General Question

Hey

I've been programming for around about two or so months now and i have to say it's one of the most enjoyable things i've ever done. My problem is because my learning is mostly college based (UK) the only language i have experience with and am confident with is Pascal/Delphi (Yes please stop laughing :().

So anyway i was just wondering what other languages you'd all recommend learning next?

I've had a brief brush with ruby i kinda liked it, and when my laptop gets fixed i have some stuff for Python and Perl to start learning with sooner or later. I was just wondering which you'd recommend learning first from your experiences and how useful the languages have been to you :)

(Note: I don't really wanna start learning C yet just wanna have a few other languages down first :D)

i"d say java is a must. Extreemely good for object-oriented programming, and it's a pretty high level language, so it's not too tough to pick up. If you're interested in making applets for the web, java is good for that too.

C++ isnt bad either.

if you just want to get a good basic understanding of what's going on behind all the programming, you might want to learn Lisp or scheme. I'd call it a teaching language.

JamesBlack wrote: My problem is because my learning is mostly college based (UK) the only language i have experience with and am confident with is Pascal/Delphi (Yes please stop laughing :().

I'm not laughing… Pascal is one of my favorite languages of all time.

So anyway i was just wondering what other languages you'd all recommend learning next?

Well, you have to decide what type of programming you want to do next. If you want to stick with desktop programming, then Python would probably be a smooth transition for you from Pascal / Delphi. For web programming, just pick one and go with it.

You're going to end up finding your next language like everyone else does: by chance. Just have a look at different languages and, when one interests you, learn it.

Zephyr_Pure wrote:

I'm not laughing… Pascal is one of my favorite languages of all time.

I didn't mean it in a bad way, i'm glad i started with it, the commands helped me understand and learn things faster, i mean what's easy to understand than 'writeln' lol :D. But then again some people just don't see the value of somethings :)

I thank you both for your replies they have been helpful i know what i enjoy ie. Desktop application and i know what i want to get into ie. Web stuff and general stuff to improve my hacking skills.

The only problem i have is knowing where to start and i would preferably like to find some resources that teach you, then set you assignments to do (I remember when i started my brief learning of ruby and i found a fantastic site that did this) so any recommendations would be fantastic.

You could set your own milestones to reach and do so in your language of choice. Really, it's easier to just do it yourself than to have someone hold your hand through the learning process and sample projects. That would be just like programming classes… and the projects ALWAYS suck in programming classes.

well, if you decide you wanna go with java, [url]http://www.java2s.com/Tutorial/Java/CatalogJava.htm [/url]seems to be a decent tutorial site, but the best learning tool i found was a book called "java in easy steps" (website is: http://www.ineasysteps.com/books/details/?1840782595). And i would recommend using blueJ as a compiler instead of making your programs in notepad and running them in cmd like most tutorials tell you.

It's true, projects in programming classes do suck. You learn so much more if you design the project yourself. that way you're more motivated to do research to find out how to do things. you're also more motivated to go above and beyond since it's a project you're interested in.

Yeah i have had dreadful experiences with these projects :p already, but i like to have a set goal and then i usually add my own features to the program. From what you two have said though i am going to take a wider look at the whole language ie. the different procedures and then go through it methodically in easy steps and make sure how it all works.

I have a project to do which counts for the majority of my grade for the year, so i think with whatever new languages i pick up i'm gonna write the project in them aswell as soon as i have a good enough knowledge to do so :)

I just wish there was a website with scenarios on for different problems i could solve via a program….Pah that's me being lazy though :p i'm sure i can make some up :D

Thanks again