i'd like to learn a programing language!

[Angry Armadillo]

look what ive started!

[NeoThermic]

Well, choice of a programming language is like choice of an OS, its got only a few things to help you decide, mainly: 1) what you need it for, and 2) how easy it is to acomplish #1.

If you just want to make windows only apps, with a GUI and fast, things like Delphi and VB are perfect for that. For text based apps, QBasic, Pascal, and the edges of Java and C++ are perfect for that. For games, [and we are talking proper 3D games here] then the main route is C++ [although VB does have DirectX lib's, allowing a few tricks to be done...]
If you want to be able to port your apps over to other OS'es, then Java and C++ allow that to happen, so they would be top on your list of things to do.

But as I said when I started, you need to look at why you need the language, and then look at each language we suggest until you find one that matches the requirements.

As for the best way to learn them; Books, other peoples code [ www.planet-source-code.com is a GREAT resource for that ], and articles about how to do extra little bits in your chosen language are the best ways to learn. Have a go, the worst thing you can do is learn to hate a programming language, and try another.

Hope that this all helps...

Oh and bgreene2001, do you mean this: [font=symbol]⊂ [/font]  ? [subset character defined by XHTML w3c standerd 1.0].

NeoThermic
[ a [font=symbol]⊂ [/font] of the borg
[NOTE: the IB doesn't support the character whatso ever, but if you fire up Character map, place the font to symbol and select character 0xCC thats the one ]
[EDIT: stupid spelling mistakes ]

(Edited by NeoThermic at 10:29 am on Aug. 20, 2003)

[Angry Armadillo]

wel then, you see we have a slight problem,

because i have no real reason to want to learn a language i thought it would be something fun to do rather than id like o be able to make a (such and such) so i ' d best learn (such and such)

[NeoThermic]

Well, you not left with a problem then, you still follow my 1 2 convention.

1) you need it for the fun of learning a language, so now
2) you need to find a language that makes it fun to learn.

Have a look over the whole topic again, and write out each programming language we listed, then do searches on the syntax of the code, and its advantages, and then you will be left with a clear sense of direction of which to have fun with.

NeoThermic

[Angry Armadillo]

i had a look at planet-source-code

i think java colud be a good language to learn,

so i think it will be java,

i dont think i want to learn how to do one particular thing with java i want to learn all the different things i can do

[bgreene2001]

Hehe, that will be difficult.  You see all the classes in the sun documentation we pointed you to?  That's everything java can do.  I'd say it's fair odds no one knows everything java can do.  That's why there is that reference you can search through

[Virulent Virus]

Thanks for that compiler link Angry Armadillo, I needed that cos the working model edition i have dont include one. Now i can finnally distribute my projects! :biggrin:

[Angry Armadillo]

what compiler link? im stil looking for a compiler

[bgreene2001]

Java 1.4.2 SDK.  Click on 'sdk' in the 'J2SE' section, agree to their shrink-wrap licence (don't bother reading it, no one else ever does ).  Install it, att the install directory to your path variable.

To compile:
(say your source file is MyProggie.java)
javac MyProggie.java

To run after you compile:
java MyProggie
(leave off all extentions)

And I would recommend getting at least an editor that does line numbers, or things get difficult very quickly when you debug

[Angry Armadillo]

i d/l that compiler and tried running whist offline last night, it didnt work, but its d/ling whatever it needs to download for "preparing to install"

[Angry Armadillo]

another *hopfully* minor setback

ive got on to the setup program for that compiler,


it says plese whai while it instalss... blah blah

but ithink its downloading more files

it said before 120mb on your HDD is it a 120mb d/l

*hopefully* not, my dial up cant take it

[Octavious]

Quote: from bgreene2001 on 6:44 am on Aug. 20, 2003[br]Hehe, I love a good, pointless aregument :)

I love arguement too, but I am spent, as I have spent the last two days hiking with three people who have never gone hiking before, and ended up hauling a 30 kilo pack. Pain.

[Stewsburntmonkey]

Heh, I spent 9 days a couple years ago hiking in the mountains with a 30 kilo pack, great time.  :)

[bgreene2001]

I'm kinda spent too.  For me it was a marathon drinking session compressed into 2 hours.  I don't remember a thing past 10:30 pm

[Angry Armadillo]

^heheh

ive solved the problem of instaling the compiler, by downloading the .cab file


i also had a look at some java script and i have wrote my own

-if statement
-clock
-an easy-to-password prompt
-also an easy-to-crack password prompt which opens unlimited browsers if you get it wrong

i am going to set myself the challange of writing a simple game next, and i will look all the code up from scratch rather than modifying other peoples