If you had to choose 3 languages to become proficient in which would they be?

[Cogman]

Originally posted by: sourceninja

Originally posted by: Woosta

Originally posted by: sourceninja
I'm already very proficient in these:
php
java
python

and I'm fast becoming proficient in ruby as a project i'm working on requires it.

I am also very proficient in javascript, bash, and pl/sql (I don't consider these programing languages).

If I had to select something I would want to spend time working in to learn/limprove on it would be:

Objective-C
C++
C# (mono)

You don't consider ECMAScript to be a fully fledged programming language?

As for me

1. Lisp
2. Haskell
3. Python

Working on #3 now ;p

I evaluate languages not on what it might be able to do, but it's common use. For example I have some very complicated scripts in bash that most people would call programs. But to me they are scripts. I don't have a real hard and fast line on what is a program and what is a script, but most of the javascript I write and have seen others write I would call a script.

Not that you can do awesome things with scripting. I used to consider php scripting for a long time. Actually, I guess I still do for the most part.

Ive always drawn the line between script and program in the compiling. If it isn't compiled then its a script. If it is, then its a program. thus making languages like perl and php both scripts and programming languages.

 

[clamum]

C#
JavaScript
SQL (if that counts)

 

[Markbnj]

C++ because if you already know Java, C++ should be easy for you, and if you know both Java and C++, you essentially know C#. This greatly expands your opportunities.

Yeah, you can switch languages pretty readily. I work in C, C++, C#, Java, and a smattering of webbish syntaxes. But what you can't switch as readily is all the framework/api knowlege that lets you actually do stuff, and which makes up most of the content in a technical interview.

Is SQL built into most applications somehow? I've always wondered how different programs save settings and files etc.

No, but it can be embedded into a program and used for simple storage tasks like that. I don't think it is very often, but embedded SQL engines are pretty tight these days, and free, and I would be surprised if someone wasn't at least looking at them for games and some other apps where complex transactional state updates are needed.

Most applications use existing APIs for persisting runtime settings and preferences, and these are usually built on the file system in linux, and sometimes the registry api in Windows.

 

[Net]

german
russian
french or italian

haha, j/k

 

[Net]

C ( i love this language. very useful. i use it in a variety circumstances. you can even write programs in your ti 89 with it )
C++
visual basic .net ( for the quick gui programs i need to make )

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: Markbnj

C++ because if you already know Java, C++ should be easy for you, and if you know both Java and C++, you essentially know C#. This greatly expands your opportunities.

Yeah, you can switch languages pretty readily. I work in C, C++, C#, Java, and a smattering of webbish syntaxes. But what you can't switch as readily is all the framework/api knowlege that lets you actually do stuff, and which makes up most of the content in a technical interview.

Is SQL built into most applications somehow? I've always wondered how different programs save settings and files etc.

No, but it can be embedded into a program and used for simple storage tasks like that. I don't think it is very often, but embedded SQL engines are pretty tight these days, and free, and I would be surprised if someone wasn't at least looking at them for games and some other apps where complex transactional state updates are needed.

Most applications use existing APIs for persisting runtime settings and preferences, and these are usually built on the file system in linux, and sometimes the registry api in Windows.

I wholeheartedly agree that API's are somewhat more importantly than the language. That's what I discovered learning .Net on VB (I don't care much for VB and had limited experience with it, but I found that once I learned .Net I could take it to C# and C++ without much effort at all). A lot of people have asked me in interviews and casually this similar question, and my answer is always the same - as long as you know the core concepts of programming and software design, working through the syntax of a language is trivial.

I have actually proven this with my current job, as coming in here I didn't know a lick of Delphi save the Pascal class I took in college about 12 years ago. I'm still learning the nuances of the language here and there, but other than that I've been coding my little heart out for the last 6 months with it.

 

[statik213]

Originally posted by: Stiganator
I'm thinking of learning a bit more about programming. I used to sling some basic C++ around, but its been years. What are the best languages to become proficient in these days.

Seems to me that C++, Objective C, Python, Ruby, Perl, PHP/HTML, Java are the ones I see the most.

I'm curious how similar are C++ and Objective C?

Right now I'm thinking of working on

1. C++
2. PHP/HTML
3. Perl


Another question is what is the best way to learn GUI programming and such. Which IDEs have good GUI development tools?

1. C++
2. Python

 

[wwswimming]

actionscript (for Flash) (getting more & more like C)
Maxscript (for 3D Max)
Mel (for Maya)

i just did my first Maxscript tutorials & am between Flash classes.

 

[Cogman]

Originally posted by: SunnyD

Originally posted by: Markbnj

C++ because if you already know Java, C++ should be easy for you, and if you know both Java and C++, you essentially know C#. This greatly expands your opportunities.

