Thread: Language Choices

  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Posts
    2

    Question Language Choices

    So I know all of you reading this don't owe me anything so I appreciate the responses given. I'm a fresh computer maintenance tech in a small computer store and I don't aspire to be doing that work for the rest of my carrier.

    I'm not planning on becoming some kind of code guru. More as a skill I can put on a resume and a hobby.

    I wanted to know what version or C i should start with that would be most practical for writing simple programs to do routine tasks... I loved how VB was so easy to edit and change what buttons did, though ive heard its not very powerful. Should i use Visual C++? C#. C++ or just C? Is there a big difference or are they just slightly different?


    TL;DR >> Where should a new person start to get into C quickly with UI's. And what version of C to use...



    Edit: Typo.
    Last edited by AdamTherio; 03-02-2010 at 10:52 PM.

  2. #2
    Unregistered User Yarin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Posts
    2,158
    Visual C++ is a complier and IDE, not a language.
    C#, despite it's name, isn't really a C language.
    C++ is just an extended C, such that it's even backwards compatible, you can even learn both C and C++ together at the same time.

    But to answer your question, it sounds like for what your looking for, is something like Java (esp. since you mention the desired ease of [G]UI programming).
    But... as a C advocate, and being we're on the C board... learn C++.

  3. #3
    train spotter
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Location
    near a computer
    Posts
    3,868
    I would start with C# as it is easier to learn, is in big demand, is easier to create stable apps with and has lots of online resources (to find help/code/controls).

    Visual C++ is the common name for C++ with WIN32 API or MFC (a MS C++ WIN32 wrapper). It is used to create C++ apps with a MS windows GUI. It is powerful but has a steep learning curve and is harder to create a stable app with.

    C is not popular, mostly used in embedded devices (though XPe C++ / C# is becoming more common as IPCs become more powerful) and has a lot of disadvantages in WIN32 apps compared to C++ (ie lack of polymorphism and inheritance).

    VB.NET is also in use but I would recommend C# if begining.

    All have the same resource editor as VB. where you can click on a control and it will allow you to edit the code for that control.
    "Man alone suffers so excruciatingly in the world that he was compelled to invent laughter."
    Friedrich Nietzsche

    "I spent a lot of my money on booze, birds and fast cars......the rest I squandered."
    George Best

    "If you are going through hell....keep going."
    Winston Churchill

  4. #4
    Registered User VirtualAce's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Posts
    9,607
    I highly recommend C# for GUIs. It's just far too simple to get a working GUI up in C# to recommend any other solution. For myself and novacain we can probably produce the same type of GUI in MFC or C# in about the same amount of time with equivalent functionality. However we also understand that MFC does take some getting used to and at the end of the day it's probably not worth it since it yields the same results as just doing it in C#.

    If you know and are used to MFC then use MFC. If you don't know any MFC then I recommend C#.

  5. #5
    C++まいる!Cをこわせ!
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Inside my computer
    Posts
    24,654
    It might also be possible to note that C# and C++/CLI can interop with each other. So you can write your GUI in C# and your code in C++, if that is your desire. That might be an interesting fact.
    Quote Originally Posted by Adak View Post
    io.h certainly IS included in some modern compilers. It is no longer part of the standard for C, but it is nevertheless, included in the very latest Pelles C versions.
    Quote Originally Posted by Salem View Post
    You mean it's included as a crutch to help ancient programmers limp along without them having to relearn too much.

    Outside of your DOS world, your header file is meaningless.

  6. #6
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Posts
    2
    Quote Originally Posted by Elysia View Post
    It might also be possible to note that C# and C++/CLI can interop with each other. So you can write your GUI in C# and your code in C++, if that is your desire. That might be an interesting fact.
    I dident know, thanks again guys for the responses, i have some more research to do before i stick with something but the help goes a LONG way. Cheers!

  7. #7
    C++まいる!Cをこわせ!
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Inside my computer
    Posts
    24,654
    Good luck choosing your language, then.
    Quote Originally Posted by Adak View Post
    io.h certainly IS included in some modern compilers. It is no longer part of the standard for C, but it is nevertheless, included in the very latest Pelles C versions.
    Quote Originally Posted by Salem View Post
    You mean it's included as a crutch to help ancient programmers limp along without them having to relearn too much.

    Outside of your DOS world, your header file is meaningless.

  8. #8
    Registered User VirtualAce's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Posts
    9,607
    If you do choose C++/CLI and C# and you run into interop issues, and you will, post about them here in this forum. I've been in interop hades for quite some time now.

Popular pages Recent additions subscribe to a feed

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 3
    Last Post: 01-21-2010, 04:40 PM
  2. Replies: 15
    Last Post: 08-09-2009, 11:20 AM
  3. What language did they make Java in?
    By jverkoey in forum A Brief History of Cprogramming.com
    Replies: 17
    Last Post: 07-03-2005, 04:18 PM
  4. Strange loop
    By D@rk_force in forum C++ Programming
    Replies: 22
    Last Post: 12-18-2004, 02:40 PM
  5. Language of choice after C++
    By gandalf_bar in forum A Brief History of Cprogramming.com
    Replies: 47
    Last Post: 06-15-2004, 01:20 AM