Java Or C

[Junaid2pac]

I have done turing and visual basic, but am wonderin if i should learn C or java next. By the way i would like to make my own game in 2D. 3D maybe later.
What would be the better choice. And if C then c++ or C#?

[wtd]

Neither C++ nor C# are C. C is a distinct programming language, and C++ and C# are only very slightly related to it.

That said, try learning something fun that isn't filled with headaches and/or tedium. Something like Ruby, Python, or a functional language like O'Caml.

[Bobrobyn]

Java is probably easier to make games with in the short run (with either of the three that you're talking about, I mean). I've never actually used it, but from what everyone says, it's easier. However, I would personally suggest C, because you'll learn more about how the computer actually works, and after learning C, you can learn pretty much anything (including C++, C#, and Java). The only problem: C will probably take a while to learn, especially when it comes to pointers, dynamic memory management, linked lists, and so on (unless, of course, like me, you find a lot of the stuff intuitive). Some might say it's a waste of time to manage your own memory, however, it does teach you a lot in the long run. It let's you get closer to the actual hardware without touching assembly.

If you'd like to be able to make a 2d game in the short run, then you could try learning Python. There's even a python game development website out there: http://www.pygame.org/news.html -- with a library written for game development.

I'd still suggest learning C later, but python would be a lot more fun and a lot less scarey at this point, especially after learning Turing and Visual Basic. Ruby would also be something good to learn. It would be good to get away from those non-free programming languages

[Martin]

I've never written a line of Python in my life, but I've heard good things (see Pygame as mentioned above).

[haskell]

Python is the #1 language I would ever recommend to a new programmer. Heres why.

From Python.org

Quote:

Python® is a dynamic object-oriented programming language that can be used for many kinds of software development. It offers strong support for integration with other languages and tools, comes with extensive standard libraries, and can be learned in a few days. Many Python programmers report substantial productivity gains and feel the language encourages the development of higher quality, more maintainable code.

Python runs on Windows, Linux/Unix, Mac OS X, OS/2, Amiga, Palm Handhelds, and Nokia mobile phones. Python has also been ported to the Java and .NET virtual machines.

Python is a very powerful and flexible language wrapped in a very simple base-language. This means Python is easy to learn, easy to use, and very natural. It may take just a couple of days to be able to program using Python, due to the dive-in approach that one should practice when learning Python. After which, you only need to use the Standard library or the plethora of 3rd party modules to do whatever you wish. Or you can make your own modules, and help out the Python

Python has a very large user base, which includes Google and NASA.

Python has many free online resources to learn, so you can learn Python 100% for free legally. Such links as:

http://docs.python.org/tut/tut.html
http://www.diveintopython.org/

are just a couple of the craploads of resources available online for the Python programmer.

And for a productivity testimony, check:

http://www.artima.com/intv/aboutme.html


Yes, Python can be used for game development(quit easily). Python can do quite a bit, just take a look around ad you will find .

[abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxy]

I'd recommend C or C++ so you get a better idea of how things work. As in what goes on behind the scenes. Starting from the ground up is the preferred way to learn most things, such as mathematics or english, I dont see why programming should be any different. Hell, even assembly might be better than C to learn when you are new. You'll struggle more than any other language at first, but the payoff is you can learn any other language in a few minutes. Other languages seem like a joke they are so easy.

[wtd]

The problems with those languages are fairly significant, though. They allow for subtle mistakes which can easily confuse and discourage a novice programmer, and perhaps worse, they are used by a huge number of programmers... many of whom have no idea what they're talking about.

[md]

I have to agree with wtd. C/C+ are both complex languages that take lots of time to learn and provide lots of ways of learning something wrong. It's very easy to write a program which looks correct, and may even work correctly most of the time; but has big huge errors.

Unless you are really interested in low-level systems programming (where C/C++ are actually quite useful because of all the subtleties) I recommend learning something else.

Java and C# are both looking to be nice languages to learn, though I would say that C# seems nicer then Java.

[octopi]

C# has one major disadvantage, it won't run on many systems. (requires .net framework to run) So basically if you make a program you'll have trouble letting others use it, Windows XP doesn't come with .net standard, so you can't even count on capatibility with that.

Perhaps if .net becomes more mainstream, but I really doubt seeing more winxp users, or lower installing it.

It would have been nice if MS did the same thing that ActiveState did with perl, when they made perlapp they embeded the language into the exe it makes, so that perl programs could be made into an exe that would run on any windows machine, without having the perl language installed.

[klopyrev]

phht... Python takes a few days to learn? I was making C++ programs in just a few days!!!

KL

[Naveg]

Anyone can start learning C++ in a few days (more like a few hours, minutes even) having prior knowledge of Java. The problem is that you'd be writing Java style code in C++ syntax. To properly learn C++ with all its subtleties takes a much longer period of time, as it should!

[haskell]

There is a different between learning and "making programs". I mean, a few days in and you can make something meaningful ib Python, with a GUI if you feel like it. Python is exceptipnally easy to learn and to use.

C++ is not meant to be so light-weight. "Writing a program" doesn't say anything. Most people write their first program very shortly after starting ot program. Even after years with C++(as I do have), its very apparant that I'd rather use a light-weight language than C++.

Long story short, making a program is nothing. Learning a language is something.

[md]

octopi @ 2007-03-25, 2:31 pm wrote:

C# has one major disadvantage, it won't run on many systems. (requires .net framework to run) So basically if you make a program you'll have trouble letting others use it, Windows XP doesn't come with .net standard, so you can't even count on capatibility with that.

Perhaps if .net becomes more mainstream, but I really doubt seeing more winxp users, or lower installing it.

.NET is now sufficiently widespread that any windows computer can run .NET based apps (well... XP+). Linux, BSD, Mac OS etc. can al run .NET apps through mono. It may not be quite the same as on windows, but if you develop an app for mono it'll run just fine on windows too.

[Andy]

klopyrev @ Sun Mar 25, 2007 1:56 pm wrote:

phht... Python takes a few days to learn? I was making C++ programs in just a few days!!!

KL

There is a big difference between being able to write a few lines of code and actually knowing a language.

[klopyrev]

I was just kidding!

Does Python actually take a few days to learn completely?