What first... C# or C++?

[Mystic0]

A few monthes ago I bought Visual Studio.NET 2002, and I am learning VB.NET though a book. I eventually want to learn both C# and C++, but I don't know which I should do first. Here are my options:

1. Learn C# out of the book, then take a class in C++.

2. Take a class in C++, then learn C# out of a book.

Right now I plan on using C# as a stepping stone to C++, but I think C# has it's own addvantages depending on the program.

[hellswraith]

C++ is my vote. It has a lot of the fundamentals you will need with a lot of other languages. C# and Java will be much easier to learn if you know C++ first.

You can start with C#, but if you learn C++, you can also use it with the framework, along with without the framework. C# you can't.

[Hu Flung Dung]

You'll soon find that C# is 99.999999999999999999% like VB.NET. Just go ahead and learn C# as well, it'll only take you a few extra days to learn, at most.

[CornedBee]

C++ first. I don't think RAD lanugages should be used as stepping stones to C++.

[Mystic0]

...bear in mind that I already know alot about VB.NET.

[CornedBee]

Well, if you learn C# now you only learn a new syntax.
If you learn C++ you actually learn a new language, and I don't think C# would help you with that.

[deja]

it depend what kind of application you are going to write.
c# has almost what manage c++ has, except Templates and the ability to produce native code (i.e. unmanaged code).
c# is full oop, type safe language which is simpler to learn then c++.
if u developing IT systems, and want quick productive outcome take c#. it doesn't mean that c# are not good at other fields, it does in most of the programming challenges, but in that domain it is the best.
if u want to enjoy from both, the CLR and native win32 goto c++.
c++ required more invest (i'm not talking about manage code, but on native code), because u must deal with things like memory allocation, pointers, threading etc.
u can also produce manage code with manage c++, but it is a little more cumbersome then producing it with c#.

[CornedBee]

But the situation is different. He already knows a lot of VB.Net, so he actually doesn't need C# except maybe so that he can read examples or work with other developers. C++ on the other hand gives him a complete new field of operation.

And I tell you one thing: if you know both C++ and VB.Net, learning C# takes no more than an hour.

[hellswraith]

I agree with CornedBee, by learning C++, he already has the syntax down for C#. And since he knows the framework from VB.Net, there isn't much to learn. C++ is the way to go if you ask me.

[deja]

i am not talking about syntax at all, i am talking about the framework.
if u already familiar with the framework it doesn't matter what language u choose, they all target the same IL.
manage c++ indeed has a few things that other language doesn't, but i don't recommend to start with manage c++ for these targets.
if u really want to learn c++ deeply, take some academic courses first, to understand software archietecture like data structure or operating systems, then follow c and c++.
writing good c/c++ programs required good experience, and deep understanding about the system infrastructure.

.net framework intend to do the opposite of c/c++ because it gives u to focus on the business problem u r going to solve, not on the technical details like memory management, pointers etc.

so again, it is depend on the system u r going to develop.