Which language next?

[Robotbrains]

I've been thinking lately of learning on a new programming language because I've gotten reasonably experienced with VB6 but its starting to get uninteresting. I cant make up my mind on which language to start on so I decided to post here for suggestions.

I've done some research and I've decided that C++, Delphi and Java would be good options, I just can't decide which one though.

Thanks
Robotbrains

[ComputerJy]

They're all great language. except for delphi which I'm not sure if anyone uses it now. but I recommend beginning with VB.Net since you already know VB6. It'll make the transition to object oriented languages easier for you. but it's just an opinion

[Robotbrains]

Ok thanks

[Shaggy Hiker]

C++ is massive. If you really understand it, then pretty nearly any other language will be a fairly simple move. However, few people use all of the features that are now in ANSI C++. Even MS apparently sticks to what they consider a "rational subset" of the full language.

The one thing that you will miss out on if you go with VB.NET is pointers. You use them in VB.NET, you just don't know about it most of the time. Of course, since there have been libraries full of books written on the subject of pointers and related issues, it's a subject that can cause many problems. I think what ComputerJy suggested is good, because adding OO concepts to VB is a nice step to add a new way of organizing and thinking about programming. If you just want a whole new challenge, though, then one of the C languages (C/C++/C#) could give you knew and exciting ways to break code.

[penagate]

First ascertain what you need to do. Then we can advise which languages would be appropriate.


Arbitrarily suggesting languages to learn will lead to another pointless "language X is the best for reasons A, B, C" thread.

[KiwiDexter]

I would also have a look at the various web technologies, there's going to be greater than ever demand for web developers with a lot of apps switching to intranet interfaces.

The ones I'm seeing being advertised for job vacancies are

.net (C#, and vb)

php

ruby on rails

coldfusion

Also worthwhile having a look at java script and ajax (which applies to all web technologies I'm aware of).

As penagate states, might be easier to offer advice if we knew what you intended to use your new language for :)

[Robotbrains]

Ok, thanks for the ideas.

[Shaggy Hiker]

First ascertain what you need to do. Then we can advise which languages would be appropriate.


Arbitrarily suggesting languages to learn will lead to another pointless "language X is the best for reasons A, B, C" thread.

Normally I would agree with that, but many years ago I decided to learn C++ simply because I was looking for something new. It kind of sounded like the OP was talking along those lines.

[penagate]

Yes, good point.

[Hack]

coldfusionI think this is a good web language to use because, for reasons unknown, it seems to be popular, and because it, fundamentally, is nothing more than HTML on steriods.

[Shaggy Hiker]

I think this is a good web language to use because, for reasons unknown, it seems to be popular, and because it, fundamentally, is nothing more than HTML on steriods.

That has to be the most back-handed endorsement I have ever seen.

[szlamany]

I went from mainframe BASIC to VB6 back in 2000...

A couple of years ago I started working in .Net - first 2003 and now VS 2005.

The framework is what this is all about - the seamless ability to use thousands of functions, methods, properties in easy to understand name spaces is just incredible.

This has allow me to code for workstations in VS 2005 and also to code for pocket PC's in VS 2005.

And now I have been given a web-assignment and I'm coding in ASP.Net (still using familiar VS 2005 IDE) - learning HTML/CSS for the front end but still using familiar framework functionality in the server code.

Plus the benefits of learning OO and the satisfaction of it serves to inspire as well..

Why did you mention JAVA as an option - what interests you in that? What purposed would it serve? What would you create with JAVA??

[Robotbrains]

I went from mainframe BASIC to VB6 back in 2000...

A couple of years ago I started working in .Net - first 2003 and now VS 2005.

The framework is what this is all about - the seamless ability to use thousands of functions, methods, properties in easy to understand name spaces is just incredible.

This has allow me to code for workstations in VS 2005 and also to code for pocket PC's in VS 2005.

And now I have been given a web-assignment and I'm coding in ASP.Net (still using familiar VS 2005 IDE) - learning HTML/CSS for the front end but still using familiar framework functionality in the server code.

Plus the benefits of learning OO and the satisfaction of it serves to inspire as well..

Why did you mention JAVA as an option - what interests you in that? What purposed would it serve? What would you create with JAVA??
I quite like the idea of it being able to run on most operating systems and how it can be used as a applet in a webpage, which could come in handy for me.

As for which language next, I've decided to go with Java because of the reasons above. I also read that java has similiar syntax to C++ so I could go onto C++ later on with less difficulty?

