I say start with the language that is commanding the highest salary in the market for the next 5 years. Once you have that down, start picking up languages that you have interest in.
That being said, I think everyone should be learning C / C++ in school. It teaches students things about memory management that is critical no matter what language you use for your day job -- gs On Fri, May 6, 2011 at 8:54 AM, Joshua Marsh <[email protected]>wrote: > On Fri, May 6, 2011 at 01:25, S. Dale Morrey <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > > For a first language? Surely you jest. > > Learn C and then C++, that way you won't have to unlearn a bunch of > > bad habits and will learn the good stuff you do need to know. Once > > you have those two under your belt, then move on to Python and/or > > Java. > > > People were saying the same thing about assembly when C was still figuring > out its place in the world. Half the UC school system is now using Python > as > an introductory language. My first language was lisp. There is a big > argument about whether it's better to start with higher level languages or > lower, but the hilarious part of that is that those terms are moving > targets. > > I say just find something you are interested in and start with it. Just > don't neglect the core engineering tools like abstract data types, > algorithms, modularity, coupling, etc. > > /* > PLUG: http://plug.org, #utah on irc.freenode.net > Unsubscribe: http://plug.org/mailman/options/plug > Don't fear the penguin. > */ > /* PLUG: http://plug.org, #utah on irc.freenode.net Unsubscribe: http://plug.org/mailman/options/plug Don't fear the penguin. */
