Thread: Learning two programming languages at the same time

Yay or nay? I've been learning C for the past month or so and now I want to continue where I left off with Java and continue learning both. Is this a bad idea from your experience?

Cheers

BIOS

P.S Apologies but not sure if this thread belongs on the tech board :? Feel free to move if so.

Generally, I consider that trying to learn two languages at once is a really bad idea. You might get away with it if the languages are VERY different, but rarely when the two languages have similar-looking syntax (as is true between C, C++, and Java). C++ and Java are among the two worst languages you can pick to learn concurrently, because several elements of syntax are fairly similar but a lot of good techniques in Java are really bad techniques in C++ (and vice versa).

Better to focus on one first, get proficient in that, and then take time to learn the other. That way, while learning, there is a clearer demarcation in your mind of the differences.

Quite a few people, even if they try to keep their learning separate, try learning a second language "by analogy" with the first. That is an equally big mistake. If you are going to learn a new language, try to learn that language, rather than trying to use techniques from another language.

I agree with manasj's advice to get a grounding in concepts (data structures, algorithms, etc). The basic ideas are often independent of programming language, although their implementation can change with different programming languages.

Originally Posted by BIOS

Is this a bad idea from your experience?

It seems to me that it is inevitable in a sense; I've learned and/or substantially improved my knowledge of several languages "since I learned C" but realistically, I'm still learning little things about C on occasion.

Moreover, I learn more concrete and fundamental things about javascript and C++ whenever I do something sufficiently substantial with them, say every few months. Isn't improving your skill with a specific tool "learning" that tool better?

Certainly beware the caveat that trying to universalize a methodology learned in one language may not be a good idea in another -- but OTOH, sometimes it is.

Originally Posted by CommonTater

Basically you should stick with your first language long enough to get a grounding in *programming* concepts and practices before trying a second language.

I definitely haven't stuck with Java that long! Only started programming in Java at the start of the summer. Before that I did a *little* bit of LISP. My experience thus far has been to to get up and programming as quick as possible and just learn what I needed for the particular task. I suppose it's a part of the process for people who program as a hobby or a supporting skill. I've only started studying from the ground up in the last month or so. I've made the decision that I'd like to try and get my programming skills up to a decent level and hopefully get some sort of qualification.

Originally Posted by MK27

It seems to me that it is inevitable in a sense; I've learned and/or substantially improved my knowledge of several languages "since I learned C" but realistically, I'm still learning little things about C on occasion.

I guess the learning never stops. You can always get better. I suppose the key for my situation would then be to gauge when I am familiar enough with one language so as to allow learning a second. At that point it would be a matter of learning syntax, language specific development/design approach etc. as opposed to learning programming fundamentals at the same time.

Originally Posted by zakiuz

What about C and HTML at the same time ? From what I've heard, HTML takes 2-3 weeks only and is easy.

The overarching point seems to be that learning two languages simultaneously which are similar is a bad idea as it can create confusion. I don't think you'd encounter this issue with the 'languages' you mentioned. HTML is a mark up language as opposed to a programming language like C.