So I know some web language such as PHP JS Jquery html/css Mysql ajx etc... But I'm willing to try out another kind of programmation such as C Java etc. Any of you can tell me where to start wich language etc?

learn c
and ignore all posts after this one

C and C++ are both good options. Just don't tread C as an intro to C++.

honestly, starting with c/c++ is almost a guaranteed way to fail, especially without guidance. pick a language where the language doesn't get in the way of learning how to program ... so python would be a great choice, for example. java isn't great but is better than c/c++.

I disagree, C and C++ are perfectly valid choices for the first language to learn. Although I agree that Python or Ruby would be better.

Not saying that they are invalid, but the language is more of a hindrance to learning than otherwise. Thing is that C/C++ are quite dated, and while they may have even been the best choices for learning a decade or two ago, that simply is no longer the case.

I find it funny that you call C++ dated, while recommending Python, an over 20 year old language.

Anyhow, I wouldn't recommend learning how to drive automatic before switching to manual, and I believe that the same thing is true for learning dynamically-typed languages before statically-typed and/or garbage collected before those with manual memory management.

This post was edited by KrzaQ2 on Sep 30 2012 10:35pm

it depends on your audience. if you're hardcore into CS, then i think the best thing to do is learn bottom-up (using transitors to build gates to build circuits to build a datapath, then writing basic codes in binary for your datapath, then move to assembly for your datapath, then to C, then to C++ then to java/c#). but that takes a lot of time to learn and practice, especially if you're on your own. most of the people who come to this forum to learn want to make progress quickly. they want to put in a little bit of effort and see something that their code does. not as effective long term, but it keeps them motivated.

similarly, i never learned to drive a car with manual transmission. when someone is very inexperienced and new to driving, you want to make it easy for them to pick up. once you have experience, then you can go back to learn manual. not the best, but it gets the results done.

The reality is that memory management is dated and no longer a necessity. Half the things you need to learn to get going on a low level programming language is pretty much irrelevant in software development these days.

Is it valuable knowledge? Of course. Will it make you a better programmer? Absolutely.

Is it the best way to learn, especially on your own? Hell fucking no.

Thing is, these aren't even fundamentals in computer science. They're artifacts, part of computing history that has been mostly abstracted away and made irrelevant in 90% of the industry... just like driving manual isn't a fundamental skill in operating a vehicle.

This post was edited by irimi on Sep 30 2012 11:16pm

I think learning assembly/C is some of the coolest stuff to look forward to in CS. To me that really is the beauty of it, learning about the communications between software/hardware.

I am def. going to take the assembly elective at my college. I originally was going to go for Electrical Engineering so I guess that might explain it.

Anyways I am still pretty new so I can't speak for much but writing/learning in C/C++ feels like the right 'environment' for me. It just feels like I am really working closely with the computer it self. (mediated by that compiler guy)