Thread: Which programming language?

  1. 10-16-2012 #1
    Kranky
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    Which programming language?

    I have a question for you guys. I am getting ready to take a programming class and I wanted to choose the right one at my local community college and I needed help selecting the right programming language to learn.

    Here is what I want to eventually write a program to do:
    At work I am able to do a flat file csv dump for sales over the past year. It can be up to 30 or so fields wide by 250,000+ fields long. Currently I use Excel to do very small chucks for analyzing the data. I want to be able to write a program where I can import this data and then do all kinds of calculations to arrive at new multipliers for sell groups to maximize gross profit. I know what formulas I want to use, it just takes a long time in Excel and I can not do an entire year because there so much data.

    Would C++ be the best language to learn to do this or is there a better one?

    Thanks,

    Kranky
  2. 10-16-2012 #2
    nvoigt
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    Your best bet would probably be SQL and a Database. If you already own MS-Excel, chances are you already have MS-Access. That's not the best database system, but it's enough for a quarter of a million lines. If you are more technically inclined, the SQLServer Express Editions are free.

    If you want to learn programming, any language is fine, personally I would recommend C++. If you only want to solve your problem at hand, learn to use a database. It's way easier for what you described.
    hth
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  3. 10-16-2012 #3
    Kranky
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    Thanks nvoigt. They do have a SQL class. I will look into that. I take it you can do calculations between all the fields with it.

    My other goal is to make a program and sell it to other companies that use the same software as us. We currently use one of the most popular programs for inventory management. Just using Excel and some basic ideas I have put over $500,000 in gross profit in our pocket this year. I think with my ideas and a program I can squeak out another $250,000. That is gross profit we do not loose next year. Our stock GP has risen from 19% to 20.5% on stock sales. With these ideas I think I can make some nice money on the side.
  4. 10-16-2012 #4
    stahta01
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    After the SQL class; you might ask about data mining classes; because what you are doing sounds like it is likely data mining.

    Tim S.
    "...a computer is a stupid machine with the ability to do incredibly smart things, while computer programmers are smart people with the ability to do incredibly stupid things. They are,in short, a perfect match.." Bill Bryson
  5. 10-16-2012 #5
    Kranky
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    Thank you stahta01. I emailed the teacher for the SQL class and he said I would definitely need the SQL class. He said they teach Oracle but I would have no problems applying what I learn to Access. They offer night classes so I am going to take that next semester. Thank you guys for the responses.

    Kranky
  6. 10-16-2012 #6
    stahta01
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    If you use Access instead of MS SQL express; then you might wish to get a book on Visual Basic preferred is VBA Visual Basic for Applications.
    Note: This is ten year old knowledge you should confirm that Access still uses VBA.

    I would NOT take the class on VB or VBA; unless you find someone who says the local class is worth taking.
    I would just get a book. My local VB class was a joke ten years ago.
    And, the current students seem to find it very hard or super easy; I consider that a sign of poor classroom instruction or syllabus.

    Edit: Take the SQL class before trying to do VBA; the SQL is NOT like a procedural programming language.
    I would not wish to learn a programming language at the same time you are trying to learning SQL.

    Tim S.
    Last edited by stahta01; 10-16-2012 at 02:37 PM.
    "...a computer is a stupid machine with the ability to do incredibly smart things, while computer programmers are smart people with the ability to do incredibly stupid things. They are,in short, a perfect match.." Bill Bryson
  7. 10-17-2012 #7
    Elysia
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    Access still uses VBA [confirmed with Access 2010].
    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.

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