Tagged Questions
45
votes
15answers
5k views
I don't know C. And why should I learn it?
My first programming language was PHP (gasp). After that I started working with JavaScript. I've recently done work in C#.
I've never once looked at low or mid level languages like C.
The general ...
42
votes
21answers
4k views
Is it true that once you learn one language most of the rest come easy?
I was told by someone that I should start with Python and then, once I'm fluent in Python, the rest of the languages will be learned quickly. Is there any truth to this?
28
votes
7answers
17k views
How do I learn Python from zero to web development? [closed]
I am looking into learning Python for web development.
Assuming I already have some basic web development experience with Java (JSP/Servlets), I'm already familiar with web design (HTML, CSS, JS), ...
25
votes
13answers
4k views
Is it worth to learn Experimental Languages?
I'm a young programmer who desires to work in the field someday as a programmer. I know Java, VB.NET and C#. I want to learn a new language (as I programmer, I know that it is valuable to extend ...
25
votes
12answers
2k views
Any programming language can be mastered easily if the fundamentals of programming are strong. A fact or a myth?
Is it true that a person with fairly good fundamentals in programming can easily learn any programming language?
Well, when I say programming languages, I refer to the agile and dynamic languages ...
24
votes
8answers
950 views
The “blub paradox” and c++
I was reading the article here: http://www.paulgraham.com/avg.html and the part about the "blub paradox" was particularly interesting. As someone who mainly codes in c++ but has exposure to other ...
19
votes
11answers
6k views
How necessary is it to learn JavaScript before jQuery? [closed]
In my opinion, when I looked at JavaScript, it looked like not my cup of tea. When I came across jQuery, I loved it. I sat and watched Nettuts+ 15 days of jQuery screencasts, 1 year later and now I'm ...
18
votes
16answers
2k views
First language to learn [closed]
When I was a child I learned programming with BASIC, but Computer Science courses taught Pascal.
When I went to university the first language taught was C (or Fortran for some non-IT courses). Today ...
18
votes
11answers
1k views
How do you learn a new programming language?
I am C++ developer with some good experience on it. When I try to learn a new language ( have tried Java, C#, python, perl till now) I usually pickup a book and try to read it. But the problem with ...
17
votes
14answers
1k views
What Impact Do Scripting Languages Have on Junior Programmers?
I had a discussion with one of my teachers the other day.
We debated the impact that simpler scripting languages (like Python or Ruby) have on junior programmers.
He argued that scripting ...
16
votes
8answers
2k views
If one is to learn a new programming language each year, what should the list be? [closed]
In chapter one of "The Pragmatic Programmer" the first learning goal is:
Learn at least one new language every year. Different languages solve the same problems in different ways. By learning ...
15
votes
8answers
829 views
Should a newcomer to Perl learn both Perl 5 and 6?
I have started playing around with Perl 5 lately, and it seems very interesting. I would like to spend some time learning it more in depth when I can.
My question, since Perl 6 is slowly taking place ...
15
votes
10answers
530 views
Your Approach to Learning Language(s)? [closed]
This question is geared specifically towards finding out what techniques you employ when faced with learning a new language - feel free to skip to the last paragraph for the straight-forward question.
...
14
votes
12answers
645 views
Is it worth reading the language specification?
I'm wondering if it is worth reading language specifications/standard documents (e.g. The Java Language Specification) if you aren't going to write a compiler/interpreter for the language or something ...
14
votes
6answers
662 views
How often do you expand your skill set? [closed]
In the ever changing world of programming, how often to you catch up on a new language or technology? I have heard it said that one should learn a new language yearly. Is that always true?
14
votes
12answers
680 views
If you had to go back and re-learn your skill set, how would you do it?
My younger brother is looking to start programming. He's 14, and technically-inclined, but no real experience programming. He's looking to me for guidance, and I don't feel as if my experience is ...
13
votes
8answers
879 views
Is it worth being computer languages polyglot?
You can often hear that programmers should learn many different languages to improve themselves. I still go to school and don't have big programming experience (a little more than year). But what was ...
12
votes
16answers
1k views
What 3-4 languages provide the best variety in style? [closed]
I'm looking to broaden my development repertoire. Simply, if you had to pick 3-4 languages to learn that offered the most diverse variety in styles and thought processes, what would those languages ...
12
votes
8answers
3k views
Learning Multiple Languages Simultaneously
When learning new languages, is it better to commit yourself to one language 100% and wait until you've "mastered" it to move on to another, or to work on learning different languages at the same ...
12
votes
15answers
26k views
Game programming : C# or C++? [closed]
I've decided what I really want is to do game programming. So the question is, as a 18 years old who wants to learn self taught programming, what is the most suited programming language between C# and ...
12
votes
7answers
3k views
The advantages & disadvantages to be had from using a Web Framework?
This question is focused on extracting the advantages and disadvantages of using Web based Frameworks: such as Cake PHP, Zend, jQuery, ASP.NET). This question is completely language agnostic. Let me ...
11
votes
18answers
4k views
Assembly as a First Programming Language?
How good of an idea do you think it would be to teach people Assembly (some variant) as a first programming language? It would take a lot more effort than learning for instance Java or Python, but one ...
11
votes
6answers
2k views
TODO list to play with a new programming language/framework/platform
When a new programming language or framework gets introduced (or I come across it the first time ), I want to play with it to get a handle on how things work in that new way. Can you recommend any ...
11
votes
6answers
2k views
Should I learn Javascript before Coffeescript?
I'm a reasonably experienced programmer trying to learn web developement. I'm trying to develop a client-side web application which uses svg or canvas for graphics. I've decided I'd like to write ...
11
votes
4answers
730 views
Non-English-based programming languages [closed]
The University of Antioquia in Colombia teaches its introductory programming courses in Lexico, a Spanish-based, object-oriented .NET language. The intent is to teach programming concepts in the ...
11
votes
2answers
798 views
Beautiful Erlang Code
I'm trying to learn more about Erlang than the toy projects I've been playing with. To this end, I'm reading through Programming Erlang and some of the archives from Armstrong on Software.
I would ...
10
votes
9answers
639 views
How have you got chances to learn multiple languages?
I read A programmer should concentrate on at least how many languages?, and I found out that I don't know languages in number 2, 3 of first answer. I want to learn more languages to increase my ...
10
votes
5answers
649 views
Is it ever too early to learn a new language? [closed]
Personal context: I've been learning C++ formally the last 6 months at university. Prior to this I dabbled in JavaScript for a year. Now I am considering learning Python during a month off school.
By ...
10
votes
4answers
1k views
Are there currently any modern, standardized, aptitude test for software engineering?
Background
I am a working software engineer who is in the midst of seeking out a new contract for the next year or so. In my search, I am enduring several absurd technical interviews as indicated by ...
9
votes
7answers
701 views
I'm interested in checking out a stack-oriented programming language. Which one would you recommend?
I'm interested in learning a stack-oriented programming language (such as Forth), which one would you recommend? The qualities I want are:
You should be able to develop non-trivial software in it, ...