Yeah, you can switch languages pretty readily. I work in C, C++, C#, Java, and a smattering of webbish syntaxes. But what you can't switch as readily is all the framework/api knowlege that lets you actually do stuff, and which makes up most of the content in a technical interview.

Is SQL built into most applications somehow? I've always wondered how different programs save settings and files etc.

No, but it can be embedded into a program and used for simple storage tasks like that. I don't think it is very often, but embedded SQL engines are pretty tight these days, and free, and I would be surprised if someone wasn't at least looking at them for games and some other apps where complex transactional state updates are needed.

Most applications use existing APIs for persisting runtime settings and preferences, and these are usually built on the file system in linux, and sometimes the registry api in Windows.

I wholeheartedly agree that API's are somewhat more importantly than the language. That's what I discovered learning .Net on VB (I don't care much for VB and had limited experience with it, but I found that once I learned .Net I could take it to C# and C++ without much effort at all). A lot of people have asked me in interviews and casually this similar question, and my answer is always the same - as long as you know the core concepts of programming and software design, working through the syntax of a language is trivial.

I have actually proven this with my current job, as coming in here I didn't know a lick of Delphi save the Pascal class I took in college about 12 years ago. I'm still learning the nuances of the language here and there, but other than that I've been coding my little heart out for the last 6 months with it.

Dang, I thought Pascal and Delphi where dead, they should be by now at least.

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: wwswimming
actionscript (for Flash) (getting more & more like C)
Maxscript (for 3D Max)
Mel (for Maya)

i just did my first Maxscript tutorials & am between Flash classes.

Maxscript is really amazing in what it can do , so is MEL.

Have you looked at the release of XSI 7 ?
They have implemented something they call ICE.
http://www.softimage.com/products/xsi/ice/


I was blown away by what ICE can do. It is an awesome achievement for softimage.
They are also allowing people to download a 30 day trial of XSI7 and hours of tutorial videos for free.

 

[wwswimming]

Originally posted by: Modelworks

Originally posted by: wwswimming
actionscript (for Flash) (getting more & more like C)
Maxscript (for 3D Max)
Mel (for Maya)

i just did my first Maxscript tutorials & am between Flash classes.

Maxscript is really amazing in what it can do , so is MEL.

Have you looked at the release of XSI 7 ?
They have implemented something they call ICE.
http://www.softimage.com/products/xsi/ice/


I was blown away by what ICE can do. It is an awesome achievement for softimage.
They are also allowing people to download a 30 day trial of XSI7 and hours of tutorial videos for free.

i'd like to learn XSI but i'm experiencing serious cognitive limitations,
just learning Max (currently going through Louis Marcoux video tutorials
at the Area for a second time) and Maya (just got spline IK paths to work
for the first time yesterday ! )

plus a friend just persuaded me to sign up for a ballroom dancing class.

brain overload !

but, every time i have loaded XSI, i must say, it is a good looking program,
just the interface.

 

[irishScott]

1. C++
2. Java
3. Python

Already proficient in the first two.

 

[Dravic]

Originally posted by: Cogman
Why Perl? It isn't all that popular anymore since the rise of PHP.

I would say

1. C++
2. C#
3. (though it pains me to say this) Java

not for web no, but for server side work like scripting and automation its still king.

it may not be sexy, but it is still everywhere in the enterprise. I dont know any non M$ enterprise OS without it installed by default.

go to your operations/engineering team and tell hem you would like to install a non standard/approved language on a production server. With perl thats a converstion that never has to happen its already EVERYWHERE.

 

[GeoffS]

Originally posted by: drebo

RPG3 (maintaining mainframe code is very, very marketable)

Wow... didn't expect to see that on the list despite having made a living off of it for the last 20 years or so!

 

[Apathetic]

Here's what I generally recommend people learn:

1) C
2) Any object oriented language (C++, Java, or whatever)
3) A functional (as opposed to procedural) programming language.

If you have those bases covered, you can pick up just about anything without too much extra effort.

Dave

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

1) C/C++ <== first and foremost
2) Java
3) Ada

Why? Because real time embedded systems for military applications are fun.

 

[degibson]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
1) C/C++ <== first and foremost
2) Java
3) Ada

Why? Because real time embedded systems for military applications are fun.

I would have thought you were already proficient in those, IHateMyJob2004.

 

[DannyBoy]

I'll be forever perfecting the quirks and good parts of JavaScript as it's my job, otherwise:

1) Objective C (I'm working on this now)
2) Python

 

[BALIstik916]

1. C++
2. Python
3. PHP

 

[Schadenfroh]

1. C / C++
2. JAVA
3. The big two .NET Languages (VB.NET and C#)