Let's discuss computer programming

[ParadigmShifter]

Visual Basic.NET is C# with bad syntax.

 

[Zelig]

I wouldn't say VB.NET sucks... .NET is a solid framework, and VB is at the point where it can do essentially everything C# does now.

Problem for VB is that there's really no reason to use it over C# unless you're a VB wizard already, C# has better syntax, better online support and more demand in the market.

 

[caketastydelish]

I wouldn't say VB.NET sucks... .NET is a solid framework, and VB is at the point where it can do essentially everything C# does now.

Problem for VB is that there's really no reason to use it over C# unless you're a VB wizard already, C# has better syntax, better online support and more demand in the market.

All the C's (C, C+ and C++) are famous computer programs. I intend to learn them at some point. If you're saying VB.NET overlaps with C, then I wouldn't want to learn VB.NET because I'd rather just learn C.

 

[ParadigmShifter]

.NET is nothing like C. C is just higher level assembly language (so is C++ really).

C#, VB.NET and Java add automatic garbage collection which makes it easier to make less mistakes. With C, you need to really know what you are doing, most programming languages allow you to shoot yourself in the foot, with C it's easy to blow your whole leg off. C++ allows you to blow your leg off and re-use the bullet.

 

[Zelig]

Let's clear up some terminology:

.NET is a software framework. Every language on the .NET framework has essentially the same capabilities.
VB.NET is a programming language which is implemented on the .NET framework, with syntax similar to classical VB.
C# is a programming language implemented on the .NET framework, with syntax similar to C++ and Java.
C+ is not a thing.

 

[ParadigmShifter]

Any Turing-complete language has essentially the same capabilities

 

[caketastydelish]

You guys have both went a bit over my head, but I'm guessing you're both saying I should take Java and not NET.

 

[Zelig]

Any Turing-complete language has essentially the same capabilities

To be more accurate, they're functionally (but not syntactically) identical (I think with a few exceptions still) at a high-level. But you know this already.

You guys have both went a bit over my head, but I'm guessing you're both saying I should take Java and not NET.

.NET is not a language, see my last post...

Java is the name used by both the programming language and the software platform, but they're not the same thing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_(programming_language)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_(software_platform)

 

[ParadigmShifter]

I prefer C# to Java, but I would take Java if the only alternative is VB.NET. C# and Java are very similar anyway.

If you are doing a Computing Degree they have to teach you some C, surely?

EDIT: Since in the real world, every platform has a C compiler.

 

[caketastydelish]

To be more accurate, they're functionally (but not syntactically) identical (I think with a few exceptions still) at a high-level. But you know this already.



.NET is not a language, see my last post...

Java is the name used by both the programming language and the software platform, but they're not the same thing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_(programming_language)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_(software_platform)

I should have been more specific. The choice I have is either Java or VB.NET, not ".Net"

I am also guessing that by "java" they mean the programming language, not the software platform. After all, it says it is a seminar in programming.

edit: If you guys are interested, I will post the entire degree plan. As far as I can see every class is 3 hours.

Computer Science I
Computer Science II
Data Structures
Seminar in Programming-Java or VB.NET (you guys are telling me to choose Java)
Computer Architecture
Operating Systems
Algorithm Analysis
Programming Languages
Systems Analysis
Software Engineering
Advanced Web-based App. (ASP.NET)
Senior Seminar

Web Page Design/Internet Programming
Net-Centric Computing
Database Analysis
Applied Net-Centric Computing

Introduction to Discrete Mathematics
Statistical Methods

also there are 4 electives, and I must choose at least two of them:

Computer Construction
Security. Computer Ethics
Graphics. Decision Support Systems.
English. Technical and professional writing. (not sure why this one is relevant, but whatever)

 

[ParadigmShifter]

No maths? LOL. Ask for your money back. You need to know discrete maths and linear algebra.

EDIT: Ok, I see discrete maths. No linear algebra though, yikes.

 

[caketastydelish]

No maths? LOL. Ask for your money back. You need to know discrete maths and linear algebra.

EDIT: Ok, I see discrete maths. No linear algebra though, yikes.

Not sure what "linear algebra" is, but fyi I have already taken college algebra, and this summer I will be taking trigonometry and calculus.

 

[ParadigmShifter]

Linear algebra is matrices and Vector Spaces.

 

[caketastydelish]

Linear algebra is matrices and Vector Spaces.

Oh dear, I have no idea what that is. Do you recommend I take it even though it isn't required in the degree plan?

 

[ParadigmShifter]

Yes.

Matrices are needed for 3d graphics. Linear algebra is needed for everything. Do you know what a dot product (inner product) is?

 

[caketastydelish]

Yes.

Matrices are needed for 3d graphics. Linear algebra is needed for everything. Do you know what a dot product (inner product) is?

No, but you seem to know what you're talking about so I will certainly take your advice.

 

[ParadigmShifter]

Take as many maths courses as you can; maths doesn't go out of date unlike computers.

 

[Zelig]

Matrices are needed for 3d graphics.

I stay far away from 3d graphics, but matrices are still useful; I recently used a bunch of multi-dimensional matrices to help calculate healthcare outcomes.

Take as many maths courses as you can; maths doesn't go out of date unlike computers.

Yeah, this. Paradigm and I both have mathematics degrees.

 

[caketastydelish]

I stay far away from 3d graphics, but matrices are still useful; I recently used a bunch of multi-dimensional matrices to help calculate healthcare outcomes.



Yeah, this. Paradigm and I both have mathematics degrees.

Maybe getting a minor in math would be a good idea?

 

[ParadigmShifter]

Depends what sort of programming work you want to do. If you just want to do databases or web stuff, maths probably isn't super important.

Anything to do with graphics, statistics, medical fields, then yeah, do as much maths as you can. Linear Algebra, Probability and Statistics, maybe some applied if you want to do physics simulations.