Question:
What are the advantages of a non-web programming language?
Schitzo
2009-06-25 06:21:18 UTC
I'm considering learning something like C++. I know web things like PHP, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. I don't know if it would be worth my time to learn it, I haven't really ever used anything. I used python to convert Fahrenheit to Celsius and vice versa once, that's the extent of my programming. =P

What could I do with something such as C++, and which language would you recommend? C++ was just the one I had picked :P

Thanks!
Seven answers:
richarduie
2009-06-25 07:48:23 UTC
I'm a very old dog (still learning new tricks). I started on mainframes, migrated to client/server and desktop, and lately Internet programming. With the language skills you've mentioned having and the current state of the programing universe, I'd say the main (maybe only) virtue of learning a compiled language such a C/C++ would be getting a wider view of how languages work. This isn't a bad thing, but I wouldn't make it a high priority to do desktop programming. Learn Java for the same value and the portability (write-one-run-anywhere). Learn Python, Ruby, Perl...any of the other web-oriented languages.



You said you already know CSS, HTML, JavaScript, PHP....really? Do you write standards-compliant CSS and HTML that address accessibility issues and ALWAYS validate under the W3C requirements? Do you consistently apply semantic markup and include good SEO as part of the development process? In JavaScript, do you use OO principles...how about in PHP? My point is that it's better to be very good at a smaller set of skills than a "Jack of all trades, master of none."



Learning other languages can expand your understanding of the general, theoretical principles that underpin programming as an art and science. In varying degrees of expertise, I know APL, BASIC, C/C++, FORTRAN, Java, JavaScript, PHP, PL/1, and SQL as well as CSS, HTML, and XML. I've written specialty languages, using the Interpreter design pattern. However, I learned those topics to pay my bills; that is, somebody paid me to solve their problems, using those tools. Unless you already have a paying customer for a new language, polish what you already have and extend your new learning in the arena of your current expertise, i.e., web programming.



Study the theory of programming, e.g., Functional Programming, Object Oriented Programming, Design Patterns, etc., and devote effort to learning how to design and tune relational databases - that's a better investment than just haphazardly picking up another language without a goal or a paycheck to motivate the choice.
costin
2017-01-18 21:12:06 UTC
Non Web Programming Languages
no1home2day
2009-06-25 06:31:40 UTC
In answer to your question "What are the advantages of a non-web programming language?", in a word, "States" (i.e. the stack.)



Web programming has no stack on which to store the state, so you can not "call" a routine in another web page. You can go to another web page, but there is no automatic "return" due to lack of a stack.



Programming languages such as C (or any of the C family of languages), or Visual Basic, etc, all have one thing in common - they incorporate the use of a stack to keep track of things, such as "calling" a routine and then automatically returning to the calling program, etc.



Personally, I recommend you start with Visual Basic to learn some programming techniques in an easy-to-understand language, and then after you have some programming skills under your belt (such as sorting algorithms, data acquisition, etc., then learn a more difficult language such as C#.



You'll be glad you did, because it's tough enough to learn the syntax of a language, without having to also learn how and when to use that syntax.



Good luck, and happy programming. :-)
Fred
2009-06-25 06:31:34 UTC
Maybe you should ask yourself what it is you want to create? A program that runs as an .EXE under Windows? Do you have an idea for a better text processor? A newer kind of database? Software that converts one graphic format to another? If this is the kind of thing you're looking to do, then you really do need to look at low-level programming languages. The ultimate choice will also depend on who your target audience is, and what computer platform(s) you want to support.
Sneh
2009-06-25 06:42:57 UTC
If you are considering of taking programming as your career then, start with C++. C++ is like the base of all object oriented language. Also look at Java as it is used everywhere now a days.
luna
2009-06-25 06:37:05 UTC
hi,i am luna from lebanon am graduating this year major computer science; after studying all these courses like html,php,c++,java,object oriented,xml,vb.net .......... i found that they are all interesting but if u are considering working in programming then study php or vb.net but note that c++ is their soul that is if u dont know the essence of this language n its basic u wont be able to b a good programmer... :) hope i helped u
?
2016-04-11 08:12:35 UTC
Well, if it's about "try to keep the responses limited to the languages mentioned" , then none of the above mentioned


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