Re: Which language should I learn?
- From: Randy Howard <randyhoward@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2005 11:52:20 GMT
In article <Xns96468F3CB9BB3anonanonnonanonorgjp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
anonanon@xxxxxxxxxxxx says...
> I am considering learning a programming language.
Cool.
> I'm not a 'programmer' or a computer scientist but an artist, but I do have
> good understanding of java and php, of several different programming
> methodologies like OOP, of server-client programming, simple UI
> programming, usability factors, etc etc..
Ok.
> Which language I should learn?
This gets asked about 3-4x a month here. The google archive is
filled with responses.
> My wish list:
> * The language should be available for both Windows and GNU/Linux.
There are bunch that fit that description. If you mean that the
code for the GUI is identical on both platforms, the list is a
lot shorter. Probably Java, C++ with QT from Trolltech, are
prime examples if you want to stay clear of scripting.
> * The language should be advanced enough to build complex programs for GUI
> apps, graphical visualization and what not (ie. not only a scripting
> language).
You'd be surprised what some "lowly" scripting languages can do wrt
GUI development. Anyway, Java is an obvious place to start.
> * The language should have a ready set of XML tools for parsing XML files,
> preferably manipulating DOM trees.
I'm not up to date on the latest gizmos for Java, but I'd be shocked
if there wasn't a bunch of XML support for it.
> * The language should have a future - learning a new language takes time
> for me and I dont want that time to be wasted after only few years.
Now you're into the religious wars category. :-)
> * The language should be as easy and take care of as many things for me as
> possible (like garbage collection, automated memory handling..)
> I have initially looked into Python and Ruby.
>
> Python seems simple, even too simple - I am not convinced that it is more
> than just a scripting language, and am wondering if it will be around in 4
> years.
It will probably never go away completely. It's open source. :-)
> Ruby seems sweet, but I am not convinced on its maturity level or
> future.
It is cool, but not sure how much traction its getting either.
> I am wondering if there are nice, 'abstract' programming languages for
> humans out there already, or do I really have to become a half-human half-
> computer-scientist? (j/k)
You have to grow a beard, wear birkenstock sandals, drink extreme
caffeine beverages, ordered by the case via the internet of course,
drive a volkswagen bug, buy all your clothes from thinkgeek.com, cut
your hair no more than 4 times per decade, bathe no more than one
order of magnitude more often, and swear off women, unless they are
uglier than Ann Richards. Otherwise, you will never reach the path
to enlightenment grasshopper.
:-)
--
Randy Howard (2reply remove FOOBAR)
"Making it hard to do stupid things often makes it hard
to do smart ones too." -- Andrew Koenig
.
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