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Should I learn a compiled language?

Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 4:08 pm
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?

Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 4:31 pm
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.

Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 5:06 pm
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.

Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 7:11 pm
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 :)

Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 3:10 am
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. :)

Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 3:54 am
by jamiel
I have heard many time's that it is best to learn C before C++ ... is this an urban myth?

Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 7:09 am
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 ;)

Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 11:18 am
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.

Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 11:31 am
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.

Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 11:56 am
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.

Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 11:57 am
by timvw
Sun has a couple of decent (free) online books... And i'm pretty sure you'll find decent c++ books too...

Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 12:00 pm
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:

Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 12:12 pm
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

Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 12:21 pm
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

Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2006 2:16 pm
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