For All Computer Programmers ?

Question

Well it's my first question online so I'm anticipating sensible feedback from your end ?

I'm doing B.E in computer science ( third year ) . Yesterday our teacher said that we should prepare a computer language as platform for the final year project . My options were C++ , java , dot net . I keep experimenting (tweaking and stuff) with my computer and pretty comfortable in using Windows .

But when it comes to programming i only learned a few languages like C , V.B , Oracle etc. not as master but as per syllabus . Now my problem is that i have only 4 months or so to learn any new language but i can't decide which language to choose - C++ , java , dot net .

some recommended me C ++ (saying it is base to object oriented ), some java ( saying easy to learn than C ++ ) , some dot net (saying things or work which take much time in C ++ are pre- defined in it and easy to do)

so as you see that's there is lot of ambiguity and i can't decide what language to choose for project as well as for career ?

Now following are abstract of my questions :

For those who vote C ++
* Any Prerequisite
* Is it really compulsory to learn it as first language for object-oriented world ?
* Minimum time required to master it
* I've learned C will it helps and to what extent ?



For those who vote Java
* Any Prerequisite
* what is core java and advanced java
* Minimum time required to master it
* I don't have any idea about Java . does it really offer good career options than other two languages ?


For those who vote Dot net
* Any Prerequisite
* What are languages under it only Visual Basic or some more !
* i have learned Visual Basic 6 in school and am good at it . What are the latest visual basic prerequisite ?
* Minimum time required to master it


Finally do me a favour by suggesting good books for your voted language . Does joining any institute helps or self- study is better option ? Is it OK to choose Windows as OS or should i switch to Linux cause some seniors told me that companies have Linux as their OS ? If it is so do suggest of a proper Linux distribution ?

That's ALL ! :-)


I know there are lot of question to answer but every statement of your answer will lend a helping hand in building my career !


Thanking all readers in anticipation !

Answer 1

I am not an Expert, But Here is What I Think:

Go for DotNet:(Visual Studio with its Intellisense is Awesome to Code But first While starting Use Notepad to Type Code to Master the Basic Structure)

Choose C# as the language, C# is Object Oriented Language and very interesting.

Learn about the Basic Constructs, If you get familiar with C# you will also get Idea about Java(Not much Difference, OOPs is the Base Thing). Lot of interesting things to learn about DotNet.

1. Beggining ASP.net3.5 in C# (E-Book) provides good intro to C# at the beggining(Worked for me).

2. CodeProject Website has loads of Good DotNet Stuffs.

3. Ofcourse MSDN has the Best Resources.

Language can be mastered(With Practice^100) but the Resources in DotNet is like Ocean, It provides almost everything you need(Just Add Reference and Start Using).

Best Thing(Common Language Specification-> C# , VC++, VB.Net all Compile to produce the same Intermediate Code, So Any Code available in VB.Net can be used in your Project(Say If You are Working on C# Project)) and Lot of Other Things.

* Decide to learn about One Particular Concept and Grasp knowledge about it as much as you can and then develop your own Software with that Concept as main thing.

Answer 2

I would avoid C++. C++ is not truely an object oriented language, its the ancient C language with some OO features nailed onto the side. It is difficult to learn and always bites back when you least expect it.



Java is a fairly modern language from Sun. The major .NET language is C#, an even more modern language from Microsoft. You should not even consider VisualBASIC, it is only around for legacy support.



To choose between Java and C# I would install the free development environments available for both. Visual Studio Express is the free Microsoft one for C#, Eclipse and others are available for Java. Find a learning text for both. See how far you get with the two, when you start understanding one more than the other drop the one you don't like.



I'm a professional software developer and am biast towards C#. For me it is the more pleasant language to write new code and modify old code in. Additionally I can earn significantly more writing C# than Java. More fun for more money swings it for me.



You might enjoy Java and target yourself at markets where Java pays more, so your experience may be different.



The two features of Java I like are (1) that enumerates can be structured constants not just simple ordinals and (2) that inner classes have access to their outer class' instance members. Neither of those are a killer advantage over C#. The maintanence nightmare that is Java's exception handling is a killer for C# over Java for me. You're writing a college project, will not be using deep features of the language or having to support the code long term, so it's just down to what feels right.

Answer 3

The language elements of Java and C++ do not really differ that much. I think the MAJOR difference between Java and C++ is that Java does not use pointers---the direct addressing of memory, which you really know from C.



I would use C++. Its compilers are found everywhere (yes, perhaps Java too). You will learn about polymorphism and inheritance and overloading, some concepts useful and some not. You will learn what the standard library is. Mastering any computer language is all relative. If you spend a good 5-6 hours a day reading a good introduction to C++ and playing with code, in a month, you can become proficient. Start thinking about the class you will design now. Have blank pieces of paper to write a one-sentence summary of a paragraph of an important concept to reinforce your memory. Microsoft has been trying to push people to stick with its annoying technologies, but the trend is away, in my opinion; but there are so many Dot.Nuts around that you will hear differently. You can write Microsoft code with their freely available Visual C++ dev system.

Answer 4

it depend on your project .c++ and java are almost same .but if you want to learn java you should know

c++.if your are master in c then you have to struggle to know c++,jave.These two language are object-oriented.I don't have any idea about do net .so First choose the project(i.e topic) then go for language.Then discuss with your guide/sir .I think he/she will give best solution.

Answer 5

Poor frog and princess....roflmao:):) I'm glad to know the frog did not have to suffer from toxic methane gas fumes being inside of that pocket:):) roflmao:):) A star you have from me:) Thanks, Rags37:):)