Newbie Needs Windows Application Development Recommendation

[sasuser2006]

I have experiance writing base SAS and Perl in a linux environment but I'm looking to expand my knowledge into something different. I want to learn how to create windows applications and with so many OOP languanges out there I'm not really sure which to start with...C++, C#, Visual Basic, Ruby, etc. Accessability and price are definate restraints as this is a hobby. Can anybody make a recommendation for a good language to develop Windows applications? Thanks ahead of time for any advice or help!

 

[cpjust]

I can't believe I'm saying this (may the C++ gods forgive me), but if I were you I'd go with Java. It's multi-platform, has a huge standard library that comes with it, and it's free. You can even get a nice fancy development environment for free:

http://www.eclipse.org/

C++ is a great language to know too, but since you want to do GUI programming, it's a little harder to do in C++ than it is in Java, and it's platform dependent.

 

[JoeriMJ]

I think Java would be a good choice. For the same reasons as cpjust actually. On the other hand, personally I also like VB.net. the 2005 edition can be downloaded for free from microsoft. I think it's fun to play around in. disadvantages ofcourse are windows-dependent and rather slow with big projects.

If you're going for Java, I suggest using JCreator as IDE. This has about the same interface as eclipse, but I prefer it when I need a nice GUI. Creating a GUI in Java is often annoying and not a lot of fun. JCreator helps with this problem.

http://www.jcreator.com

 

[AlexCuse]

Any of the .net languages will probably be the easiest for doing windows forms. I would suggest java or C#, just based on personal preference (I like the semicolons for line termination and bracketing).

The languages are very similar, but the forms development in C# will be much easier. Of course, if you learn java first then C# will probably be a piece of cake. Do yourself a favor, and try to learn the basics of OO while you are learning the language, so you don't develop bad habits.

Most importantly, have fun (after all, it is a hobby)

Alex

[small]----signature below----[/small]
I don't do any programming whatsoever

Ignorance of certain subjects is a great part of wisdom

 

[BobRodes]

If you find that you are trying to put something together in Java, and stick everything in one huge class, you'll want to read up on "coehesion" and "coupling.

 

[shaun077]

I'm in a similar situation and have access to many different OOP for my hobby of creating a game of risk. I've had experience in C and would like something that I can create structs with (are pointers allowed in these languages?). I'm going to be learning java next year but was told this was more web based. Also which OOP is most widely used in the buisness world, ie do the majority of people use java rather than c# etc?

 

[stevexff]

shaun

While structs and pointers are bread-and-butter stuff in C, they are rather frowned upon in the OO world as being a good way to introduce tricky bugs. Best to re-use what you know from C already for algorithms, loops and control structures, and embrace the concepts of OO for the rest. From your background in C, I would suggest C# or Java as a next step rather than VB, as the syntax will be more familiar to you.

Steve

[small]"Every program can be reduced by one instruction, and every program has at least one bug. Therefore, any program can be reduced to one instruction which doesn't work." (Object:erlDesignPatterns)[/small]