Hello,

I know a little bit about progaramming in general, and I want to make custom applications that are database dependent and running on linux. These applications are supposed to make my work easier.

Back in the windows enviroment you mainly hear about Microsoft progamming languages and a little bit of java. But here there is a lot more to choose from. So, I wish that you can help me choose a programming language that is easy to use with a nice IDE

What would you recommend for me?

I use php as programming language and quanta+ (kdeweb) as IDE for database apps
Fast and easy scripting, multi-user ready, multi-platform and nice application interface with css

Are you trying to do (1) programming in the sense of 'compiling' and running(like java, c, c++) or are you thinking more of a (2) 'scripting' language like bash, perl, php?

Are you doing website work or just some command line stuff to help you out daily?

1. Java would probably be the easiest to start with. You would need to find the JDBC driver for the database you are working with. Also, the eclipse IDE is just awsome. If you don't like that, C/C++ are able to do database work but you will spend a little more time coding.

2. Perl is very powerful and works with databases as long as the corresponding perl database modules are installed. Perl is nice b/c you can whip up a quick app or script in a very short amount of time. Normally a perl script would take 2-4x as long to write in c/c++/java.

Good luck

if you want to do backend databases for websites, you could use Perl.

Python is very easy to learn, and very powerful too.

If you want to work with databases, PHP is designed with that as a goal too.

Thank you for all your replies,
I just forgot to tell you that I want to make programs like I used to make in Visual basic without the use of any .net language, I want to make a user interface in a window not in a web browser.

I simply want to add buttons, text boxes and such objects without too many code and more important without much time as I am taking programming maily as a hobby for I will have much spare time that I can use in something that would help me in my work and in the same time would be much fun.

I hope I have explained it better this time.

Thank you for your help.
Ahmad.

@CRC123: just to make sure that I understood what you told me correctly, programming in perl is 2-4 times faster than java or C or C++, was that what you mean?

Look at it this way. If you have an application that you need built that can be built in either C/C++/java or perl/php etc. Generally, the time it takes to develop the application in perl, is 2-4 times faster than the same time it would take to develop the same application is C/C++/java.

However, once they are both built and running, the same task inside both applications would probably run slower in the perl/php version than in the C/C++/java version.

perl/php are 'interpreted'(some of perl CAN be compiled) so there is some execution overhead when they are run.

Given what you want to do and your background (VB) you may want to look at Mono. Its an open source version of the .net libraries. Whilst I've never used it I feel that it will meet your needs, and there are quite a few tutorials available to help you get started.

There are GUI designers available for GTK and QT but I have never used them.
No idea whether they can be used with backends other than C/C++.

You may want to look into Anjuta for a good IDE. It comes with support for almost all languages and works with GUI designers as well.

you could try looking at Glade, it seems that that would be what you want.

Thank you all for your replies,
I have tried most of your suggestions and here is what I found out;
perl is very nice -->say 'Hello World!';
I am sure I will consider it when I have any intentions for web applications

python: I came across this Link and I found that it is not that simple, or may be it is but I just did not like it

Java: I found JavaPassion website and it is quite useful and I guess I will continue with java

Anjuta and Glade: I did not know where to start.

Mono: I downloaded Mono and it was too slow on my computer, I thought as I am learning programming for fun I do not have to learn any microsoft language.

So I think Java is the best option available specially that I like the javapassion website and I already have eclipse, netbeans on my computer

Thank you all for your help, I hope I can make a very useful application in a short while

Wish me luck.

U can go for java, java have powerful tools and libs tht can satisfy ur needs. and u can build classical interface in java. and also there is no worry abt on which platform u r going to run it...

best of luck....

I've not used it but came across this lately - may interest you with the VB slant..