Hi Thomas, That is true, but then there are other cases. For example, if I had not listened to the ACB Radio podcast on RailRacer, I wouldn't have known it was written in Visual Basic 6. Same with the BSC Game and L-Works titles. Granted, I don't pretened to be a master at programming, but... Best Regards, Hayden
-----Original Message----- From: gamers-boun...@audyssey.org [mailto:gamers-boun...@audyssey.org] On Behalf Of Thomas Ward Sent: Friday, February 19, 2010 9:19 AM To: Gamers Discussion list Subject: Re: [Audyssey] programming Hi Jim, As I always tell people, when they ask me what programming language to learn, every programming language has its own advantages and disadvantages. There is no one-size fits all solution. There is usually some trade off of some kind to be made when picking one language over another. For example, If your aim is rapid development, ease of use, then Java, Python, or Visual Basic will probably be the primary choice. Although, on the down side those languages do run slower and depend on third-party runtime libraries to interface with the lower level C++ native libraries of the operating system. As a result the end user may have to install extra packages such as the Visual Basic runtime, .Net Framework, Java Runtime Environment, Python Runtime Environment, etc increasing the size and complexity of your install. On the other hand you can write your application directly in C++, cutting out the middlman software completely, but at the cost of a more complex programming language. On the upside C++ applications run faster, don't require any runtime environment, and allows the developer a greater control over system performance and stability. Finally, the type of application you are trying to create might or might not influence the language you use. If you are creating a text editor, for example, it hardly matters if it is written in Visual Basic, Java, C++, whatever as it will all work about the same. If you are trying to write a hardware driver, TTS engine, or something that requires low level programming then by all means use C++. Like I said earlier there are trade offs to be made, and often the language you need depends on the type of application as well as your own personal needs. That is why professional programmers tend to be trained in several different programming languages to prepare them for using the right language for the right project so to speak. As far as your comment, "no one can tell what language the finished project was written in," I have to disagree with that. If you know what to look for it is quite easy to figure out the language being used. For one thing if the system requirements state the program requires Java Runtime version x then the obvious conclusion is it is written in Java. Likewise if the requirements state needs .Net Framework version x then it is likely written in C# .Net or Visual Basic .Net. If you have to install the Visual Basic 6 runtime then the obvious conclusion is it is written in Visual Basic 6. there are other easy indicators like a Java program ends with a *.jar extention that is a dead give away for anyone wanting to know. So maybe not everyone will know the language a certain program is written in, do to lack of experience perhaps, but anyone can certainly figure it out if they know what to look for. At that point it becomes pretty self-explanitory. Cheers! On 2/18/10, Jim Kitchen <j...@kitchensinc.net> wrote: > Hi Thomas, > > Yeah, I have been programming in BASIC since 1980, COBOL and FORTRAN before > that. If you like to do all of the extra work that a low level language > takes, well that is your choice. Personally when I have a job to do, I am > going to choose the tool that will allow me to get the job done in the > easiest and most efficient manner. And since as you say VB6 does allot of > the work for me, that is the language that I choose to use. And heck no one > can tell which language the finished program was written in anyway. > > And I say that over 30 years of successful programming with tens of > thousands of satisfied users makes me an experienced programmer regardless > of the language I choose to use. > > BFN --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gam...@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gam...@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
