What is a nice programming language to learn?

[psyd_1]

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cobol... >>> yep, im old. hehe

singapore is summoning cobol engineers

[bessonova]

WEb Programming Language. Because its the trend now...

[javapenguin]

WEb Programming Language. Because its the trend now...

I agree, I noticed most of the hiring is web related

[mrrob2001]

C#.NET and all other .NET languages.. can be used as software programming as well as Web programming.. labi na ang C#.NET, the new trend in programming now is the .NET environment.. dako ky ni ma buhat mga bro. for example in web programming, there is the ASP.NET using C#.NET as backend programming, in software programming grabe daghan ma buhat ang C#. software programming, hardware programming pede kaayo ang C#.

[eax]

C#.NET and all other .NET languages.. can be used as software programming as well as Web programming.. labi na ang C#.NET, the new trend in programming now is the .NET environment.. dako ky ni ma buhat mga bro. for example in web programming, there is the ASP.NET using C#.NET as backend programming, in software programming grabe daghan ma buhat ang C#. software programming, hardware programming pede kaayo ang C#.

Same concepts sa Java

[vern]

If you call sql a programming language, then I call my drawings an artistic revolution. You can call it a "Database Programming Language".

It certainly could be called a programming language just as much as Perl, Python, PHP, or C/C++ could be called a language. Just look at what you can do with PL/SQL or PostgreSQL's PL/pgSQL and I'd argue a lot more relevant to today's world than Delphi because no matter what language you use, be it enterprise databases using Oracle or embedded applications using SQLite, one will use SQL unless of course you want to build your own filesystem/db. SQLite is probably the most widely-deployed database and it runs everything from the iPhone, Symbian to desktop applications that need use it as a library.

[rodsky]

I know that most of the programming languages that will be mentioned in this thread pertain more to languages that would cater to businesses and other tech-applications.

However I do believe there are people there who want to know more about the art and science of programming and want to see "direct" and entertaining results of their trials and tests (fun while learning has been proven to be an effective tool in the road to better understanding a concept) while learning a language. For these people I recommend learning the Linden Scripting Language or LSL and Mono. Currently, these two languages allow the user to create interactive objects and machines (ranging from a simple menu system to a fully operating simulated aircraft or robot) inside the virtual worlds of Second Life. Granted, one has to download the Second Life client and install and create an avatar for it, but I think the efforts vs. results for the learner is indeed gratifying. The impact of actually seeing your machine coming to life before your very eyes, because of your scripting skills, is reminiscent of the feeling of awe you get when you realize what Neo can do inside the Matrix--having the ability, like a "god", to control the objects around you, in an environment that mimics real-time space.

Here's more info about LSL and Mono:

Linden Scripting Language - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mono (software) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

If people in this thread believe however, that these "frivolities" have no room in this thread, then I step down and leave the floor to more serious programming matters. Just wanting to share.

-RODION

[cloud]

singapore is summoning cobol engineers

unsa nga klase sa COBOL kadto DOS base, kana mo run sa PC connected to mainframe, same sa UC/CCC sa una?

[vern]

Any programming language can be fun if it has a purpose. People might want to learn the art of programming, but there are other practical applications to learn the art and still have fun and confining yourself to a language built solely for a game is a detriment in the long run if it doesn't teach the user fundamentals of programming that can carry on to advanced environments. One needs to ask themselves ... "will being proficient in this 'mini-language' make it easier for me to learn Python? PHP? Perl? Smalltalk? C? Java?" Mono/C# is great ... but using it to script in-game objects is really less fun than creating a standalone app that is practical to use. Second Life might be for some people, but it isn't for most ... certainly not for most programmers who want to use their skills to make money. If one really wanted to learn programming via the use of "fun" applications such as games ... they might as well use Lua which is used by World of Warcraft addons and widely used as a programming language on it's own.

EDIT: With that said, if someone is really interested in learning how to program, then program. If you are going to stop because it is too "hard" or "not fun" ... programming isn't for you and you should probably find another career. Don't program because it's a path to a career, you probably won't be very good at it. Programming takes hard work and it isn't always easy. I personally have to relearn my old code after I've been away from it for a while. It is said that it takes at least at least 3 hours a week of programming Perl after already "learning" Perl to prevent that knowledge from decaying ... it's going to even be harder for anyone who doesn't know programming to learn any language from scratch. I don't know of a programmer that doesn't love challenges.

[rodsky]

... but using it to script in-game objects is really less fun than creating a standalone app that is practical to use.

Practical hmmm...let's see...

Second Life Utilized to Design a Personal Mass Transit System - I Have The Power! - Blog on Design News - 460000246


Saturday, May 31, 2008
Second Life Utilized to Design a Personal Mass Transit System
May 31 2008 11:58PM

In October 2007, I made the prophetic prediction in my blog: “Second Life Will Revolutionize Engineering Design”. This statement resulted after several months of research on computer-generated immersive 3-D universes, which culminated in an in-print Design News article, “Second Life: A Virtual Universe for Real Engineering”.

My prophecy is coming true.

I recently discovered that a UC Irvine professor in the School of Information and Computer Science, Dr. Cristina Lopes, has been using Second Life for engineering design. In partnership with Unimodal, Inc., Professor Lopiz built a virtual personalized mass transit system called SkyTran targeted for real deployment in the Los Angeles area.

As highlighted in the Orange County Register article, “Second Life as a simulation tool”, building the SkyTran system in Second Life highlighted several human-machine interface issues that would otherwise have only been identified after the system was actually constructed. First, the current track arrangement, while safe, “feels” unsafe. Second, the repetitive track components passing by could induce epileptic seizures in susceptible passengers. Both of these early problems were uncovered by recording the experiences of a Second Life avatar as it sat in a SkyTran car taking a virtual ride.

Not only were human-machine interface issues identified early by employing Second Life for engineering design, but also the algorithm used to control the virtual SkyTram cars can be migrated for use to run the real-world SkyTran system. This migration is feasible because Second Life physics mimic physics in the real world. Thus, the SkyTran program development process can be completed and tested before any hardware is built, speeding up the development process.

In the OC Register article, Lopes is quoted to have said, “I wanted to see to what extent Second Life could serve as a tool for real-world engineering design… It turns out that it's very powerful.” I could not have said it better. Second Life is already becoming an important tool for engineering design.

For more information on the SkyTran personal mass transit system, check out this YouTube video.
YouTube - SkyTran


Yes, I totally admit that Second Life is not for everyone. My message was aimed for the more open-minded people who want to try out its benefits in the realm of programming and design, but who were perhaps been jaded by the negative comments that have been circulating around about it.

-RODION