Re: Which Language ??

From: Ben Cottrell (bench_at_bench333.screaming.net)
Date: 07/14/04 

Date: Tue, 13 Jul 2004 23:44:58 +0100

Stephen Tyndall wrote:

> C++ has a bit of a steep learning curve for someone learning their first
> language. Also, it may be powerful and flexible, but it's like a bazooka:
> it's great at doing what you want, but shoot yourself in the foot and you're
> dead. It's flexible, but it comes from giving the programmer the power to
> completely ruin his programs if he doesn't pay attention. A lazy programmer
> won't survive once he gets into the intermediate-advanced C++ stuff.

Personally I think all languages have a steep learning curve. Using
one language as a 'stepping stone' as a means to learning another seems
to me like a bit of a waste of time. With the right book and/or
teacher, there's no reason why diving directly into C++ should be beyond
a first-time programmer any more than learning, for example - C or
Pascal, provided of course he/she persisted enough with their learning.

There is also the danger of course, that someone who picks C as their
starting point to learn C++ may become locked into certain approaches -
only to later be faced with the challenge of "unlearning" these
practices in order to be able to adopt new ways of thinking with C++.
Of course, it's not fatal, but it can be more time consuming and often
quite frustrating to have to realise that many things you've learned
need to be thrown out the window.

On the other hand, it can never be a bad thing to be able to use both
languages, and in some ways it's a more natural progression, since I
suspect most people here have started with a procedural language
background before moving on to OOP. I guess it can be quite easy to
think "I did it this way, so anyone else can too" 

-- 
Ben Cottrell AKA Bench
Disclaimer:
This post may contain explicit depictions of things which are "real". 
These "real" things are commonly known as 'life'! So, if it sounds 
sarcastic, don't take it seriously. If it sounds hazardous, Do not try 
this at home or at all. And if it offends you, just don't read it.

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