Supposedly I learnt a language and after years it became outdated, have I wasted my time memorizing the codes?

Question

Can a language become out dated and useless since technology is moving fast ?
Is Delphi still used ?

Answer 1

Ummm...I'm thinking that it would be difficult at best to learn how to program proficiently enough to do most serious tasks without learning a lot more. Also, it will probably be even more difficult to have a job or practice as a programmer without learning at least 2 or 3 more languages. So, this question may seem like a definite drawback, but in real life it isn't a danger at all. Even COBOL programmers got a shot back in the Y2K scare era, some made up to $10,000 an hour to locate and correct errant program lines, or so the story goes. Obselete is a very relative term, and no programmer is usually that isolated to know only one langauge and not see a slow down or shift to a new language coming. Oh, and not to beat a dead horse, but do work on your English before you get too deep in programming. It is kind of the standard technical language and it will be worth while to learn it well.

Answer 2

Hi.
No,I don't think you've wasted your time.
I learned Fortran IV back in 1981 and certain concepts and rules have proved useful from time to time.
I still have a lot of old MS-DOS books and disks- some commands have proved useful to bring a totally trashed PC back from the grave.
Yes,Delphi is still used- Check out the book Delphi History- from Turbo Paschal to Delphi 2005.
Delphi 2006 is available for a few hundred notes.
Hope that helps.
Take care,
Misterviv

Answer 3

Yea delphi is still used, well once you know how to use a programming language well and maybe another powerful language was invented, the time it will take you studying that new language will be 1/10 of when you have no idea.. All you've gotta do is just update ur memory :)

Answer 4

While the language may become obsolete (can anyone even remember Pascal, the one I learned on in the 80's), the concepts you learn will not. The algorithms will still work with any onther language. You would just have to learn a new syntax. And as every language is in flex, getting new features, etc. you are always learning that anyways. So no, learning a programming language is not a waster of time. But once you have learned A language, you will want to use that knowledge to learn more languages.

Answer 5

I believe Delphi is still used, but it's use is not wide extended. Anyway, what is true that once you learned to program in one languaje, you can easily learn any other languaje, since the basic instructions are the same, you have only to learn the diferences, but you know how to use them.
So don't worry, and we have to be prepared for that kind of changes, and remember all of those are experiences, and give us something new.
Good luck if you try something else.

Answer 6

Continuing on the Pascal remark, Delphi is based on Object Pascal and is still heavily used up-to this date AFAIK.
COBOL programmers are still working, using their knowledge they acquired over many years.

As such, there is no waste in learning a language unless it´s a really obscure one maybe.

Answer 7

Many times, old programs need to be updated and people with skills in old languages are still needed. Believe it or not, there are still people working in COBOL and FORTRAN, building new applications or taking old versions and converting them to Windows, or maintaining old systems because changing to new ones is cost prohibitive.

Anything new in computing is inevitably built on something old. There will always be a need for people who can work with old software, the trick is finding those who need the skills and are willing to pay.


To "Christalsdream":

Haven't you learnt any English words in your time? Or have you always arrogantly dreamt that you knew everything?

Yet another open mouth displaying its ignorance....

Answer 8

hee hee...just a suggestion...get English down first honey. Learnt isn't a word...try LEARNED. Big grin and a good luck to you.