C++ or Java

**GReYVee** · 12-03-12, 07:36 PM

Yeah Bunni, Java is a referenced language. JRE is poorly implemented, slow, and won't provide much for serious developers. It's claim has always been cross-platform through portability. Many other languages have been able to make safe type coding, and portable code, possible to some degree without as much loss in performance or capability. I agree if you want to learn programming generically C++ is the way to go.

But I also believe some skill sets will benefit greater with an introduction to Java as a softer way to understand GUI/OOP. I am pretty sure the only reason Java has not succumbed to other languages in this line of study is because of the way it also extends into browser based 'coding'.

Hell Calc/MatLab and all those ridiculous ECE courses provided a better structure for engineers. It really depends on what level of focus you want programming to be as a part of your career path.

You're an exception because you love anything&everything about programming. If someone is even asking this question they probably do not have that same level of focus. So although the language falls short on many aspects he just wants an answer on what may be better -- and the answer is it depends.

**DJ Ms. White** · 12-03-12, 07:41 PM

I'm quite interested in programming actually. I had just put it on a back burner while I learned physics as I was mainly using MatLAB and ROOT.

**GReYVee** · 12-03-12, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by DJ Mr. White

I'm quite interested in programming actually. I had just put it on a back burner while I learned physics as I was mainly using MatLAB and ROOT.

Then don't limit your exposure. For formal courses go with C++ and familiarize yourself with Visual Studio (Express is free and you will likely get a student licence for pro with your courses). Notepad++ lacks in general and I mostly use it as a portable app for assisting with conventional spacing and readability. Makes HTML/CSS/Jscript fairly manageable.

I have a personal liking to C#. SharpDevelop is portable and can compile applications as long as the framework you are running on supports usage (eg .NET 2.5 / 3 / 3.5 etc). You can always piggy back the assemblies on your thumb drive and re-reference the project to the framework later if needed.

I favor C# readily because the grammar melds pretty well with most other .NET languages. Very easy for making desktop applications and officially supports XNA for XBOX game development. With your background in physics you may really enjoy this aspect of it. (pong anyone?

)

Whatever you decide I encourage you to stick with .NET launguages. With assemblies you never have to revisit old accomplishments in an old language and rewrite them. You simply make them into DLL files and reference them.

This is literally the tiniest tip of the iceberg. Application development and programming have very very broad uses and methodologies.

**Imisnew2** · 12-03-12, 09:19 PM

I agree with what most people have said here. Depending on the reason, you may chose one language over another.

However, if you are learning programming for the first time in your life, I recommend Java only as a stepping stone. Learning how to manage memory efficiently is a core concept in programming. After beginning with an easier to use language such as Java, you should change to C++, which more accurately represents how a computer actually handles instructions and memory.

I recommend Visual Studio express as an IDE for C/C++, with eclipse for Java.

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**Ranger10** · 12-03-12, 09:23 PM

Originally Posted by Bunni

stop dont listen to them

c++

no questions asked.

its compatible to move to other languages (everything is written in it or c to boot)

ie. java is c++ without overloading, optional operators, pointers (no what you waffles have is not pointers dont argue).

But the reverse cannot be said. ESEPCIALLY if its your intro language. Youll learn programming without having to worry about garbage collection and that right there is exactly whats wrong with the computer industry right now (flood of pogrammers who've never had to worry about garbage collection) and exactly why c++ natives are ALWAYS picked over java'ers for any job (not to mention that going from c++ or even c to java is cake).

imo java has one claim to fame, its virtual machine. STOP USING IT for everything else

Lol, I knew this was coming.

**Ranger10** · 12-03-12, 09:26 PM

I have Bunni program in Java on other projects from time to time, and you should hear the sand rubbing his vagina raw over VCee.

**ab1tar** · 12-03-12, 09:56 PM

My guess is that any C++ will focus more on actual Computer Science, while Java will focus more on software development.

**hannibal** · 12-03-12, 10:22 PM

Originally Posted by Bunni

stop dont listen to them

c++

no questions asked.

its compatible to move to other languages (everything is written in it or c to boot)

ie. java is c++ without overloading, optional operators, pointers (no what you waffles have is not pointers dont argue).

But the reverse cannot be said. ESEPCIALLY if its your intro language. Youll learn programming without having to worry about garbage collection and that right there is exactly whats wrong with the computer industry right now (flood of pogrammers who've never had to worry about garbage collection) and exactly why c++ natives are ALWAYS picked over java'ers for any job (not to mention that going from c++ or even c to java is cake).

imo java has one claim to fame, its virtual machine. STOP USING IT for everything else

If I may inteject some history, Java was created by James Gosling specifically to show that a language need not have pointers in order to do the majority of programing tasks. The result is that Java is much easier to learn, hence it is now the defacto first language of many programmers. (since anything involving pointers, malloc and free is hard, basically anything involving math or thinking about what your doing, but I digress.)

Now Gosling created smaltalk and java was an evolution of those concepts. For what its worth, C++ may be entirely too powerful, see Template Metaprograming. The result is that morphisms of code under template metaprograming are not invertable, put another way you can turn C++ into any language but not back again.

-H

**hannibal** · 12-03-12, 10:27 PM

Originally Posted by DJ Mr. White

I'm quite interested in programming actually. I had just put it on a back burner while I learned physics as I was mainly using MatLAB and ROOT.

Matlab is for eunics and dumb jocks. Real men use mathematica or maple.

-H

**EBF** · 12-03-12, 10:46 PM

Originally Posted by DJ Mr. White

computational physics

C++, end of discussion.

Originally Posted by Imisnew2

I agree with what most people have said here. Depending on the reason, you may chose one language over another.

However, if you are learning programming for the first time in your life, I recommend Java only as a stepping stone. Learning how to manage memory efficiently is a core concept in programming. After beginning with an easier to use language such as Java, you should change to C++, which more accurately represents how a computer actually handles instructions and memory.

+1

I started with Java and moved to C++ later. Java is easier to learn. Expertise in C++ > expertise in Java. Both are valuable to know, but C++ moreso.

I would actually suggest using Linux with C++, but if you are not comfortable with Linux or do not want to learn it, (Windows) Visual Studio is okay. If you are serious about programming, you must know Linux.

If you want a full fledged IDE, Eclipse is great for Java. Otherwise, you can also run in through the terminal in Linux.

I run my Linux distributions as virtual machines on a Windows computer.

Also, I have never heard of a university that divides the curriculum by language and by language only. Surely, there must be some other differences between the two options, such as subject focus (e.g. enterprise development vs. software engineering)?