Thread: Thinking about learning something else

  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Posts
    18

    Thinking about learning something else

    Well, I have just taken a break from C++ for several days, and now that I'm going back to learn it again, I don't remember much of what I have learned anymore. Actually, I was pretty confused even back a few day ago due to the information overload. Now, I'm starting to realize that lately, I'm getting tired of C++ (too complex for me right now), and that it's not exactly a right choice since I want to program as soon as possible (I thought I could wait, but...). So, I'm thinking of learning an easier language to be able to program with it, then get back to C++ eventually. Anyway, I'm not sure if this is exactly a right forum to ask, but I would appreciate some suggestions right now.

    Also, my choice right now is Python, as it's heavily recommended for beginners, but I'm having trouble looking for a tutorial (or rather, I don't know where to find a *good* tutorial...)
    Last edited by tiachopvutru; 06-14-2008 at 04:55 PM.

  2. #2
    The larch
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Posts
    3,573
    It is off topic here but I think there is an official beginners tutorial at Python's home page?
    I might be wrong.

    Thank you, anon. You sure know how to recognize different types of trees from quite a long way away.
    Quoted more than 1000 times (I hope).

  3. #3
    i've lost my mind
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Posts
    26
    If it's of any help to you, this is the exact order I learned in;

    . BATCH Files for windows and QBasic
    . QBasic and Visual Basic 4-5 (briefly) while starting C (some ASM)
    . VBScript and still learning C
    . JavaScript and then C++ and still C; (ASM comes back every now and then)
    . PHP along with adv OOP concepts in C++ and more C - (self-teaching discrete math)
    . C++ adv concepts and algorithms and Java (couple years) (more math; algorithms, etc)
    . C++ and C# and some random languages (was hired as a .net programmer, picked up C# practically overnight thanks to Java)
    . C++, C#, Lisp (ogl, glsl, ai, dsp, all that fun stuff, etc)



    wow, fun mind trip through the past there. somewhere in the half way point i was familiarizing myself with mysql, then sql and etc. db's are important to understand.
    Last edited by gltiich; 06-15-2008 at 12:15 PM.

  4. #4
    Malum in se abachler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Posts
    3,195
    Quote Originally Posted by anon View Post
    It is off topic here but I think there is an official beginners tutorial at Python's home page?
    A bit off topic, but I recently removed a university from the list of schools im considering for my masters because the artificial intelligence program requires the AI to be written in python. It's not that big a deal, but it meant the difference between two otherwise good programs.

  5. #5
    C++ Witch laserlight's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Singapore
    Posts
    28,413
    Moved to General Discussions.

    A bit off topic, but I recently removed a university from the list of schools im considering for my masters because the artificial intelligence program requires the AI to be written in python. It's not that big a deal, but it meant the difference between two otherwise good programs.
    That is off topic indeed, unless you are having trouble learning Python and thus dismissed it as a choice for writing an AI program on that basis (as opposed to there being arguably better programming languages for AI).
    Quote Originally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
    I get maybe two dozen requests for help with some sort of programming or design problem every day. Most have more sense than to send me hundreds of lines of code. If they do, I ask them to find the smallest example that exhibits the problem and send me that. Mostly, they then find the error themselves. "Finding the smallest program that demonstrates the error" is a powerful debugging tool.
    Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

  6. #6
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Posts
    57
    Python would be a good choice to start with. I have went through it a bit, and it's pretty easy to pick up the syntax. There is also an interactive interpreter, which makes it easy to test out anything new.

  7. #7
    Imperator of Darkness Luciferek's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Detroit, MI
    Posts
    38

    Talking visual basic is the way to go

    Yeah visual basic is the language for those who who don't like challenging tasks like learning C++. It's so easy a caveman could do it!

  8. #8
    Internet Superhero
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Denmark
    Posts
    964
    Quote Originally Posted by Luciferek View Post
    Yeah visual basic is the language for those who who don't like challenging tasks like learning C++. It's so easy a caveman could do it!
    "It is practically impossible to teach good programming to students that have had a prior exposure to BASIC: as potential programmers they are mentally mutilated beyond hope of regeneration" - Edsger Dijkstra

    Just thought it was worth mentioning
    How I need a drink, alcoholic in nature, after the heavy lectures involving quantum mechanics.

