Thread: Java or Visual Basic?

It's really up to you (of course), but I personally would take Java (I can't believe I just said that). It'll help with your C++, by promoting OOP - plus, it'll allow you to more easily switch to C# if you so choose. VB has its uses, too, tho. It really easy to make a friendly GUI. Businesses use both. My company uses a ton of different development programs, but then again, we don't actually develop software here.

I guess so - I'd just say if I were you I'd try and get smth above an Associate's, but that's up to you. Also, don't limit yourself to learning just the stuff you get in class - some of the more knowledgable people on this board have learned the langs on their own, with nothing at all to do with school.

From a purely non-academic viewpoint - Learn Java. I'm playing with servlets at the moment, and enjoying it. And as G_C says the strong OOP presence of the language will be an advantage to your C++

From G_C's sig -

Useless Fact of the day: 0.3% of all road accidents in Canada involve a Moose.

Wow man - I didn't know they were allowed to drive in Canada

Alright, Fool, that sounds like a better idea... Good luck, brotha!

Fordy: Maybe they meant people speed walking or running in the road?

Don't take JAVA and C at the same time, big mistake. One language is OOP and the other is Procedural. Definately take 'C' and Visual Basic before you take C++ or Java. When you take Visaul Basic you will not be studying the new version so it should be alright to take C and VB at the same time. Honestly, if you take Java during C, than it won't work out very well.

Fool, just a few thoughts.

Number one, i think you're trying to rush yourself here. I would stick with one language and do your best to master it. Why don't you contact the university you plan on attending down the road and ask them what language on which they base their computer science program. It's probally going to be C/C++, java, or maybe pascal. If you master any one of those three languages, VB will be a snap. I would only spend time learning VB if it was necessary. C/C++, pascal, and java are way more interesting.

Since you're attending a community college, you should concentrate on getting rid of your core requirements. Don't be intimidated by the "twelve year olds" on programming boards that have already "developed their own TCP/IP stack". Usually it's all crap. More time than not they're just developing bad habits. You have plenty of time. If you plan to go to a four year university, you should concentrate on getting the core credits you need to graduate.

I'm just trying to guage if the knowledge I will get here will be enough to get a job

That depends entirely on you. Your friend's right. You're going to learn a lot more through independent study. Oh yeah, do you think an employer is going to hire someone that knows a little about a lot or a lot about a little. The employer is probably going to demand that you have a working mastery of all the languages you put on your resume. It's hard to develop a mastery of one language in two years. Nevermind two.

good luck.

mxr