What should I learn: C++/C#/Java?

[brigidflame]

Hello, I've some knowledge of C and PHP; now I'm planning to learn a new language. Which do you recommend I learn? C++, C# or Java? Is there a difference between Visual C++ and Visual C++.NET?

[Wraithan]

Learn what you think you need... on that note google will be your best friend when learning to program in any language... such as for questions such as your last one.

Come to a C/C++ board and ask if you should learn C++ C# or Java.. we are a little biased.

[JaWiB]

For windows GUI programming, C# is probably not a bad choice. You might also look into C++/CLI, which is based on C++ and replaces managed extensions for C++. All the .NET languages have quite a bit in common (which is kind of the point to .NET)

If you're not interested in .NET programming then you could use the Win32 API with ISO C/C++ (or MFC, the Win32 wrapper classes for C++)

I can't comment on Java

[Desolation]

Hello, I've some knowledge of C and PHP; now I'm planning to learn a new language. Which do you recommend I learn? C++, C# or Java? Is there a difference between Visual C++ and Visual C++.NET?

I'd say it solely depends on your needs but if you learn a language only for the sake of it, I think C++ would be a great companion for your knowledge of C. Visual C++ .NET is managed C++, it's very different of the "regular" C++ and it's something you either like or dislike.

[brigidflame]

I'm not sure which is the language that I'll be needing, so choosing one that is more general in its application will be better I guess. Does science/engineering favour any particular languages/platform?

[maxorator]

Well, C++/Win32 offers the most control.

[dxfoo]

I'm in a computer science major, and to be honest, the language is not important. What is important is design, information processing, algorithm development, etc. A language is a tool to express your algorithms. In that case, learn everything you can because you will use it later on the job. You will even use languages you never used before, and there is no way to learn every single one. After learning one, learning the other is usually a peice of cake. I noticed the colleges tend to teach Java first, especially in the CS1 class, but later you end up writing heavy C/C++ code. C# is new and hasn't met the colleges yet, nor do the instructors I met have a personal preference for it. Learn all you can on the side, learn CS in college that focuses on the algorithmic side of things.

[siavoshkc]

First of all don't worry about the language you choose.
If you want to develope Windows GUI programs (ex. Windows calculator):

C#: Is based on .NET and is very simple.
C++/CLI: Is like C# but a little bit harder.
C++ and MFC: MFC is a library that makes Windows programming simpler. 
C++ and Win32 API: You will learn more but you will advance slower than other options.

If you want to develope portable code stick with pure C++.

Is there a difference between Visual C++ and Visual C++.NET?

There is a big difference between C++ and C++/CLI (which is based on .NET).
Microsoft C++ compiler has a switch (/clr) that if present will try to compile your code as C++/CLI, if not, it will try to compile your code as standard C++ code (or C code for *.c files).

[WDT]

..., and to be honest, the language is not important.

I disagree simply because a language like C++ engenders a greater responsibility in the programmer's work and thinking.. Java... well not so great

What is important is design, information processing, algorithm development, etc. A language is a tool to express your algorithms.

This is the best advice anyone can give with regards to your question. Once you've absorbed programming concepts, the tool (i.e. what ever language you choose) becomes a semantic expression of your creative thoughts. So I'd say start on C++ in my opinion. It's hard, but once you've conquered it every other language looks easier, (except I never got my head over Python. don't know why).

Another thing experiment, experiment, experiment.... No greater a feeling than generating a bus error on a sparc and having to troubleshoot it without a debugger

[manutd]

When I started learning a new language (I learned PHP first) I immediatly gravitated towards C++ as there is a wealth of examples and tutorials for it. Also, as C++ is just a logical extension of C, and you already learned C, it would be the quickest to pick up. As a matter of personal preference, C# syntax is rather ugly to me and Java just isn't powerful enough...but then again, like Wraithan said, this is a C\C++ board. If you're worried about science/engineering aspects, I have found that there is a niche for you no matter what language you learn. That being said, C\C++ is probably the most popular. If I was you, I'd check out all three and see which you like best.