macOS Calling all programmers!!!

Well Java and all the C based languages are pretty much the same style (except for straight C which is procedural rather than object orientated). Starting with any of those languages would be an excellent way to get started in programming. Java would be your best bet if you want to program on both a Mac and a PC.

I'll second the recommendation to do Java, since it's generally a portable language.

i'm not a seasoned programmer, but concerning Objective-C, i can't tell you how many times i was told to read this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Programming-Objective-C-Stephen-Kochan/dp/0672325861

... but i still haven't read it, so i can't confirm if it's good or not

1. HTML and XML are not programming; they're document formats. Not to disparage them at all -- they're vital skills -- but if you intend to learn to program it's first necessary to understand the difference between describing data (like HTML and XML do) and telling computers what to do with the data (like a programming language does).

2. As Cromulent mentioned, Java and C* have similar enough syntax that learning one will make it fairly easy to pick up the fundamentals of any of the others.

3. Objective-C is the exception to this. The syntax for the object oriented parts of Objective-C is completely different from anything you'll use in the other languages. Unfortunately it's the best way to develop applications on the Mac. More unfortunately, knowing it won't help you develop software on anything but the Mac.

4. If you learn any language that isn't Visual Basic, there is automatically no point in ever learning Visual Basic.

5. Feel free to learn Java first, but if you're serious about programming as a career, you must learn C. After learning Java, it will seem primitive, which is why you need to know it. The class libraries in Java, C# and C++ hand you lots of tools with so little effort they seem like magic, but what that really means is that you don't really know what the computer is doing when you use them, and that matters.

6. Another reason to learn C: Object oriented programming is a powerful way to think about many types of problem, and you'll use it a lot, but it is also an addiction. OOP really fits with the saying, "when your only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail." Even many professional programmers these days don't really understand that OOP just isn't right for every task -- sometimes plain old procedural programming is exactly what you want. Make sure you can do either, and you'll be better at both.

You don't really NEED to know C. Lots of colleges don't even teach it anymore and it isn't stopping anyone from getting a good job as a software engineer! It is kind of like saying well once you learn C you should try to learn Assembler because than you REALLY understand what is going on.....Does it help? Yes. Knowing more can never hurt, but it is not absolutely required. To be honest I wouldn't even bother with just C when C++ does everything C does and more. It was designed to be used in different styles and not just for OOP.

psingh01 said:

You don't really NEED to know C. Lots of colleges don't even teach it anymore and it isn't stopping anyone from getting a good job as a software engineer! It is kind of like saying well once you learn C you should try to learn Assembler because than you REALLY understand what is going on.....Does it help? Yes. Knowing more can never hurt, but it is not absolutely required. To be honest I wouldn't even bother with just C when C++ does everything C does and more. It was designed to be used in different styles and not just for OOP.

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To be perfectly frank, lots of schools dumbed down their CS curricula in the mid to late 90s as a wash of talentless opportunists came through chasing the next big thing. Believe me, we're still suffering from that now when looking for qualified job applicants.

It isn't as if there's that much to know compared to the megalithic class libraries of today. Among any of the successful professional programmers I know, it isn't so much that you need to know C as why wouldn't you? It's like breathing.

At the very least charitable it's like learning to drive a manual transmission. You can get by without, but if you're serious you will anyway, and you'll be a better driver even in an automatic as a result.

Doctor Q said:

I think it's a mistake for universities to teach assembly language so routinely. It's nice to have a basic idea of how computers work, and one lecture might be worthwhile, but weeks of lessons in assembly programming, with homework assignments, strikes me as a waste.

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But you still learn about algorithms for string searching/matrix multiplication, which perform worse than Brute Force most of the time. But I suppose it is useful to get to think about things like this. Its like doing a Maths degree.

Also if you go to a decent university courses in assembler will be optional.

So I guess that probably for the best you want to know a bit of both.

I think it's easier to start with Java, but I'd probably recommend C first. It's just got a rough learning curve, but other languages will be a snap after that. And I'd also recommend not getting too comfortable with just one language. Learning some of several will make you a better programmer. When you see the same things done in different ways, it allows to recognize the underlying structure and begin to see patterns.

Howver, you are young so you don't need to start big. Even BASIC would not be a bad way to start at your age (that's what I started with). The other reason BASIC is good to start with is you can do some decent GUI programming with it now, with Visual Basic, Real Basic, etc. and for me at least, being able to do some visual things makes programming more fun. At your age I wouldn't worry so much about being employable just yet. Immerse yourself and get a deep interest and a foundation first.

Many good comments already made. To add, regardless of what language one uses, it all ends up as 1's and 0's inside the computer.

Most comments have addressed the mainstream areas. However, there are many other ways that you can make a good living programming.

For example, there are plenty of Assembly language jobs out there. You just need to look in areas that you wouldn't normally think of up front. For example, I have a buddy who makes a very good living programming mostly in Assembly language on the x86 platform for controlling high power emergency generator systems.

One somewhat well known Assembly language programmer is Steve Gibson of Gibson Research Corporation (GRC). Steve does all his programming in assembly language.

Another area to look at can be database programming. This field is wide open and will continue to grow.

Another area is Excel Macro development. I have a buddy has done very well for himself over the years. Really well. Let me rephrase that, obscenely well.

There are other languages that no one has mentioned but are still used widely in certain fields such as FOTRAN and Ada. And applications based upon old languages such a COBOL are still used and need to be updated and maintained.

I think the real key to good programming is learning the logic behind it. I mean after all, if you want, you can do OOP in Assembly language. Not easy but can be done.

