somebody231
4th Level Red Feather
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2003
- Messages
- 1,792
- Points
- 0
I've tried some language in the past on my free time, but I never studied more than a few weeks. Back then I didn't have enough of motivation. I tried out c/c++ (can't remember which one), java, python and c#.
Now the situation is that I'm studying pretty ICT focused stuff in a university and our first programming course is about to begin. We could choose between C, PHP and Java. The PHP class was the smallest of the bunch, next came up Java and the C courses had alot of space to apply to. I made my choice and chose PHP over Java.
I never really had any interest in C or C++. C's one of the few compiled languages that you use to make huge software that work swiftly. Java's pretty much somewhere in between interpreted and compiled and has the huge flexibility that C and C++ don't have. It also has an alot easier learning curve without all the hassle stuff like memory allocations can bring along.
Anyway at some point I indeed was alot more interested in client-software engineering: To build apps that people normally like to use.
Then I realized that these kinds of apps are way way harder to make than cool websites with cool functionality or so-called "web apps".
It's just alot easier to get something visual with PHP and Java. Especially with PHP. If I would've chosen the C path, I'd have to deal with command line prompts alot more and I don't want to even begin to imagine when I'd get to the GUI stuff.
I know everyone has to learn the basics first like math operators and variables and whatnot, but I seriously think there's so much more to learn with C and Java. For example they both have the "include/import" thingy that you must understand when to use. If I ain't mistaken, PHP doesn't need any includes or imports... You can start writing code without any fuss like this:
<?php
your stuff here
?>
Alot more n00bie friendly than
class Something {
public static void main(String[] args) {
}
}
Well you get the drill... 🙂 I might not be too accurate cause I'm a novice, but atleast I think I have a valid point with the ease of use -part.
Oh yea and PHP doesn't have variable types that one must set. You don't have to specify stuff like "int something" to make sure the computer figures out it's an integer. Why not just put something like $number=43. Shouldn't the computer automatically detect that it's a normal with two digits? 😀
Anyway I'd love to start out a discussion here... 🙂 I remember seeing one in the past, but couldn't find it so I decided to start off a new thread.
Please do share your thoughts about Java, PHP, C and whatever language you'd want to talk about! Most of us might not have any experience in the language, but some would be eager to listen to some rants and praises about various languages... 🙂 And comparisons of course.
I might pick up Java at some point in the future, but for now I think PHP is alot easier to pick up as a first language. Besides I wanna be web-oriented (I know java has server-side stuff too) and I want to also pick up CSS, XML/XHTML and JavaScript. People are more likely to surf to a nifty almost unknown website if it gets alot of attention, but the same doesn't apply to client-software. If you're software isn't huge, it's got a pretty sucky prospect to be noticed.
For example: Online currency converter vs an offline one. Everyone knows most would just surf to the site and not download or install anything 😛
Now the situation is that I'm studying pretty ICT focused stuff in a university and our first programming course is about to begin. We could choose between C, PHP and Java. The PHP class was the smallest of the bunch, next came up Java and the C courses had alot of space to apply to. I made my choice and chose PHP over Java.
I never really had any interest in C or C++. C's one of the few compiled languages that you use to make huge software that work swiftly. Java's pretty much somewhere in between interpreted and compiled and has the huge flexibility that C and C++ don't have. It also has an alot easier learning curve without all the hassle stuff like memory allocations can bring along.
Anyway at some point I indeed was alot more interested in client-software engineering: To build apps that people normally like to use.
Then I realized that these kinds of apps are way way harder to make than cool websites with cool functionality or so-called "web apps".
It's just alot easier to get something visual with PHP and Java. Especially with PHP. If I would've chosen the C path, I'd have to deal with command line prompts alot more and I don't want to even begin to imagine when I'd get to the GUI stuff.
I know everyone has to learn the basics first like math operators and variables and whatnot, but I seriously think there's so much more to learn with C and Java. For example they both have the "include/import" thingy that you must understand when to use. If I ain't mistaken, PHP doesn't need any includes or imports... You can start writing code without any fuss like this:
<?php
your stuff here
?>
Alot more n00bie friendly than
class Something {
public static void main(String[] args) {
}
}
Well you get the drill... 🙂 I might not be too accurate cause I'm a novice, but atleast I think I have a valid point with the ease of use -part.
Oh yea and PHP doesn't have variable types that one must set. You don't have to specify stuff like "int something" to make sure the computer figures out it's an integer. Why not just put something like $number=43. Shouldn't the computer automatically detect that it's a normal with two digits? 😀
Anyway I'd love to start out a discussion here... 🙂 I remember seeing one in the past, but couldn't find it so I decided to start off a new thread.
Please do share your thoughts about Java, PHP, C and whatever language you'd want to talk about! Most of us might not have any experience in the language, but some would be eager to listen to some rants and praises about various languages... 🙂 And comparisons of course.
I might pick up Java at some point in the future, but for now I think PHP is alot easier to pick up as a first language. Besides I wanna be web-oriented (I know java has server-side stuff too) and I want to also pick up CSS, XML/XHTML and JavaScript. People are more likely to surf to a nifty almost unknown website if it gets alot of attention, but the same doesn't apply to client-software. If you're software isn't huge, it's got a pretty sucky prospect to be noticed.
For example: Online currency converter vs an offline one. Everyone knows most would just surf to the site and not download or install anything 😛
