Computer programming

[Weblife]

im now learning php/mysql for webmastering

but what should i learn for actual computer programming? such --- creating games, browsers, and so forth

i was thinking maybe C++ because i heard it follows the same syntax as php and i like that.

give me your thoughts and what u like to use.

[Kaliber]

I think pascal is a good place to start...then move onto C/C++

[harrylmh]

Hi,

it depends what kind of application you would like to build:
For games, C++, C, OpenGL, Java, and even director shockwave.
For windows applications, C++, Java, VB.

And by the way, PHP's coding is C like and not the other way round. Yet I still find quite a lot of syntax differences between the two.

Also, bare in mind that C++ is a strong-type language. A variable must always be declared before use and cannot change its type as easily as PHP.

[wm2k1]

if u want to get into programming
it is a must that u know how to program in c++
it is the core programming language of most universities today for computer science
althought some colleges are switching to java, which u must understand c++ anyway to program in java

[Bruce]

I would start off with C++.

Delphi is a great language though.

[harrylmh]

Originally posted by wm2k1
if u want to get into programming
it is a must that u know how to program in c++
it is the core programming language of most universities today for computer science
althought some colleges are switching to java, which u must understand c++ anyway to program in java


Yeah, more colleges are switching to teach java. But why is that? I mean is java better than C++? It is slower, that for sure. So why is it getting so popular?

[megapuzik]

start with Cobol :biggrin2: :biggrin2:

[Weblife]

ok so its settled that i learn C++ ? :P

[Weblife]

wait, is C++ kind of like php or other languages, what is their website and i will have to download it right?

[Weblife]

oh and im thinking of buying a book to learn it

C++ for dummies ok? :)

[wm2k1]

Originally posted by Weblife
what is their website and i will have to download it right?
c++ don't have an offical website
c++ was develop by at&t
but the compiler is sold by many companies
there is a wide choose of compiler u could choose from

[Weblife]

ok but i will have to buy something? so c++ is not free?

[wm2k1]

Originally posted by Weblife
ok but i will have to buy something? so c++ is not free?
some compilers are free

[wm2k1]

Originally posted by megapuzik
start with Cobol :biggrin2: :biggrin2:
its OLD!!!

[andyLee]

Originally posted by wm2k1

some compilers are free

like gcc

[wm2k1]

Originally posted by andyLee
like gcc
but thats unix/linux, he need to install cygwin for gcc
dev-c++ is a free windows compiler

[Weblife]

whats a compiler? i dont get it explain please

[Canuckkev]

You can make a "program" in notepad. It's just a "*.cpp" file, which is the source of the program. But, to get it into an executable file (*.exe), you need to compile it. Compiling will also check for syntax errors in your code. Like if you forget a return statement, or forget a ")".

I have only used Microsoft Visual C++, but it's not cheap (how did my school afford 30 copies?), so...start with a free compiler.

[niv]

Compilers change code into the machine language, which then turns into an executable image that can be run by the system.

wm2k1, Dev-C++ is based on g++ for Windows.

[Weblife]

uhm do i download a compiler? if so , where? and why are some compilers free and some not?

[Weblife]

oh yeah, and im running on windows ME

id like to see what unix/linux looks like, does anyone have any screen shots?

[wm2k1]

WebLife: u could find free compilers on download.com
and unix and linux is just an O/S

Hayama-kun: hmm...i didn't know that Dev-C++ was based on g++
but i think that the newest version cxx is much better, the executable is smaller and it able to find more syntax errors

[niv]

Dev-C++ is okay, but as it is freeware, it sucks and has less features.

[Weblife]

i still want those screenshots of unix or linux

[wolfknightx]

Learn Ansi C, but first get started with a version of basic -- it's the easiest language to use, and instantly gratifying...you'll want for more later. Move up to turbo pascal (which is released freely by borland). Next, learn assembly language. You'll be glad you did if you ever decide to write device drivers or real programs, and not windows virtual apps. I would then go onto Turbo C (which is released freely by the Borland Musem now as well). If you only plan to write windows apps only, and nothing complex, start with Visual Basic, then move up to Visual C. This is the route I went pretty much, but it wasn't a short journey. If you plan on being a rock solid programmer, prepare to spend many years mastering all these languages, or a few years on one...but if you must master one, learn assembly language...as it's the only true 'language' the computer understands, and can be called out of a framework of any language you choose later on.

Wolfknight

[niv]

You don't need any form of BASIC at all to learn any language. Sure it would help a tiny bit with concepts, but other than that, it's only useful if you plan on studying it in depth. You can learn any language without a middle player-it's just like a foreign language. You don't need Latin to learn Greek and vice-versa.

Assembly, I believe, is the best to start out with-it'll give you a rigid foundation for other languages [and hell, if you wanted to, you could create your own].

[kingage]

I'd like PHP forever~~

[Weblife]

ho i learn visual basics? does it have to be compiled?

give me more info

what should i learn first and after and what programs i can make with what languages, their websites and how i go by learning them and what to do

thanks

[wm2k1]

Originally posted by Weblife
ho i learn visual basics? does it have to be compiled?
to program in visual basic, u'll need a compiler from microsoft - there is no free one (unless u get the learning edition which is very limited)

visual basic is very easy to learn, beginners to programming could pick it up really fast

once u get a hold of it, u could also program in asp using vbscript

[Weblife]

ok so im 14

how would i buy the compiler?

