What language is the easiest for a beginner?

worm5252 · 12-12-2009, 05:29 PM

I have some programming experience. I do BASH scripts, and I used to code Javascript, HTML, and CSS by Hand. I have also used Autoit to convert VB Login scripts to something more user friendly. I took 2 formal college courses on c++ years ago, but forgot most of it.

What is the easiest language for me to start application development and to learn to use SQL?

alunduil · 12-12-2009, 05:33 PM

What types of projects do you want to work on? The language choice is usually determined by what the goal is. If you're looking for a general language that works well with SQL, you might want to look into PHP. But if you have more specific goals we might be able to help you select a more appropriate language.

Regards,

Alunduil

worm5252 · 12-12-2009, 05:40 PM

I was thinking I would like to start with something that is good for stand alone client to DB relationship but is not web based. Otherwise I would just invest the time into PHP for web development.

By Day I am a Systems Administrator and not a developer, so it would be good to learn something that would help me in day to day task as well.

alunduil · 12-12-2009, 05:43 PM

PHP is actually a decent (not great mind you) scripting language for systems administration tasks. I've found on more than one occasion that doing something for a batch job in my administration was most easily accomplished with PHP (yes even easier than python or ruby). Like I said it depends on the task at hand for the language choice, and if you're looking for a scripting language that is good for DB accesses PHP is one of the easiest around.

Regards,

Alunduil

worm5252 · 12-12-2009, 05:50 PM

Well I guess PHP it is then. I was hoping of something more of an offline language though.

pixellany · 12-12-2009, 05:58 PM

You said "application development". To me, that means a compiled language like C or C++. PHP is normally used for web applications running on the server side.

In studying Python, I see lots of talk about writing the initial app in Python and then putting specific segments into C where speed is important.

For simple stuff, Python is hands-down one of the easiest languages around. Beyond simple, it gets pretty convoluted.

Personally, if I were going into development, I would learn C first, then build out from there.

alunduil · 12-12-2009, 06:02 PM

Offline and Online languages doesn't specify anything other than there is a web server that interprets that language. All languages are as offline as the next. I guess I don't see what that criteria has to do with why PHP would not be a good choice as a language.

Python is a dead simple language, but the handling for DB calls is not nearly as simple (or built-in) as PHP's. That's the only reason I suggest PHP over another modern scripting language. The DB support in most compiled languages is about the same as Pythons.

I'd be willing to throw out more languages if you'd like, but my recommendation won't change unless the specifications change.

Regards,

Alunduil

worm5252 · 12-12-2009, 06:03 PM

Sounds like a good idea. Which version do you recommend, C, C++, or C#?

alunduil · 12-12-2009, 06:04 PM

I'd recommend C++ out of the C family as a starter.

Regards,

Alunduil

worm5252 · 12-12-2009, 06:05 PM

I guess I am looking for a good catch all language that does not require a web server. However I do know I need to learn SQL so something that will allow me to incorporate learning SQL would be nice. I like DB driven Apps, but it is not always needed.

pixellany · 12-12-2009, 06:05 PM

Isn't C# for some kind of web programming?

I'm old-fashioned: I say start with plain old C.

alunduil · 12-12-2009, 06:07 PM

C# is a more purely object oriented language that MS came out with. It's very very similar to Java (although it has quite a few differences). It can be used on the web as a language that plugs into the .net framework in IIS. (This gets back to my point of offline and online being the same thing. e.g. C is a web programming language with the right apache module.)

Regards,

Alunduil

alunduil · 12-12-2009, 06:08 PM

Will you be programming for a *nix environment or a windows environment? I should have asked that rather than just assume it.

Regards,

Alunduil

pixellany · 12-12-2009, 06:09 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_Sharp...ng_language%29

(No easy answers......)

worm5252 · 12-12-2009, 06:11 PM

I see what you are saying alunduil.

I interpret Web Bade Programming languages as, HTML (DHTML, XHTML, etc.), Javascript, CSS, .NET Framework, etc.

I interpret offline languages as, c, c++, c#, Python, Java (Although this one could be web based too), autoit, etc.

Then I see scripting languages as, BASH, VB Script, etc.

I did not know that there were apache plugins for languages like C. That is where the confusion of offline and online languages spawns from on my end.