first language

I searched for first language and found nothing so I though I would ask. I have slowly been learning pascal want to know if Im going in the right direction. What should I learn as my first language. C++ sounded kinda more for a 2nd language. Please help.

Perl or python are your best bets for an easy yet fairly powerful language. I have been learning both and they both rock

BC

I recommend Python, Its easy, and powerful, also has a great community, you can get tons of answers and everything w/o looking too hard.

go python. it's awesome. PM me if you want help

well I decided to make my first language Visual Basic 6. I can say its also a good start. Iv read one book on it, still learning tho.

I say go for c++. I am taking it as a college class as a freshman :p . I find it challenging but thats what makes it fun. I would then move on to Python to learn in your free time (like me).

I will give sample bits of code each with the infamous hello world:

#!/usr/bin/perl
print("Hello World!");```

```markuppython:
#!/usr/bin/python
print "Hello World!"```

```markupC:

#include < stdio.h>

void main()
{
    printf("\nHello World\n");
}```

```markupC++
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
void main()
{
  cout << "Hello World!" << endl;   cout << "Welcome to C++ Programming" << endl; }

In my opinion, I would chose perl, its older than most of them, I am able to point you to many tutorials, books, etc. Perl is what 95% of exploits are written in.

Python is another one that is decent. I havent worked as much with it as perl, my opinion, perl is VERY similar to C and PHP. It is very fast execution on my box and I have a pretty weak setup.

Whatever you choose, its your decision.

Bl4ckC4t

Is pascal any good? Isn't Python close to c++? What is object oriented?

Quote from Wikipedia: The idea behind object-oriented programming is that a computer program may be seen as comprising a collection of individual units, or objects, that act on each other, as opposed to a traditional view in which a program may be seen as a collection of functions, or simply as a list of instructions to the computer. Each object is capable of receiving messages, processing data, and sending messages to other objects. Each object can be viewed as an independent little machine or actor with a distinct role or responsibility.

Python is indeed close to C++. The only reason I am suggesting Perl over python is that perl is almost a match of PHP. The way perl is set up, once you learn perl, you will be able to learn PHP in a very short time. Where as Python isnt as close to PHP. Its more of a scripting language born to make an easy language.

No, Im not trying to start an argument between different languages, im merely stating my esperiences in programming. I tried all the different languages, ended up trying perl and picking alot of it up within a week. I have been writing perl for about 3 weeks and I am already coding alot of exploits for several things.

Bl4ckC4t

i've been told python countless times. havent got around to it yet.

They both have thier advantages but python really is a good language and easy to learn.

It is possible to learn C++ as your first language ^^ But maybe you want to consider learning Perl first :happy:

If u feel like learning C then c++ and so on .. Join us at http://learn2programme.999.org

Well if you havnt got the point from the majority of people telling you this, Python and Perl are probably the best starting languages. Go to http://outcast.ddns.info/ and check out the lecture schedule, we currently have both a python and C++ lecture comeing up on our IRC Lecture Hall so register and check it out.

I just started out learning VB.NET, and am also exploring ASP.NET. Visual Basic isn't really hard. I have only begun to write code in VB.NET, and i'm gaining a pretty fast understanding already. I was going to learn PHP, but found out that ASP.NET was a better route.

To figure out what languages you should learn first, you should consider what you want to do. e.g. Program for fun, Web design…..

Just so I dont cause a war between richohealy and I, I will post this link stating the advantages and disadvantages between perl and python.

http://infohost.nmt.edu/tcc/help/lang/python/vsperl.html

Its a very good read, its a bit long, but this will help you decide between perl and python. I would say learn them both at some point, but this will help you to decide which first.

Happy Hacking

Bl4ckC4t

Placebo wrote: I just started out learning VB.NET, and am also exploring ASP.NET. Visual Basic isn't really hard. I have only begun to write code in VB.NET, and i'm gaining a pretty fast understanding already. I was going to learn PHP, but found out that ASP.NET was a better route.

To figure out what languages you should learn first, you should consider what you want to do. e.g. Program for fun, Web design…..

Please back up why you say that ASP.NET is a better route?

ASP.NET is a Microsoft invention. it has all the advantages of PHP except for the fact that it is Microsoft. I have nothing against them but I do prefer PHP. I learnt VB6.0 then PERL then PHP/SQL so that is a good route.

Pascal