Re: OT: Should I learn bash/C/python/perl/other

From: Justin Willmert (justin_at_jdjlab.com)
Date: 08/14/05

  • Next message: Tim Fenn: "Re: Fedora Rant #3 - why are the sound controls so weird?" 
    Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2005 22:46:54 -0500
To: For users of Fedora Core releases <fedora-list@redhat.com>

    Dotan Cohen wrote:
    > On 8/12/05, Justin Willmert <justin@jdjlab.com> wrote:
    >
    >>Four years ago when I wanted to start my programming career (at 12...and
    >>I find I can think more clearly now. How did I ever get by back then???
    >>Anyways...), my grandma had me call my uncle since he was a programmer
    >>for a very successful firm, and he suggested to me I start with Visual
    >>Basic, and then move on to C/C++. Now, knowing that this is a Linux
    >>mailing list and that most will not want to go with MS products (as I
    >>can fully understand. Linux is a lot easier on the checkbook), I think
    >>I'll only give points I think you should work with, and not a certain
    >>language.
    >>
    >> From my experience with learning many different languages, I'd say that
    >>the most difficult thing I've ever had to get my head wrapped around was
    >>the pointer in C/C++. Since there is a very small chance you'd ever be
    >>able to write anything complex without them, you need to have a firm
    >>understanding of how they work, and once you get it into your head, it
    >>is pretty easy, but I didn't think the path there was _very_ unpleasant.
    >>With this, my suggestion here would be to find a language that will do
    >>more memory management for you, so you don't have to worry about the
    >>pointer work.
    >>
    >>Another thing I think you should look for is a language that is built
    >>for users who want a fast development process, rather than the
    >>performance oriented (generally speaking. I don't want to be bashed for
    >>the reason for/against this. I'm just giving _my_ opinion). For example,
    >>in VB (sorry again for the MS reference, but that's where my roots lie),
    >>everything was built for ease of use. You get introduced to variable
    >>types, objects (though in a mangled form when you think of conventional
    >>OO programming), general structure/flow of a program, and the thought
    >>process needed to look at code and realize how the parts will interact,
    >>and with all the behind-the-scenes work, you can show dialogs with one
    >>simple function call. This keeps you from some of the dirtier (but more
    >>powerful and better performing) pointers, multiple inheritance, and
    >>polymorphism.
    >>
    >>If you want some more of my experiences, I'd be happy to give you some
    >>more, but I thought I'd try to keep this email from becoming too long
    >>and I still want to give one more suggestion.
    >>
    >>OK, I lied earlier when I said I won't point to a specific language.
    >>While I was writing this, I realized that I'd actually gotten some
    >>experience from another source before I began programming (in my
    >>definition). I'd actually been making web pages for a year before that,
    >>but I did dabble in JavaScript, and though I didn't understand much of
    >>it back then, it did come in very handy when it came time for me to
    >>learn the loops and if/else statements in C++ because I recognized the
    >>general syntax.
    >>
    >>So, in closing, if you are looking to eventually head towards C or C++
    >>(haven't been watching the thread closely, so you may have already said
    >>and I missed it), I hope some of my advice may be useful to you.
    >>
    >>Sorry for rambling,
    >>Justin Willmert
    >>
    >
    >
    > Thanks, Justin. I'm not planning on getting into anything too heavy
    > just yet, so I think that C would be overkill for me, at least right
    > now. I came to the conclusion to learn perl now, and maybe in a year
    > or two to start learning C.
    >
    > The perspective you gave was very relevant. As much as I value the
    > word of the programers on the list, it is also important for me to
    > hear to opinion of someone who's situation is more similar to mine.
    >
    > Thanks.
    >
    > Dotan Cohen
    > http://LyricsList.com/
    >

    Dotan,

    I'm glad to here I was a help to you. As a little side comment, I
    thought C++ would be a couple more years in the future when I just
    suddenly took up learning it. I bet you gravitate towards learning C/C++
    before you know it.

    Start out with realistic expectations and you'll be happily rewarded.
    Happy Coding!
    Justin 

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