Should I learn a compiled language?

Ye' old general discussion board. Basically, for everything that isn't covered elsewhere. Come here to shoot the breeze, shoot your mouth off, or whatever suits your fancy.
This forum is not for asking programming related questions.

Moderator: General Moderators

User avatar
daedalus__
DevNet Resident
Posts: 1925
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 4:52 pm

Should I learn a compiled language?

Post by daedalus__ »

I want to write Desktop Applications for no other reason than knowing how to do it.

I really do not need to write anything that I can think of.. I jsut want to be able to do it..

Worth it?
thiscatis
Forum Contributor
Posts: 434
Joined: Thu Jul 20, 2006 11:00 am

Post by thiscatis »

Other people will do that for you.
Best to keep advancing in webdev because imo they will be full os-applications in no time.
User avatar
infolock
DevNet Resident
Posts: 1708
Joined: Wed Sep 25, 2002 7:47 pm

Post by infolock »

Don't listen to that. Learning to develop desktop applications is worth a million times more than just knowing how to do web dev. To know how to do both will put you in a much higher demand in the market. But not only that, but you will get a better understanding of what programming is all about instead of just knowing how to write scripts. You will not only be a better programmer, but you will be more intelligent in the field itself. It's ALWAYS a good decision to have a backup plan, and ALWAYS a good decision to know how to develop applications for your computer instead of just for a browser/hack techniques for servers.
alex.barylski
DevNet Evangelist
Posts: 6267
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2004 5:00 pm
Location: Winnipeg

Post by alex.barylski »

I agree with infolock...

Both are very different paradigms requring different skills...

Knowing both makes you better in each...

I would suggest going with C++ and wxWindows/wxWidgets as it's truly cross platform and popular...

Java, is not common on Windows platforms, but then again neither is wxWidgets...

MFC is the king and will remain so for quite some time, but .NET is quickly gaining popularity on Windows...and will likely eventually replace MFC, but not as fast as M$ would have liked...Hahahahaha...

Anyways, C++ is an awesome language fun to program and very popular and well supported with tons of free IDE's

Bloodshed C++ IDE (Google it) comes to mind, I've used it and although quite aways from MS Visual studio IDE it's pretty damn good for a *free* editor...

Developed in Delphi I think...

Cheers :)
User avatar
onion2k
Jedi Mod
Posts: 5263
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2004 5:03 pm
Location: usrlab.com

Post by onion2k »

If you were to learn Java or C# you could apply your knowledge to both desktop apps and the web.

Or write desktop apps with PHP-GTK. :)
jamiel
Forum Contributor
Posts: 276
Joined: Wed Feb 22, 2006 5:17 am
Location: London, United Kingdom

Post by jamiel »

I have heard many time's that it is best to learn C before C++ ... is this an urban myth?
timvw
DevNet Master
Posts: 4897
Joined: Mon Jan 19, 2004 11:11 pm
Location: Leuven, Belgium

Post by timvw »

jamiel wrote:I have heard many time's that it is best to learn C before C++ ... is this an urban myth?
I've seen that question answered many times before too... So search the web ;)
alvinphp
Forum Contributor
Posts: 380
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2005 11:47 am

Post by alvinphp »

onion2k wrote:If you were to learn Java or C# you could apply your knowledge to both desktop apps and the web.
I second this statement.
User avatar
RobertGonzalez
Site Administrator
Posts: 14293
Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2003 6:04 pm
Location: Fremont, CA, USA

Post by RobertGonzalez »

Seems to me that if someone in an interview asked how many languages you speak and you replied with 'English' you would be less marketable than if you replied 'English, Spanish, Chinese and Russian'. If you want to learn it and it is not going to pose a significant imposition on your family life and/or personal life, go for it. You can only benefit from knowing more than knowing less (unless you are in the government, but that is for a different forum).

As for which languages to learn... it appears that, for employment purposes, C++, C#.NET and Java programmers are in the hottest demand right now in the Silicon Valley employment arena (I only bring that up because of recent discussion on you moving back home). If you can nail one (or all) of those languages, you are positioning yourself to be a greater asset that someone who only know PHP. In my opinion.
User avatar
daedalus__
DevNet Resident
Posts: 1925
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 4:52 pm

Post by daedalus__ »

I'd like to learn both C++ and Java ^^^

I'm trying to figure out where to start now. I want to buy some books but I can't afford it.
timvw
DevNet Master
Posts: 4897
Joined: Mon Jan 19, 2004 11:11 pm
Location: Leuven, Belgium

Post by timvw »

Sun has a couple of decent (free) online books... And i'm pretty sure you'll find decent c++ books too...
User avatar
RobertGonzalez
Site Administrator
Posts: 14293
Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2003 6:04 pm
Location: Fremont, CA, USA

Post by RobertGonzalez »

If you're looking for books, try a used book store. There is one here in Fremont where tech books are like 10% to 20% of their original cost. Or even the library. Heck, those are free. :wink:
User avatar
MrPotatoes
Forum Regular
Posts: 617
Joined: Wed May 24, 2006 6:42 am

Post by MrPotatoes »

if you have a windows maching the first thing that you should learn in C#. really easy and very much like PHP but then you gain some other nice things. should take you hours max to learn (not every nook and cranny but you'll be good :D

then goto C++. i can help you with that if you want. PM me with your AIM and i can help you on there
User avatar
daedalus__
DevNet Resident
Posts: 1925
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 4:52 pm

Post by daedalus__ »

The langauges come easy to me, it's learning how to use the stupid IDE's that gives me trouble.

Like the forms thing in Visual Studio?

ugh
User avatar
tcsoft
Forum Newbie
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2006 10:46 am
Location: Austria
Contact:

Post by tcsoft »

i think it's worth starting with C under linux - learning the REAL basics :-) (the pointer nevers dies....NEVER :P)
then you can switch over to c++ (or even better c#) or java - their syntax is familiar to php.
just my optinion

EDIT:
apropos forms - vb6 has an easy form designer :D
Post Reply