As was mentioned before, the key is to pick the tool that solves your problem in the most effective manner. The more tools you have in your toolkit the better.

To the OP, at your age, have fun learning programming in a variety of languages. Since you are interested, Java seems like a good start for you.

Pick up K&R. Just google it.

sushi said:

One somewhat well known Assembly language programmer is Steve Gibson of Gibson Research Corporation (GRC). Steve does all his programming in assembly language.

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Yeah, and what has he done that's so great?

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Wow11111!!!!!

Also, I love how his site claims that millions of people have downloaded the programs. WRONG! It's a page counter.

SC68Cal said:

Yeah, and what has he done that's so great?

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To name one, SpinRite. A very nice commercial application.

I'm a computer engineer myself. I would recommand you to begin with C++, it may seem complexe to begin with, but if you learn it, you will find C#, Obj-C, Java a breeze to understand after that.

The lower level you can get is the better. Assembly is still a good thing to learn in the long run for those who are really serious about programming. But for most, C++ still a pretty low level to them.

I would suggest you do in this order:
1- C++ (learn the basic of functions, template, algorithme, pattern... take your time here to understand well)
2- C (learn how it work under the hood of C++ for string as exemple, you don't need to go too much deeper except if you want to learn it, still a language for many embedded system)
3- Java (that shouldn't be long after the C, you will understand the back end of Java pretty quickly with a C/C++ background)
4- Obj-C (if you want to program for the Mac platform) / C# for Windows
5- Python (good for small script, pretty language I love it so much)

If you really have this much time to spare, take a look at those:
Assembly, Bash, Javascript, perl

here's a few hello world for many language:
http://roesler-ac.de/wolfram/hello.htm

Doctor Q said:

(including a few languages I developed myself)

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Hey now, those don't count

Gelfin said:

To be perfectly frank, lots of schools dumbed down their CS curricula in the mid to late 90s as a wash of talentless opportunists came through chasing the next big thing. Believe me, we're still suffering from that now when looking for qualified job applicants.

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Exactly. I couldn't believe the idiot students and teachers in my CS program. When I did my grad school (this was at CSU Hayward (no name change for me) in your neck of the woods) I deserved to simply fail 2 classes. I did double-time school with a full time job all through undergrad, and this simply wasn't going to work with grad school. I learned my lesson the first quarter. The classes were not core, but I didn't deserve the B I got.

Plus, I was a TA for a year and a half, and EVERY SINGLE PERSON I ever caught cheating was from India. Usually it was people copying each other in intro C++ courses, but I actually had several groups of people plagiarize essays. We're talking everything copied and putting a different name on it. One group had to do a report on bluetooth and literally just copy/pasted everything from bluetooth.com into it. How the heck are you so stupid as to think nobody will notice when you turn in perfect English after a quarter of not having perfect English? I don't care if English is your second language. I applaud them for learning it, and I never marked things off for a CS course relating to grammar. But plagiarism? Please.

Do not start with Java. I have NEVER met a competent programmer who started with Java. It encourages so much laziness that you will seriously never recover. Yes you can get a decent job out there doing Java. You won't ever be proud of the work your team puts out, though.

(On the flip side, avoid old timers who learned C in 1980 and never grew from there.)

Still, if you start with Java, then see if down the road you have a strong desire to learn something else like C or various scripting languages. If you find yourself always wanting to play with something new, then you've got the right attitude. I think anyone with this attitude can learn.

Oh, one more piece of advice. Never smile and nod at the same time.

Questions like these are tough to answer. The old saying "Opinions are like *******s.." seems relevant.

I'll give my two cents as a professional programmer who has a Masters in Computer Science and an undergrad Engineering degree in CS.

All the languages you mention are tools for specific jobs really. There is always some overlap and grey areas, but when it comes to languages some are just well suited to specific kinds of problems. For instance, if I needed to code a Windows front end application to a database, I'm probably going to do it in C#. Similarly, if I need to write a device driver I'm going to do it in C.

But you have to start somewhere, and you probably don't know what kind of work you will be doing in the future -- so you need to find something that will give you relevant knowledge that will help you regardless of what language or platform you may need to develop for.

So, like many others, I'm going to suggest you start off with C++. I think it will provide you with the most relevant and broad learning experience. You will get a taste of more low level topics (managing memory and pointers, etc) and also get a feel for object oriented techniques (which dominate higher level languages like Java, C#, Objective C)

In my opinion (again, remember the opinion saying), Java is not the way to start out.. or finish for that matter. Java is dying a slow death and is becoming increasingly irrelevant. The multi-platform idea is nice, but it is so difficult to create a Java application that rivals what you can do when you use a native platform to a particular OS.

connorlovsapple said:

Thanks everybody, i got some useful info. I think i will stop with java, and restart with c++. Well now that i am starting with c++, any books you guys recommend??

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First of all, do you have Apple's developer tools? If so, create a "command line tool" project in XCode and that will give you a simple hello world application. Learn how to build it. You'll want to be able to understand your environment in a very basic way in order to get started with simple tasks.

You will not want to go beyond "simple command line tool" for many months. Learn the basics, and just stick with text for now.

As for books, any decent c++ textbook will work. I myself have never taken a C++ (or even assembler) class because I'm such a nerd I challenged out of them.

My friend who I went to school with really liked this book and recommends it to you. It's "Programming and Problem Solving with C++" by Nell, Dale. You can find it just about anywhere.

I suggest you keep the c++ faq lite bookmarked for intermediate-advanced topics. http://www.parashift.com/c++-faq-lite/

Don't be afraid to ask questions!