Mail Archives: djgpp/1998/03/02/01:58:43
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: scorpio <scorpio AT onlinemac DOT com>
> Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.djgpp
> Date: Saturday, February 28, 1998 9:27 AM
> Subject: C++ in Death Throes?
>
>
> >Hi
> >I am just learning to program, got a big book, downloaded djgpp and went
> >for it.
> >
> >So i really dont know to much about the Programming Business?
> >
> >I was wondering if i could get opinions on whether or not people think
> >that C++ is worth learning.
> >
> >I dont suppose it would hurt, but if your kid was going to get into
> >programming, where would you try to steer him.
> >
> >If it depends on what a person wants to do, lets look at applications
> >first then games.
> >
> >If it depends on format, well i dont know enough about the formats, but
> >windows seems to be winning the race.
> >
> >anyway i would appreciate any response.
>
>
>
I am also new to C/C++, but not new to programming, and chose to add to my
knowledge for a number of reasons that I feel also apply to someone learning
their first language. Of course everything that follows is only one mans
opinion.
1. C/C++ has become accepted world wide as the preferred language for many
applications as evidenced by the huge volume of software developed using it
commercially and in academia.
2. Apparently C/C++ has become the language of choice to be formally taught to
beginning students starting in high school and continuing in advanced
schooling. This alone assures that as a viable language it will be around for
some time to come.
3. The new ISO standard, ready for formal adoption, will assure(?) port
between compilers and further encourage the wide spread use of the language.
Is C/C++ the "best" language to learn? I do NOT want to start a thread
debating the best programming language and quote Bjarne Stroustrup:
"Language comparisons are rarely meaningful and even less often fair. A good
comparison of
major programming languages requires more effort than most people are willing
to spend, experience in a wide range of application areas, a rigid maintenance
of a detached and impartial point of view, and a sense of fairness. .......
I also worry about a phenomenon I have repeatedly observed in honest
attempts at language comparisons. The authors try hard to be impartial, but
are hopelessly biased by focusing on a single application, a single style of
programming, or a single culture among programmers. Worse, when one language
is significantly better known than others, a subtle shift in perspective
occurs: "
In my opinion the best programming language to use must be solely determined
by the application for which the program is being developed. Considering just
the general acceptance and installed compilers, C/C++ would seem, at this
time, to be the choice for applications where the best solution requires
system access or oop, This includes a large percentage of applications in
today's computing environment. On the other hand, if number crunching is the
prime requirement, than Fortran may be the better choice. Careful analysis of
the problem is required before starting to code. Please don't misinterpret my
statement as advocating C/C++ and Fortran as the ultimate or even best
programming languages available. I am not qualified to make such a judgment;
my choice of these two is based to a great extent on the standardization,
widespread distribution and use, and broad base of experience and support
available when the inevitable problem occurs.
In conclusion, my personal opinion is:
1. Avoid learning any proprietary language as your first or only programming
tool. These can always be learned at a later time if needed for specific
applications.
2. Get a good tutorial for C/C++ avoiding anything with a company name in it's
title. After mastering the tutorial switch to a more advanced text (e.g..
"The C++ Programming Language", third edition, Bjarne Stroustrup,
Addison-Wesley, ISBN 0-201-88954-4) and start at page one to learn the details
of the language.
3. After becoming a "master" : ) of C/C++, investigate and become familiar
with another language(s) and other facets of programming that can be very
beneficial in analyzing the problem and defining the solution including the
best language to use at that time. Paul Short wrote on this thread:
But learning languages and libraries are only parts of the big
picture... a little theory goes a long way. I've been able to
accomplish a lot more after exposure to things like algorithm analysis,
data structures, discrete mathematics, and even basic college algebra.
I've also found software engineering practices are useful for
organizing
projects, improving quality, and reducing errors.
Ralph Gesler
rgesler AT pacificnet DOT net
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<HTML>
<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE>-----Original Message-----
<BR>From: scorpio <scorpio AT onlinemac DOT com>
<BR>Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.djgpp
<BR>Date: Saturday, February 28, 1998 9:27 AM
<BR>Subject: C++ in Death Throes?
