What programming language do you use?

[Achinz]

I'm curious about the popular programming languages used currently and wonder what "civficers" use in their work and play. For a level playing field, some summary of the useful features of the language from your point of view would be helpful.

 

[ainwood]

VBA. Because it ships with MS Office (and another couple of applications that I use in my work), so it is always available. Because I have become proficcient with VBA, I also do a lot of VB programming in my 'spare' time.

 

[CivCube]

C++ is used by almost everyone.

 

[bobgote]

Depends on what i'm doing.

Java is usually the choice because its easier than C++, very well documented and much safer to use. and the downside to java is the overhead, therefore it is slower than C++ which is rarely an issue for me.

 

[Achinz]

Originally posted by CivCube
C++ is used by almost everyone.

Really?
This might need some elaboration eg should depend on the size of the project on hand, wouldn't it? I thought for smaller programs it might take less effort and be more efficient to use a simpler language.

 

[ainwood]

C++ is most certainly not[/ii] used by nearly everyone!

VB is actually one of the fastest growing, simply because it is one of the easiest to learn.

 

[kcwong]

I'm curious about the popular programming languages used currently and wonder what "civficers" use in their work and play. For a level playing field, some summary of the useful features of the language from your point of view would be helpful.

I used the tool that helps me does the job.

I use Java when the ability to cross-platform is important.

I use C++ when you need deal with native codes (e.g. using other libraries, communicating with hardware, low-level tasks that Java cannot access) or when we do not want to code to be easily decompiled. (My company makes data security solutions... many things simply cannot be done in Java)

I use Java (more) or VB (less) when I need to hack up something real fast.

I use Assembly when dealing with drivers. And a subset of Assembly when programming smartcards.

And when dealing with web interfaces / sites, I use whatever is needed. ASP, JSP, JavaScript, HTML, PHP, Perl. Anything the clients use. I prefer JSP though (Tomcat + Apache).

 

[Jeratain]

Java. I'm keeping a close eye on Whitehorse though; it sounds like it has great potential.

 

[Grisu]

I primarily use java, sometimes C++ (not much anymore though)

one reason why I nowadays prefer Java is that with Eclipse you get an awesome free IDE.

 

[funxus]

The only compiled langauges I've used are VB, Java, Flash and Matlab. VB is the one I know my way around most, but I've recently started using Java too (it's free...). I think VB is nice, because you can get down to start writing the code almost immediately, while in java (and I assume C++) there's a whole bunch of code that has to be written to even make it executable...

Flash isn't really a programming language, but it's possible to make programs for the net using action scripts. I kind of hate it though. Matlab, I did one program in, but the syntax was very similar to other languages and well-documented.

I might have to learn C++ until this summer, but I'm not sure yet. Does anyone have a good link to a "Getting started" guide?

 

[Ohkrana]

There are many programming languages...

As for popular languages

Visual Basic (why oh why???)
Since basic was never designed to be extensible why they came out with VB I'll never know. VB.NET seems to be the next direction. Handy to know because unfortunately it pops up in IT in all sorts of areas.
and the Visual Pinball project was done in VB/VB Script
Visual Pinball


C (procedural language and handy to know especially in GNU Unix circles)
C# (popular depending on you talk to, mix of C and C++)
C++ (Object Orientated - OO)
Java (OO, java is built partly on C++) - this is the one I'd empahsis the most since it's platform neutral and used in all sorts of places.
Pascal (not sure if it's used alot these days)

PHP
ASP
(important with webcontent/forms/databases)
Perl

Ada (common in defense industries and Academia haven't seen it used much elsewhere)

for a long listing of languages...
The Language Guide

Not sure why you ask I assume just out of interest and you thinking of learning a programming language?

In which case I'd say NO save yourself..

But as a starting point if your new to programming I'd say start with VB a damn painful language I must say.

But it's easier to learn subsequent programming languages once you have already gone through the pain and suffering of learning one already. Many of the concepts and methods are transferrable in OOP (Object Orientated Programming).

As for useful features I'd say probably being able to design and use a form in conjuction with Event driven programming to perform some defined action(s). Which you can do in Visual Basic,Java , C++.

As a secondary point when programming you need to get into the habit of learning and using the TLD (Top Level Design) process because once you get the actual program algorithm right then the rest is just syntax and will save you alot of frustration.

 

[Achinz]

Originally posted by Ohkrana
Not sure why you ask I assume just out of interest and you thinking of learning a programming language?

In which case I'd say NO save yourself..

Firstly, I am just curious about the level of interest in computing and how many actually do programming here.

My own background is in the application of programming to science having started with Basic (pre-VB) and then Fortran.

Interesting that no mention has been made of Python which was drawn to my attention at the local LUG (Linux Users' Group) by a programmer who swears by it. A comment on this would be helpful.

I like Linux as a "costless" development platform with C, C++, Python, Perl available as Open Source. Hence the lack of exposure to proprietry packages like VB.

 

[bobgote]

Python can be useful, but it is a scripting language as opposed to a programming language least as far as i can tell. you generally use it for quick data entry or interface kind of purposes, rather than making programs by using it. but yes it is becoming more widespread, from my limited experience with it, it appears fairly simple.

 

[Riesstiu IV]

FORTRAN, the only language you need! Actually, I know C and C++.

 

[ainwood]

One thing that makes VB a bit easier to learn is the 'record macro' function in MS Office...

 

[Achinz]

Originally posted by bobgote
Python can be useful, but it is a scripting language as opposed to a programming language least as far as i can tell. you generally use it for quick data entry or interface kind of purposes, rather than making programs by using it. but yes it is becoming more widespread, from my limited experience with it, it appears fairly simple.

It depends on what you mean by scripting I guess. I'm aware it handles word strings well but would think that the power is more general than that.

Yes, compared to C++ it's both simple and flexible (eg in syntax). Compare writing "Hello world" in the two languages.

 

[Aphex_Twin]

C(++), Pascal, VB. Currently, I'm trying my hand at Javascript and plan to take some php lessons

 

[bobgote]

Achinz: Python is not something you'd use to build a decent size application. I've seen it used as an input to enter scenario rules into a simulation engine, when the engine was written in java. it handles the lightweight functionality, not the main program.

 

[Achinz]

bobgate: It seems my LUG programmer mate would disagree with that. Perhaps a refresher from the Python site would clarify things a bit.

 

[bobgote]

haven't used it for a while, but it is certainly not something i'd want to use for anything heavy duty.