C/c++/c#

[Yaggles]

I was wondering, which is easiest for a beginner to learn. I'm in 8th grade so I have a bit of homework to go through but I have time for a few tutorials and time to get in some practice. Also I want some tutorials. I can code websites PHP, so I'm not a total newb to programming, but I wanted to learn a web coding language AND a computer programming language.

Any help?

[drhowarddrfine]

You are asking the same question a lot of people ask so join the crowd of the confused.:)

C is the easiest to learn of the ones you mention. It is used everywhere on all platforms. The other are very similar and if you pick up on C then the others will be easy to pick up.

However, C++ and C# throw OOP (Object Oriented Programming) into the mix and some people have a difficult time picking up the concept of OOP. C++ works with, virtually, all operating systems while C#, essentially, is a Windows only language. It can be used on Linux/FreeBSD/Unix but that development, called Mono, is an ongoing process and I don't know how well it works yet.

Bjarne Stroupe would say that you should not learn C before C++ because it can add confusion. But what does he know? He only created C++.

C# is designed to work with .NET/ASP and other MS web stuff but, again, you are picking up Microsoft skills that won't necessarily work anywhere else. (Yeah, yeah, I know. That's an arguable statement)

[TheShaner]

I would say start learning C first. It's a good, solid language that has been well established in the programming and business world.

Once you get that into your head, you can begin tackling OO programming concepts. Although PHP does have OO implentations, you probably haven't been introduced to the concept. You can experiment with PHP's OO approach if you like or you can move onto a high-level language, like C++ or Java. C++ is used virtually everywhere and a lot of its syntax and such follow C, so it'll be easier to pick up than learning another OO language, like Java. Java is used quite often in the business world too. You'll also see its effects on the web with jsp (java server pages), java applets, and it's somewhat-related scripting descendant, JavaScript.

I'm personally a fan of Java because, well, that's primarily what I programmed with in college. I didn't do so much C++, so I'm definitely biased, hehe. I did quite a bit of C also, which is definitely a good language to start with and to add to your programming repretoire.

Anyway, hopefully that helps you a little bit.

-Shane

[Yaggles]

Basically, you both are pointing towards C. I guess Google is gonna be my friend when it comes to tutorials.

Thanks for the information! :D

[felgall]

Most books on C++ teach C in the first half of the book and then the rest of C++ in the second half.