What do you recommend? C# or C++?

Question

I'm a beginner programmer I know some VB/ SQL and am looking to learn a new language. Which one is more widely used? Easier to learn? and .NET compatible?

Answer 1

C# every time.



C++ is more widely used but it is also, what, 30 years old. If you want to be a total geek and a pure computer scientist go with C++. If you want to do business applications, go with C#.



C# is easier and is .Net... whereas C++ is only kind of .Net.

Answer 2

both are what is known as "c syntaxed" languages, meaning their syntax is derived from C. aside from that, the major difference is that C# is a native .NET language, while C++ is an unmanaged language. There is C++.NET which is a binding for C++ on .NET. I would recommend C# first, to get your bearing, much of the concept (if you stay away from the functional aspects in C#) are the same in both languages, but C# should be easier to learn as it doesn't force you to learn about memory management or pointer manipulations early on. You can spend your time learning general programming practices and you could always try C++ at a later time,

Answer 3

Programming in C# with the .NET framework is a lot easier and less error-prone than programming in C++. Almost all programming is done in Java or C# these days, with a bit of scripting (Ruby on Rails or PHP/Python/Perl). Operating systems and database management systems are stil written in C++.



To get started in C#, download the free Visual Studio 2008 express edition here:



That "black" page has a link to the beginning developer C# page.



Here is a more formal getting started page:



http://www.microsoft.com/express/vcsharp/Default.aspx





Getting started in C# http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/a72418yk.aspx



I recommend that you play a bit with the language first and write a hello world console app. Then maybe a windows form app. If you are comfortable with web design you can download the visual studio express web developer edition and program server-side code in C#.



And if you run into problems, the beginner page has a link to forums where you can ask questions.



have fun.

Answer 4

C++ would be my recommendation. C# is a Microsoft technology for Windows, C++ is an industry standard available for Windows, Mac, Linux, Unix, and higher end embedded systems.

Answer 5

C++

=

Answer 6

Learn programming first. http://www-old.oberon.ethz.ch/WirthPubl/AD.pdf



Then decide what you want to learn a language for - each language has a different use and a different reason for being.