[szlamany]

Writing in ASP.net allows it to run on any browser - any platform.

Our users are large-scale enterprises - so they prefer MS servers - so running IIS on the server with MS SQL databases is what they want anyway.

Doesn't JAVA require a user-download? And some users run with javascript disabled - so any web page you make has to take that into consideration.

But you never mentioned what you would write - geared to what type of user - what would it do...

[chemicalNova]

Our users are large-scale enterprises - so they prefer MS servers

Interesting. My company has the largest wireless coverage in Australia, does web hosting, email hosting, etc.. 95% of our stuff is Linux..

chem

[szlamany]

Interesting. My company has the largest wireless coverage in Australia, does web hosting, email hosting, etc.. 95% of our stuff is Linux..

chemHow many users in one of your typical client installations?

[RhinoBull]

Doesn't JAVA require a user-download...
Doesn't .Net? We run our entire enterprise (databases and few other things) on Linux servers as well. File servers are Windows 2003.

[dilettante]

Java is more or less extinct for desktop development. For that matter you don't see many Java browser applets anymore either.

Most Java development is server-side, typically for web based development. Just like .Net, which is a Java clone with enough differences to avoid another lawsuit along with multi-language support. It doesn't mean you can't create desktop applications with them and people certainly do, but that isn't the target application space.

It bears no relationship to JavaScript at all aside from the choice in naming and a superficial similarity of syntax.

[szlamany]

Doesn't .Net? We run our entire enterprise (databases and few other things) on Linux servers as well. File servers are Windows 2003.Not for a user to run a webpage that uses runat="Server" settings - right?

[RhinoBull]

Java is more or less extinct for desktop development...
I'd rather say "no more no less"... :) Recently we were evaluating enterprise solution (open source btw) for building data warehouse (plus lots more).
Guess what? It's purely Java based solution - very robust set of tools (large tools btw).
And because it's Java it can easily be deployed anywhere. I think MS needs to forget all about pride and make their development platform(s) multiplatform too - everybody will just benefit from that.

[ComputerJy]

I'd rather say "no more no less"... :) Recently we were evaluating enterprise solution (open source btw) for building data warehouse (plus lots more).
Guess what? It's purely Java based solution - very robust set of tools (large tools btw).
And because it's Java it can easily be deployed anywhere. I think MS needs to forget all about pride and make their development platform(s) multiplatform too - everybody will just benefit from that.
Actually it's just mac that is left out. Linux has the Mono open source project to run .Net apps

I don't know why but it feels like this topic is never-ending

[ComputerJy]

Java is more or less extinct for desktop development. For that matter you don't see many Java browser applets anymore either.No, Only applets are considered deprecated by the W3C, Java has nothing to do with it. Even thought great websites still use them
Not for a user to run a webpage that uses runat="Server" settings - right?
Neither does Java Server Pages. They don't require the runtime to run

[killer7k]

I think MS needs to forget all about pride and make their development platform(s) multiplatform too - everybody will just benefit from that.

& Then They will change their name from Microsoft to Bigsoft :p

[mendhak]

They can do themselves a favor by actively participating in porting over the framework to different platforms.

[ComputerJy]

They can do themselves a favor by actively participating in porting over the framework to different platforms.
As mentioned a couple of times in this forum, they are supporting Mono for Linux.

I don't know about Mac

[mendhak]

Support != Active Involvement.

The current support is passive when considering that it's the world's largest R&D company.

Also, OP, your next language should be LolCode (http://lolcode.com/).

[Tom Sawyer]

They can do themselves a favor by actively participating in porting over the framework to different platforms.

Ya, maybe then they'd be able to get their little company off the ground and all the Microsoft investors can finally start seeing some returns.

[mendhak]

Alright, if we're going to be pedantic, they can increase .NET's popularity by making it more widely available with support.

[KiwiDexter]

I think this is a good web language to use because, for reasons unknown, it seems to be popular, and because it, fundamentally, is nothing more than HTML on steriods.

Actually a heck of a lot more than HTML on steroids, but take your point re the tag nature. It's popular as it's a rapid intranet/internet development platform. Sort of like .net huge chunks of stuff are done for you via the services.

Out of interest we just rolled out a huge app for Lawyer accreditation, took exactly three months from delivered specifications to going live. Of course there's a lot of bug fixes going down at the moment. Thankfully my only involvement was providing a mid ware solution to getting data out of our legacy unidata system and updating an Oracle db in a live fashion :thumb: And LOL to the debate above it involves a java app :bigyello: