Programing languages

barrymoney

I'd say C++ or C#. Visual Studio Express, like you mentioned, is very good. Perhaps Java? I think it depends partly on what you want to achieve. Personally I'd go straight for one of the main OO languages, you learn a lot of the same concepts from any of C#/C++/Java.

laurasbump

Having been a C and then a Java games programmer I'd go for Java. It's free and once you get the basics, there are so many amazing areas you can get into.

I've worked on graphics, communications and security and Java is still the best. Cheap books on eBay - O'Reilly and Sunsoft are good.

PROLIANT

I program in C# and Microsoft SQL Server, a little C and up until about a year ago - Visual Basic 6.
C++ is awful and will put you off for life, it is ok for control systems and embedded microcontrollers etc but try coding a Win32 or Linux app in C++ will have you wishing you never started.
My recommendation is that if you want to get anything done in today’s world - C# is the way, a rich fully object orientated language that is very powerful, if it is microcontroller stuff you want to play around with go with C and ASM (Assembler) as suggested by anewhope.
It all depends what you want to your programs to do, if you are interested in windows application, windows services, web services and rich database driven web sites then C# and ASPX are the two you should be looking at.

Regards

Pro

PROLIANT

Oh I have !!!!!!ed my sample code with this silly Vbulletin!

timbim_2

Thanks. I've downloaded bloodshed and think I will write in plain C for a while to get the hang of how the language works, then once I'm ready I'll move up into C# or Java or the like. I do have a few ideas for projects involving external electronics interfaces, while I have access to a decent electronics lab.

PROLIANT

If you want to do some productive programming for the PIC Microcontroller, PIC C Compiler is very good, but yes C is a good low-level starting point.
Good luck Tim and I am sure if you need any pointers there will be plently of people on here to help you.

 
//Hello World
int main(void)
 
(
printf("Hello World");
 
 
system("Pause");
 
Return 0;
 
}

bookduck

I'd look at it differently. I'd go to jobserve and type in 'programmer' and see the skills they most want and the ££££ - you might as well learn something that pays and offers opportunity too!

Probably still be C though

timbim_2

TBH I'm not really into computers commercially, but do enjoy hobbyist programming. If you take any money for somthing, you have a resposibility to deliver a high quality product and support it fully, and that's not a position I'd be happy to be in.