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Learning a programming language

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    #92
    8k2q1gfcz9s5d4
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,616 ✭✭✭8k2q1gfcz9s5d4


    Cool Mo D wrote: »
    Java hides some of the complexity and pitfalls of C, but it's quite verbose to write, with plenty of boilerplate code necessary to do simple things. It's not an ideal beginner language, and although universities have been teaching Java as a first language for a while, they're moving away from it now.

    In my opinion, when starting to program from scratch, the most important thing is being able to "think like a computer" and divide up your tasks. The actual language isnt that important. my first programming lab ever was paper based. we were given a task, i think it was how to make beans on toast, and write out the commands i.e. 1. turn on cooker, 2. open can of beans.... and so on. We then we discussed the results, agreed on the commands needed, and then the order of the commands. then we did the same when we developed our first few programs.

    true java and c# require a lot of boilerplate code, but in college the IDE will generate all that code for you. Anyway, for the first few weeks, all the code will probably done within the Main() method anyway! :)


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    #93
    k.p.h
    Registered Users Posts: 1,645 ✭✭✭k.p.h


    Cool Mo D wrote: »
    although universities have been teaching Java as a first language for a while, they're moving away from it now.

    Do you know to what ..? And why ..?


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    #94
    Kavrocks
    Registered Users Posts: 2,345 ✭✭✭Kavrocks


    k.p.h wrote: »
    Do you know to what ..? And why ..?
    In Engineering in DCU you start off with Visual Basic for Excel, then do C, then C++ and then onto Java.


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    #95
    Cool Mo D
    Registered Users Posts: 1,419 ✭✭✭Cool Mo D


    k.p.h wrote: »
    Do you know to what ..? And why ..?

    Well, I think Java was standardised on originally, as it had broad use in industry, and was designed to be an improved C++, good for teaching an object oriented programming approach.

    I think now colleges are moving to scripting languages out of the belief that the most important introductory lesson is to get used to basic programming techniques in the simplest way possible, so are picking languages like Python.

    Most students find programming hard, so it is considered good practise to keep back the more complicated features like pointers, static typing, object-oriented programming, pre-processor macros, etc until they understand loops, conditionals, variables and functions. Stanford is now teaching it's first programming course in Javascript, even.

    Once students have a handle on one language, it is a lot easier to pick up another. Most computer science degrees will involve at least passing knowledge of 3 or 4 languages along the way.

    There's a recent paper about it here.
    http://proc.isecon.org/2011/pdf/1681.pdf


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