Is this a good programming practice?
So, I want to learn a moderate amount of 3 programming languages, C, C++ and C#. I already know a moderate amount of C# but I also want to learn C and C++, as well as observe how all 3 languages compare to each other. Would it be helpful if I downloaded 3 separate compilers and took a programming tutorial that involved all three programming languages? For example, Wikipedia has an article on Hello World statements for C, C++ and C#.
The two problems I can think of is that I might not be able to find a modern C compiler due to its decline in popularity and that I would need to look for a series of tutorials that dealt with all 3 languages specifically.
Thanks.
Re: Is this a good programming practice?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Krunchyman
Would it be helpful if I downloaded 3 separate compilers and took a programming tutorial that involved all three programming languages?
I have not seen an introductory programming tutorial that taught more than one programming language at the same time. I have seen tutorials/books targeted at people who have prior knowledge of a particular programming language to help them transition to a new programming langauge, or more advanced tutorials that teach how to combine the use of different languages, but the notion of teaching a beginner multiple programming languages simultaneously in the same material sounds crazy. You're setting yourself up for utter confusion.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Krunchyman
I might not be able to find a modern C compiler due to its decline in popularity
Pelles C and newer versions of gcc are modern C compilers.
Re: Is this a good programming practice?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
laserlight
I have not seen an introductory programming tutorial that taught more than one programming language at the same time. I have seen tutorials/books targeted at people who have prior knowledge of a particular programming language to help them transition to a new programming langauge, or more advanced tutorials that teach how to combine the use of different languages, but the notion of teaching a beginner multiple programming languages simultaneously in the same material sounds crazy. You're setting yourself up for utter confusion.
I also do know a moderate amount of other programming languages such as Java and Basic as well as having a good understanding of programming concepts. Still, trying to absorb a lot of information from different programming languages is more likely to confuse.
Re: Is this a good programming practice?
Try learning one language at a time.
Re: Is this a good programming practice?
Hope I do not bother, but I would like to give you my two cents
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Krunchyman
I also do know a moderate amount of other programming languages such as Java and Basic as well as having a good understanding of programming concepts. Still, trying to absorb a lot of information from different programming languages is more likely to confuse.
Well, your matter seems to be more related to your "moderate knowledge of many" rather than a "good knowledge of at least one". But to tell the truth, first of all this is how you said it - it might even be that, looking deeper an external developer could think you're quite good in some of them.
Basing on the way you presented it, however, it is more likely that your matter is you think at developement as a matter of knowing languages (or magic keywords or special functions or the like).
Developing is a bit more than "knowing a language": there is an Architectural point of view, a knowledge of (at least the existence of) Patterns, a comprehension not only of what an Object is and, of course, on how to build it, but also an understanding on which kind of Object would be of help (or: what kind of custom blocks could be of use here).
This kind of knowledge is something you gain not only reading and practicing a specific language (the practice and the reading are always good and essential, of course) but also with experience.
In conclusion:nothing bad in trying to learn many and trying to expand horizontally, but you should consider also (or even as a priority) expanding vertically in both meaning of
-deeper knowledge of at least a language
and
-higher towards analysis, which is somehow independent of a specific language
Re: Is this a good programming practice?
I wanted to add to what Cimp was saying....
There are two key aspects to learning a programming language. The first is the syntax of the language. When looking at C, C++, and C# you will see that a lot of the syntax is similar. The second aspect however, is how you approach application development. It is the architecture of the language and how it executes.
It is easy to think that C, C++, and C# are all similar because the syntax is similar; however, if you are using the languages correctly in modern apps, you'll find that there are some huge distinctions with each. For this reason, knowing the syntax alone is not the same is knowing how to program with the languages. The object-oriented nature of C++ and C# make them very different from C. The native aspects versus using a runtime make C++ and C# very different. It is these architecture characteristics that make the languages what they are - not just the syntax.
Brad!
