I learned C++ and VB.NET first, which made it fairly easy to learn C# and Java. My current favorite is probably C#.
agreed, c# is my favourite as well but i wouldn't necessarily say the most valuable, except for M$ maybe!!
Ok, I think I will learn c++ and visual basic but I have a few questions; how long will it take and what resources should I use to learn these two?
java is probably a lot easier to learn the C++ (well i found that any way), and once you know one its quite easy to pick up others
You should get some good books for each language. Depending on how fast you read, and if you start with C++, you could have the basics in several months. I find Deitel has really well-thought out and easy to read books. They are what I used.
I would check out books at your local bookstore, and see if you find a writer that you enjoy reading. Also, see if there is some type of programming meetup in your area. Then I'd recommend doing 1 tutorial, 1 easy excercies from the book, one difficult excercie from the book. Then take all that you have learned and try to design your own project. Most importantly, try to have fun doing this, you'll learn a lot quicker and are less likely to give up. If you want to make something use VB, if you want to learn how computers operate, use C++
the most powerful programming language for the web is ruby on rails where persistence and mvc is present by default
Learn Object Oriented programming, you will be covered. Personally i found the difference between Java and C# to be minimal. JSF is similar to ASP.NET
infonote hit the nail on the head. The most valuable programming language is the one that you can extract the most value from. There's such a huge range of ability among people and such a huge range of projects among companies that it doesn't matter what language you know, really: so long as you know it really well, you can earn a lot from that knowledge. Also remember that value doesn't just come from what you know about a language, but also what you know about the project that you're working on. For example, I know a guy who charges about $150 / hour for VB development. For one particular client, though, he charges $250 / hour! He can charge $150 / hour because he knows the language and he has the skills to learn any of the new technologies that are coming out. For the $250 / hour client, he has worked on and off with that project since its inception and so he knows it well enough to charge that amount. And no, unfortunately this person is not me Instead of trying to learn a single language you need to learn programming concepts. Once you understand the concepts (and so long as you have a 'programmer mind') you can pick up a lot of new languages very quickly...
not bad - but this mean know not only VB, but fundamental knowledge, other programming languages and have experience, enought to solve problems quickly.
I noticed a few people mentioned PHP but the OP was asking which programing language results in the highest pay. Correct me if I am wrong but PHP is probably the lowest paid language out there since its so easy to learn and everyone knows it.
intoex: that's exactly my point and I'll think you'll find that, for the most part, people are paid for their knowledge and ability more than the language in which they code. wormy: again, my theory can answer that because the language is irrelevant. I get paid the same whether I'm writing in C or PHP, for example.
TwistMyArm thats YOU getting paid the same for YOUR unique projects but when you go to jobsites isn't PHP the lowest paid language out there?
I just started learning c++ and I notice how similar it is to PHP and you can also apply a lot of the concepts to other languages. I am also learning vb as well but c++ seems more versatile if you can master it. I still have a long way to go but it seems worth it.
Hmm — that's an open-ended question if I ever saw one. It depends, really, on your mode of employment; the paradigm in which the actual project is to be implemented; and its operating constraints. Oh, and where you live too. If it's freelance, closed source work, I daresay that your client will not particularly care what language you write it in, or if it's a mish-mash of different languages; as long as it does the job. If it's freelance open source, you may have to use the technology(ies) they specify. This is a lot rarer, from what I've seen. Finally, if it's a job position, then you will get paid what your employer specifies, to use what your employer specifies. When selecting a language for a project, you need to consider all of these factors in turn. Start with a list of possible languages, and narrow it down to a choice of just a few. If you don't know the language required at that point, then learn it: simple. The single most important skill a programmer can have, in my opinion, is versatility. Study generic, reusable programming concepts. Learn different design paradigms: functional vs. object-oriented; data-oriented vs. model-oriented; imperative vs. declarative. Then learn a whole lot of different languages that employ different combinations of these concepts. You don't need to become a master in any language, it is more valuable to be a jack of all, so to speak. Languages are simply expression of concepts. Hmm — is that a enough of an open-ended answer?