  9. #9
    Dr Dipshi++ mike_g's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    On me hyperplane
    Posts
    1,218
    I started out with Basic

    But from what I have seen of VB; I don't like it. Everythings a Dim?!?

  10. #10
    C++まいる!Cをこわせ!
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Inside my computer
    Posts
    24,654
    Quote Originally Posted by mike_g View Post
    But from what I have seen of VB; I don't like it. Everythings a Dim?!?
    Well, yes.
    All variables are declared with Dim.
    Dim Name As Type
    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.

  11. #11
    Technical Lead QuantumPete's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    London, UK
    Posts
    894
    Quote Originally Posted by mike_g View Post
    I started out with Basic
    Me too, even did VB for a while before switching to C++ at uni. I don't *think* I'm mentally mutilated, but then how would I know?

    QuantumPete
    "No-one else has reported this problem, you're either crazy or a liar" - Dogbert Technical Support
    "Have you tried turning it off and on again?" - The IT Crowd

  12. #12
    Imperator of Darkness Luciferek's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Detroit, MI
    Posts
    38

    Talking VB sucks!

    I started out with vb in highschool too, and i dont think i've been mutated. But I got to say that once i started C++ i never wanted to go back to VB or any other language. I don't need that fancy shmancy ultra quick form and button development, i need a language that can do some stuff.
    All I am saying that if tiachopvutru finds C++ too complex maybe he can try something ultra easy, but when he finds vb too complex i'm sorry, but maybe programming isn't for him.

  13. #13
    Malum in se abachler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Posts
    3,195
    Quote Originally Posted by laserlight View Post
    Moved to General Discussions.


    That is off topic indeed, unless you are having trouble learning Python and thus dismissed it as a choice for writing an AI program on that basis (as opposed to there being arguably better programming languages for AI).
    Its not python's fitness for the purpose, just that one university uses C/C++ and the other uses python, both programs are equivelant, they even use the same textbook, so the choice was really do i want to spend my money focusing on AI or learning a new language that I will most likely never use outside class.

  14. #14
    Registered User
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Posts
    18
    Quote Originally Posted by Luciferek View Post
    I started out with vb in highschool too, and i dont think i've been mutated. But I got to say that once i started C++ i never wanted to go back to VB or any other language. I don't need that fancy shmancy ultra quick form and button development, i need a language that can do some stuff.
    All I am saying that if tiachopvutru finds C++ too complex maybe he can try something ultra easy, but when he finds vb too complex i'm sorry, but maybe programming isn't for him.
    Nope, I'm going for Python, right now, not Visual Basic. Probably because I'm hearing it a lot from others, but Visual Basic doesn't give me a good impression for some reason... In addition, I also want to use a language that's more "open."

    Rather than complex, the amount of stuffs in C++ are overwhelming me. Since I have only finished about 1/3rd of the book I read, C++ may as well be complex for me right now. I don't believe I cannot do programming, however. Right now, I'm following Python since it's easier, so I can have a sense of being able to create something sooner and also to understand the process of programming before I get back to C++ with all the details.

  15. #15
    Dr Dipshi++ mike_g's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    On me hyperplane
    Posts
    1,218
    Yeah, python should be fun. I'd like to learn it too if I can get around to it. It seems to be quite a flexible language.

Popular pages Recent additions subscribe to a feed

Similar Threads

  1. learning ability...gone?
    By jessie23 in forum A Brief History of Cprogramming.com
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 02-08-2003, 04:02 PM
  2. Learning Rate Of C++
    By Krak in forum C++ Programming
    Replies: 27
    Last Post: 01-29-2003, 01:53 PM
  3. Help with Constants and enum constants. Newbie learning C++.
    By UnregJDiPerla in forum C++ Programming
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 01-07-2003, 08:29 PM
  4. What do you think about learning C++ and the C?
    By incognito in forum C++ Programming
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 11-29-2001, 02:01 AM
  5. what do you think of Learning C++ and then C?
    By incognito in forum C Programming
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 11-28-2001, 03:12 PM