What's Your Favorite Programming Language?

[Starnerf]

I use mostly C++ and C at work. I've used Ruby in the past and I liked it. I've been thinking of getting into Python and Lua since they seem pretty nice. I also like Java, but I never use it outside of school.

 

[nekolux]

I really like c++ It's OOP but since it contains all the C libraries in it, it canbe used procedure based too. Also for a high level program it's pretty powerful. Java's too strict for me i mean java has over a 100 keywords all of which have to be capitalized properly.

I also did pascal for awhile, i really liked pascal but i sort of grew out of it since pascal wasnt quite as powerful ( although you can write 3D game engines on it )

 

[jdnoth]

Python Python Python.

 

[Uncompetative]

-snip-

Well, I meant if your language was going to have a translation to say C or something or if it was going to be independent. Great post though.

Oh, I see what you mean now. No. That is highly unlikely, mainly as a typical program in my language will be very high-level and inextricably linked to the extensible environment it is part of. Translating code into C would result in an enormous C program as that C program would need to run the environment as well. Also you would lose the ability to customize the software whilst you were using it (in the manner of the Smalltalk system), so this would be rather undesirable.

 

[Alex_P]

Real programmers program in FORTRAN.

(I'm not a Real Programmer, although to be honest, if I ever actually did any real work on computers, it would probably be the most appropriate language for me to learn. Seriously.)

In my experience, only physicists program in FORTRAN.

And by "physicists", I mean "grad students".

-- Alex

 

[sarkeizen]

Oh, I see what you mean now. No. That is highly unlikely, mainly as a typical program in my language will be very high-level and inextricably linked to the extensible environment it is part of.

Usually an intermediary means that it goes from the native language to some other language before it is executed. C was given as an example but C is not the only option. Mind you none of the things you mention actually exclude C but it seems like you are hinting that your language is interpreted.

All that said, the things I could see as difficult to implement in C (drawing on my Smalltalk experience) are kind of overrated for development work...even 3D games. For example SMC (Self Modifying Code) is a nice party trick (and I've certainly written some interesting assembly code that used just that) but the truth is that any SMC can be replaced with something non-self modifying of equivalent function.

 

[Lukeje]

Well, since the only language I know is Python, I'm gonna have to go for Python. Though I plan on learning C++ soon, and will have to learn either MATLAB or Mathematica for research next year.

I have no idea wat C++ or whatever you guys are talking out (except java) is.

Google is your friend [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%2B%2B].

 

[Lukeje]

Since this is a computer programming/computer science topic I have to ask this question. How hard was it to get into computer programming? Would you have any recommendations in learning a computer language? Are any of you certified or know what one would need to do to become certified?

• Step 1: Download Python [http://www.python.org/download/].
  Step 2: Work through some tutorials [http://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide/NonProgrammers].
  Step 3: Try some problems, such as these [http://projecteuler.net/].

If you wanted to become 'certified' wouldn't the bet way be to do a Computer Science degree?

 

[PersianLlama]

Java. Gotta love those enhanced for loops.

Edit: If we're doing top 3, C++, then Python get the next two positions.

 

[Lukeje]

Since this is a computer programming/computer science topic I have to ask this question. How hard was it to get into computer programming? Would you have any recommendations in learning a computer language? Are any of you certified or know what one would need to do to become certified?

• Step 1: Download Python [http://www.python.org/download/].
  Step 2: Work through some tutorials [http://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide/NonProgrammers].
  Step 3: Try some problems, such as these [http://projecteuler.net/].

If you wanted to become 'certified' wouldn't the bet way be to do a Computer Science degree?

First thank you very much for the links Lukeje, I look forward to checking them out when I get home. Second I already graduated college with a history major and apparently a B.A. in the United States does not mean anything anymore for employers are looking for either Master degree students, hard skilled employees or certified employees. I've been looking for work both inside and outside my major related to all my passions for over a year and all I've gotten from the 300+ jobs I've applied has been a resounding NO! The only job I have been able to get since graduating was another retail job.

I really do not get the country I live in. I volunteered, I did both internships and part-time employment for 3+ years, I received my A.A. and B.A.. I've become a very well rounded person who can tackle most problems and understand the context and content of any given situation, but employers are looking for more so I'm trying to give them that more so they no longer have a reason to say NO! What the heck does a guy got to do to get a career?

Oh I forgot to answer your question. I'm currently paying back my student loans and my parents cannot afford to send me back to college to get another degree.

Ah, sorry the question wasn't directly aimed at you, it was more aimed at someone like RAK who'd actually know if there was any other sort of programming qualification.
But the scenario you just painted out is uncannily like my fear of what might happen after finishing my degree (chemistry) in a year and a halfs time...
Surely just learning something like HTML would be helpful? People always like it if you can do their webpages for them, and it adds to your CV.

 

[Izerous]

I'll vote for Flex as it pay's my bills/income.

 

[Vlane]

My favourite is C because that's the first one I've learned and I have more experience in it than in any other programming language.

 

[coldfrog]

I have always been a fan of LISP. I've never programmed anything useful in it, but since I prefer the more pure mathematics as opposed to anything functional, I like this language more too because it forces you to think in bizarre abstract ways that you wouldn't normally do.

For standard programming languages, though, I have been digging the power and versatility of C#, despite the lack of any really good API's for it. I keep meaning to look up Python, but I don't really have the free time for it. I got paid to learn C# and PHP, and I learned the rest of my languages in school (Barring javascript which just came with the territory of doing anything on the web) so at no point have I actually gone out of my way to learn a language. I like having a life.

 

[oktalist]

1. LOLCODE [http://lolcode.com/]
2. Perl
3. C
4. C++

HAI
CAN HAS STDIO?
VISIBLE "HAI WORLD!"
KTHXBYE

Java's not bad, and Ruby looks sweet but I haven't had a chance to really try using it yet.

Also, which programming language(s) to you truly hate, and why? Python, because you can make a typo in the name of a variable and it will silently do the wrong thing instead of returning an error, which leads to subtle bugs in your code that could so easily be avoided by requiring that variables be pre-declared. It could be an optional feature that you have to opt in to, so if you prefer to play with the safety off you can do, like in Perl you have to say "use strict" to get this feature (and if you don't you are considered to be a muppet by all Perl gurus).

 

[cainx10a]

C# and C/C++. Although I am stronger in the former, I really enjoy C/C++, and hope I will be able to get a stronger mastery of it in the long run.