to get into more detail with these, or learn a new one with the aim of getting into computer science and programming.

    I was thinking, that with iphone/android programming C/C++ only it could be better to expand on that, but then java is still on nearly all phones and computers.
    Or would a web oriented language like php/javascript/flash be better to learn in detail?

    Opinions?? :)


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    #2
    Anima
    Registered Users Posts: 3,945 ✭✭✭Anima


    If you learn C inside out, you'll find every other language easy.


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    #3
    Evil Phil
    Registered Users Posts: 7,468 ✭✭✭Evil Phil


    I don't think there is one. Unless its the language you speak to other people with.

    Programming techniques generally apply across the board, if you have a good understanding of them it makes learning a new programming language much easier.


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    #4
    pwd
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,284 ✭✭✭pwd


    C++, php and Java are object oriented and widely used.
    Actionscript is used in Flash, and is object-oriented. It is only used in Flash.
    C is function-oriented.
    Javascript is a scripting language. It is in a different category to the other languages you list imo. It's something that's more likely to be used in a supplemental manner than anything else.

    It depends what you want to do.
    If you don't know what you want to do, or don't want to specialise, you might be best learning Java or C++. They are established object-oriented languages that would be appropriate for learning programming concepts and skills that would transfer well across the board.


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    #5
    p
    Registered Users Posts: 2,119 ✭✭✭p


    Pick one and focus on that. Better to get a good grounding in one language than have dabbled in a few.


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    #6
    mark renton
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,696 ✭✭✭mark renton


    sudzy wrote: »
    Was wondering what you guys might think is the most important single language these days?

    Opinions?? :)

    English - some people speak French and some speak Spanish, but we all think in English


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    #7
    Atomic Pineapple
    Registered Users Posts: 18,272 ✭✭✭✭Atomic Pineapple


    I have a pretty good grasp of Java and have been thrown in at the deep end of C++ at work and find its not as nice to learn as Java.

    I'd imagine learning C++ and then Java would be easier.

    Would the more experienced programmers agree or disagree?


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    #8
    cynder
    Registered Users Posts: 4,128 ✭✭✭cynder


    Cold fusion and flex!!!!



    http://www.scotch-on-the-rocks.co.uk/


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    #9
    jmcc
    Registered Users Posts: 7,412 ✭✭✭jmcc


    This sums it up well:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8Oe9SteE3M

    Regards...jmcc


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    #10
    Herbal Deity
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,397 ✭✭✭Herbal Deity


    draffodx wrote: »
    I have a pretty good grasp of Java and have been thrown in at the deep end of C++ at work and find its not as nice to learn as Java.

    I'd imagine learning C++ and then Java would be easier.

    Would the more experienced programmers agree or disagree?
    What do you find difficult about C++?

    I learned Java, then C, then C++. Obviously, it always takes a while to get used to a new language, but I wouldn't say it makes it harder

    I really don't like Java now. I find C# to be my language of choice these days. C# wouldn't actually be a bad starting point either.


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    #11
    AARRRGH
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,382 ✭✭✭✭AARRRGH


    draffodx wrote: »
    I'd imagine learning C++ and then Java would be easier.

    Would the more experienced programmers agree or disagree?

    Personally I think learning Java first would probably be easier, as there are so many books and forums on the topic, and Java programmers tend to be more human than C++ programmers! Also, it's an easier language in general. (Not that C++ is difficult).

    Back to the original question: it depends what you want to do. But if I could only pick one language, I would pick Java, as there are lots of jobs in this area.

    I think most of the code in the world is C, so technically it's probably the most important language.


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    #12
    ronivek
    Registered Users Posts: 1,916 ✭✭✭ronivek


    There is no one "most important" language; but there is a "most important" programming paradigm in terms of gainful employment. That paradigm is object oriented programming. Out of the subset of object oriented languages the most popular are C++, C#, Python, and Java.

    Personally I'd recommend delving into the lower level aspects of C/C++ and building up from there. It's nice to know when you're working at higher levels of abstraction what's really going on under the hood; and this is especially important when you move into the realms of Java and C# (or indeed C++ with implicit resource management) and can easily lose sight of things that can be important but are easily overlooked when it's all done for you.

    I think the key thing here is to remember that the language is just a tool for realising your designs. The paradigm encapsulates a methodology for solving problems and describing those solutions so that they can be automated/implemented by a computer; and this way of problem solving and thinking will transfer to any other language which follows the same paradigm.

    Effectively it doesn't matter which language you choose; if you're doing it for fun then pick any language which you can do fun things in. If you're doing it in college and want to be a software developer; pick any object oriented language. If you have brains to burn and love finding unusual ways to represent problems and solutions; pick any functional (pure functional, preferably) language.


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    #13
    Manach
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 9,717 Mod ✭✭✭✭Manach


    Looking at an internal job site: Java and then C++ seem the most popular. Also important are how well you can integrate these with other tech, - ie DB or reports.


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    #14
    Atomic Pineapple
    Registered Users Posts: 18,272 ✭✭✭✭Atomic Pineapple


    Herbal Deity wrote: »
    What do you find difficult about C++?

    I learned Java, then C, then C++. Obviously, it always takes a while to get used to a new language, but I wouldn't say it makes it harder

    I really don't like Java now. I find C# to be my language of choice these days. C# wouldn't actually be a bad starting point either.

    I'm not finding it difficult as such, I just found Java to be a lot simpler to learn in the beginning.
    AARRRGH wrote: »
    Personally I think learning Java first would probably be easier, as there are so many books and forums on the topic, and Java programmers tend to be more human than C++ programmers! Also, it's an easier language in general. (Not that C++ is difficult).

    Back to the original question: it depends what you want to do. But if I could only pick one language, I would pick Java, as there are lots of jobs in this area.

    I think most of the code in the world is C, so technically it's probably the most important language.

    What is that with C++ programmers being unhelpful, its really noticeable within C++ forums.

    While I agree with you regarding Java I always felt being competent in just Java was a bit limiting so I'm glad to be learning C++ now too


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