[wm2k1]

duh...computer store...or buy online

[Weblife]

by the way i still want those screen shots of unix/linux

[Weblife]

hmmmmm

my brother's friend is taking computer sciences and hes gonna give me the cd for visual basics 6

[Canuckkev]

I have never tried Visual Basic. But is it just like it says, Visual? Like, make a button, go into properties, get it to target something. Or is there actual scripting involved?

I would say learn C++, then once you have the basics, try some assembly, and see what you are actually doing in C++. If all you want is some dumb little windows applications, I guess VB would be okay. But C++ is more transferrable I would think...

[wm2k1]

Originally posted by Canuckkev
I have never tried Visual Basic. But is it just like it says, Visual? Like, make a button, go into properties, get it to target something. Or is there actual scripting involved?
programming is involved
u can't just create button and expect it to do something
visual basic just help w/ the visual aspect of the program

[wm2k1]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Weblife
by the way i still want those screen shots of unix/linux
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

that is just mandrake linux under gnome (got it from their site)
but if X Windows is not running, it just command prompts (like dos)

[wm2k1]

if u have a fast connection, u could download the iso for free

http://linux.tucows.com/system/distributions_rating.html

[Weblife]

im running on 56k for another few weeks anyway

does unix/linux look just lijke windows?

[niv]

The desktop environments do.
There's also a command line. [like the kind cygwin/telnetting/SSHing provides]

[wm2k1]

Originally posted by Weblife
does unix/linux look just lijke windows?
only if u have some kind of x windows installed
like KDE or GNOME

[wolfknightx]

Originally posted by wm2k1

to program in visual basic, u'll need a compiler from microsoft - there is no free one (unless u get the learning edition which is very limited)

visual basic is very easy to learn, beginners to programming could pick it up really fast

once u get a hold of it, u could also program in asp using vbscript

There is a free clone of Visual Basic for Win9X by William Yu called RapidQ. William Yu is the guy who managed the ABC code snippets for basic for several years, for those of you familiar with the ABC code updates on places like simtel. RapidQ is 100% freeware, compiles beautifly, and i'm pretty sure he gives the source code with it. It's worth checking out. :)

Wolfknight

P.S: There might be a few unix ports for it now too. :D

[wm2k1]

Originally posted by wolfknight


There is a free clone of Visual Basic for Win9X by William Yu called RapidQ. William Yu is the guy who managed the ABC code snippets for basic for several years, for those of you familiar with the ABC code updates on places like simtel. RapidQ is 100% freeware, compiles beautifly, and i'm pretty sure he gives the source code with it. It's worth checking out. :)

Wolfknight

P.S: There might be a few unix ports for it now too. :D
there is a free one out there???
basic was developed by the microsoft during its early days
they builded upon it w/ visual basic

its copyrighted by microsoft, would it be legal for that Yu guy to create a visual basic compiler? if its not then it wouldn't be legal to use it

[wolfknightx]

Well like all things Microsoft, the software was first developed by someone else before they got ahold of it. Microsoft capitalized on basic and copyrighted their version of it as BASIC and BASICA on IBM PC systems, but even as early as 1981, there was a public domain clone of it named GWBASIC. Borland figured a version of Basic would be a good idea, and launched Turbo Basic. Quickbasic came out about the same time as version 1.1 of Turbo Basic, but unlike Microsoft, Turbo Basic was developed by their own engineers.

Microsoft seems to have a bad habit of having other people develop the core modules, and then they simply add onto it later after they buy it from the original owner. They did it with dos, they did it with NT (ahem, OS/2?) and they did it with Windows (the famous Xerox GUI!). Basic was never something they could buy though...it was developed by MIT, and the language itself was public domain. This is why anyone can create a version of basic and sell it. Be it traditional basic, visual basic, or basic for an embedded system (like the Basic Stamp for embedded controllers).

I'm writing a scripting language for my web server which is an offset of turbo pascal and quickbasic, but compiles cgi's for you. Unless I name it Microsoft Basic-like scripting language, I won't feel any legal repercussions :D

Woflnknight

[wolfknightx]

Just found their website again, and it looks like they FULLY support unix now :) :) :)

http://www.basicguru.com/rapidq/

from their website:

Rapid-Q is a cross platform BASIC programming language capable of generating GUI and CONSOLE applications (including CGI applications). It directly supports MySQL, DirectX, a bit of Direct3D, Sockets, a bit of COM, component/object programming, and many other nice features. Rapid-Q is currently available for Windows 95/98/NT/2000, Linux/i386, Solaris/Sparc, and HP-UX. Although Rapid-Q is still in Beta (for over a year already), it is fully functional and FREE!

screenshots:

http://www.basicguru.com/rapidq/sshots.html


X-BASIC 32/64

Here' something else you might find neat...a 32/64-bit basic compiler for win32 and unix...it's freeware too, and if you've ever used Quickbasic or PDS, you can convert the programs to X-basic. :) I've used this one a little more than rapid Q, and like it a lot ;)

http://www.maxreason.com/software/xbasic/xbasic.html