<BR>
<P>>Hi
<BR>>I am just learning to program, got a big book, downloaded djgpp and
went
<BR>>for it.
<BR>>
<BR>>So i really dont know to much about the Programming Business?
<BR>>
<BR>>I was wondering if i could get opinions on whether or not people think
<BR>>that C++ is worth learning.
<BR>>
<BR>>I dont suppose it would hurt, but if your kid was going to get into
<BR>>programming, where would you try to steer him.
<BR>>
<BR>>If it depends on what a person wants to do, lets look at applications
<BR>>first then games.
<BR>>
<BR>>If it depends on format, well i dont know enough about the formats,
but
<BR>>windows seems to be winning the race.
<BR>>
<BR>>anyway i would appreciate any response.
<BR>
<BR>
<BR> </BLOCKQUOTE>
I am also new to C/C++, but not new to programming, and chose to
add to my knowledge for a number of reasons that I feel also apply to someone
learning their first language. Of course everything that follows is only
one mans opinion.
<P>1. C/C++ has become accepted world wide as the preferred language
for many applications as evidenced by the huge volume of software developed
using it commercially and in academia.
<BR>2. Apparently C/C++ has become the language of choice to be formally
taught to beginning students starting in high school and continuing in
advanced schooling. This alone assures that as a viable language
it will be around for some time to come.
<BR>3. The new ISO standard, ready for formal adoption, will assure(?)
port between compilers and further encourage the wide spread use of the
language.
<P>Is C/C++ the "best" language to learn? I do NOT want to start a thread
debating the best programming language and quote Bjarne Stroustrup:
<BR>
<BR><I>"Language comparisons are rarely meaningful and even less often
fair. A good comparison of</I>
<BR><I>major programming languages requires more effort than most people
are willing to spend, experience in a wide range of application areas,
a rigid maintenance of a detached and impartial point of view, and a sense
of fairness. .......</I>
<BR> <I>I also worry about a phenomenon I have repeatedly observed
in honest attempts at language comparisons. The authors try hard to be
impartial, but are hopelessly biased by focusing on a single application,
a single style of programming, or a single culture among</I> <I>programmers.
Worse, when one language is significantly better known than others, a subtle
shift in perspective occurs: "</I>
<BR>
<P>In my opinion the best programming language to use must be solely determined
by the application for which the program is being developed. Considering
just the general acceptance and installed compilers, C/C++ would seem,
at this time, to be the choice for applications where the best solution
requires system access or oop, This includes a large percentage of applications
in today's computing environment. On the other hand, if number crunching
is the prime requirement, than Fortran may be the better choice. Careful
analysis of the problem is required before starting to code. Please don't
misinterpret my statement as advocating C/C++ and Fortran as the ultimate
or even best programming languages available. I am not qualified to make
such a judgment; my choice of these two is based to a great extent
on the standardization, widespread distribution and use, and broad base
of experience and support available when the inevitable problem occurs.
<P> In conclusion, my personal opinion is:
<BR>1. Avoid learning any proprietary language as your first or only programming
tool. These can always be learned at a later time if needed for specific
applications.
<BR>2. Get a good tutorial for C/C++ avoiding anything with a company name
in it's title. After mastering the tutorial switch to a more advanced
text (e.g.. "The C++ Programming Language", third edition, Bjarne Stroustrup,
Addison-Wesley, ISBN 0-201-88954-4) and start at page one to learn the
details of the language.
<BR> 3. After becoming a "master" : ) of C/C++, investigate and become
familiar with another language(s) and other facets of programming that
can be very beneficial in analyzing the problem and defining the solution
including the best language to use at that time. Paul Short wrote on this
thread:
<UL><I> But learning languages and libraries are only parts of the
big</I>
<BR><I> picture... a little theory goes a long way. I've been
able to</I>
<BR><I> accomplish a lot more after exposure to things like algorithm
analysis,</I>
<BR><I> data structures, discrete mathematics, and even basic college
algebra.</I>
<BR><I> I've also found software engineering practices are useful
for organizing</I>
<BR><I> projects, improving quality, and reducing errors.</I></UL>
<I></I>
<P>Ralph Gesler
<BR>rgesler AT pacificnet DOT net</HTML>
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