What language is used for what?

[midoubleraj]

I use computer mostly for informational (educational) purposes and
text editing. I would like to go a step further, only I don't know in which direction

Can anyone give me some basic explanation about what programing languages are
used to create something. For example: for what are C, C+, C++ used,
what is made by using this language; for what are Visual
Basic and Delphi used, what can I see as good examples of things
created by using these languages; also PHP, Java... There are probably more programing
languages that I'm not aware of, so some basic information about them
would be nice. Also, can these languages be used on both Windows and
Linux? If there is a good site(s) with these things, please post a
link.

I suppose that these questions are silly for someone who is using
computer for more serious stuff, but I simply don't know anything
about program languages, not even for what BASIC is used for.

[doctorgonzo]

C and C++ are used widely, as they are the most versatile and powerful. Windows itself is written in C and C++. Many complicated programs are as well.

Java is like C++, but its main benefit is that it can be used across different platforms. A program written in Java can be used on any platform without rewriting it.

Visual Basic is considered to be a poor programming language, but it does allow you to quickly create windows applications that look good. However, it isn't as powerful or as versatile as C++, and it can lead to poor programming techniques.

PHP is a powerful language that can be used to create dynamic web pages. A good example of the use of PHP is this forum itself.

Most of these language can be used on various platforms as long as you have the right compilers. Visual Basic can't, however; it is for creating Windows programs. Considering that is it probably the least useful of all those languages, it is no big deal.

If you want to learn a language, start with Java or C++. There are tutorials and compilers free on the web for both.

[midoubleraj]

Thanks. If I understood you right - C++ can be used only on Windows
platforms, and with C++ one can make pretty much everything, right?

With Java one can make pretty much everything too, but that can be used on
different platforms. Did I get it right? So, Java is better than C++?

What other interesting stuff, besides Windows, are made in these
languages?

What about Delphi and such?

[doctorgonzo]

Actually, C and C++ can be used on other platforms as well. The difference between Java and C++ is that when you write a program in C++, it is compiled differently for each platform. That is why a program written for Windows won't work on a Mac, and so on. Java, on the other hand, is not compiled to executable code, but run on a Virtual Machine on your PC. The difference is subtle, but important. You can code just about anything for any platform in C and C++ (including game consoles, btw).

There are hundreds of programming languages, and they all do different things. Listing them all would take forever. One isn't necessarily better than another, except in terms of particular application. Java isn't necessarily better than C++, though it is better in certain circumstances.

[Fuze]

Java is newer than C++. Some people think that C++ is still the present and Java is more of the future. A lot of high schools are switching their AP computer science courses from C++ to Java.

[Paul Victorey]

C++ will always have its niche. Java lacks the power of C++, and portability is nice, but performance is often the important way.

Most are moving to Java not because it's more useful, but because it's easier to teach. Java does a lot of things behind the scene, making it both easier and harder than C++.

[grasshopperbe]

im first year student IT; (belgium) we get c/c++ in one class
and java (starting with javascript) .
we use c/c++ on redhat 6.2 machines and java under win2000/exporer (could be linux netscape too:-)
i think c and starting with javascript could get you on the way
imho the best way of learning these languages is practice practice practice.
there are lots of sources on the net (search google) but youll need courses or books too i think.
qbasic is nice for the VERY beginning and is delivered on the
win98 cdrom (not in 2000 or xp anymore i believe)
(qbasic.exe, runs in dos box)
also very important i think is not only the language but the
'structured programming techiques' you need to undertstand
very well what structured programming is before you can write code in any language
hope i could be of any help

[Demosthenes]

It depends what you want to do. If you are serious about learning, start with Java. As said, it has fewer sharp edges than C and it is fully documented: a VERY nice feature.

If you are just casual, I will go out on a limb and say the following: First, please do not do QBASIC; it is just bad. Second, (and here is the taking a jump) I would recommend learning a functional language.

Personally, I believed Object Oriented Programming (OOP) was the Alpha and Omega, but dabbling in New Jersey Standard Meta Language (SML/NJ), I am impressed with it. It is a well typed language, meaning most of the run time errors you will encounter in C style programming (which are very hard to debug) simply cannot happen in ML. The downside is, getting you program to be well typed is a pain.

ML is straight forward. OOP can get gray at times, but ML is crystal clear most all the time. It is pretty verbose, meaning the code is designed to read more or less like a book (ie If Then Else, Let x In y End, etc). And, it does pattern matching, which is really, really, really, really . . . really cool, so it handles recursion very naturally.

The downside: No one uses it, knows of it, or has even heard of it more than likely. It is very elegant and you can do many things in two or three lines that I would defy others to do in C with as simple code as ML produces, but those two or three lines can sometimes get bloody, but not so much as the thirty or so C lines required, I believe.

Anyway, I doubt my advice will be taken. And, I cannot blame you, I would not even listen to my own advice, really. But, it is here for the taking.

Respectfully,

Demosthenes

[grasshopperbe]

New Jersey Standard Meta Language ?
indeed never heard of it.
is it new? i would like to find more about this, you seem to be a fan of it:-)
im just learning programming now, could you give some links to info about this language and its structures
thanks in advance

[Demosthenes]

Not new at all. Standard ML of New Jersey is what I use: http://cm.bell-labs.com/cm/cs/what/smlnj/ The other one I know of is Moscow ML, but I would bet there are others. You can get all the stuff from that site for SML/NJ. You can program directly into the interpreter, but it is often easier to compile from a file. For this, I would recommend Emacs if you know it (there is an SML package for it) or, more than likely, for Windows there is a basic editor MLEdit.

From what I understand, it was designed for language and compiler theory. It is a strict, well-typed, polymorphic language, but it is sound. So, any functional program written in ML can be proven to be sound (ie it never produces a wrong answer). Assuming, of course, you wrote it correctly to begin with. That is a very hard thing to do in C style languages.

But, keep in mind, it is a functional language. No Objects, pointers, or imperitive features (though they do exist). This is a road block at the start, until you realize the important fact: you do not need while loops. Once you start thinking functionally, things become pretty easy. While switching between C and ML is really hard, I found my C/C++ programming improved and my awareness of recursive calls much more improved.

As always, it is best to learn from a human, but it is hard to find a fellow ML hacker. And, while Google searches might get you through, a book would be better. I never read a book on it, but there must be a good one out there.

[TMAN]

Haskell is another interesting functional one.

Edited by Paul: Fixed your mismatched quotation marks.

[TMAN]

hey? what happened? Anyways in my previous post, I gave a link to Haskell, another nice functional language.

[Demosthenes]

You would not happen to have programmed in Haskell would you? I am not sure of the differences, but I do know Haskell is absolutely functional while ML does contain imperitive features (but it can be treated as a functional language) and I think ML does eager evaluation except on function bodies.

Anyway, I am always curious as to what people think about it and what they do with it.

Respectfully,

Demosthenes

[ghost2003]

Im learning to program with delphi, it uses pascal language. Its pretty good to learn, it is also more flexible as in it is not case sencitive, etc to make it easyer when you start.