What should I learn?

Question

Hello folkels!

I've been interested in going back to school to learn Computer Information Systems as a profession and drag myself out of the crappy warehouse I'm currently stuck in. I took BASIC and Visual BASIC (1.0) in highschool and Had just one semester of Visual BASIC (4.0) in College. I really enjoyed that programing language. I'm curious as to what experiences and education level you programmers out there have that landed you your current jobs?

Also what types of jobs do some of you have?

Thank you

Answer 1

Nobody uses BASIC anymore and VB is pretty much used for scripting purposes.

If you want to learn a real language, you should focus on C & C++ as these would be the two languages most places use. If you want to get into building web applets, then JavaScript is a good place to start. You can also use JAVA itself but it's slow as hell.

One aspect that is pretty big would be .NET. I've never used it myself but I do see a lot of people asking for it.

Answer 2

Well, my answer will be slightly biased since I am a Java programmer. However, I would suggest either Java or .Net.

Java is a hugely established programming language that is continually evolving and growing. It is very popular as a server side programming language (that is one that runs on the server and not on a users pc). As for it being slow as hell, that is quite frankly not true anymore. Due to the optimising capabilities of the Hotspot compiler it is theoretically possible for Java to run programs faster than C++ (but that is another argument for another day). Java runs on pretty much all platforms from mobile phones to mainframes and hence the scope of jobs is pretty vast.

.Net is a very dynamic language and one of it's great strengths is how quickly you can get a program up and running. However, it is a Microsoft product and hence you will not see it on Linux/Unix or other systems and as such it doesn't have the same exposure as Java.

What is often overlooked though is that these languages often share quite a lot of structure. If you look at C#.NET or Java you would be hard pressed to tell the difference if you didn't know what you were looking for. Also the likelihood is that if you went and did an academic course you would probably be exposed to both.

Additionally, no job you will ever have will only use these languages. I get exposed to Javascript, Java, SQL (not technically a language), HTML, AJAX on a daily basis, and have programmed in many languages over my career so far, so I think assessing a course as a whole and not just a major language would be better.

With regards to Java, it is a free tool that you can download and the sun tutorials are excellent, so having a go at that would see if you still have the excitement about programming and also give you a bit of a head start if you choose to persue your course.

Personally, I work as a Java applications developer in the finance sector in the UK having previously worked for a very large US IT firm. I started on a unconventional path since I have a chemistry degree (but never had a chemistry based job) but now have 6 years working in IT after getting in on a graduate scheme.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Basic and VB aren't used in fairly large companies. Possibly in mom/pop shops.
The one's that I've worked at or with, typically will use one or more of the following: C/C++/C#, HTML with/without CSS, Javascript, Java, *nix scripting languages (CSH, SH, Bash), JSP (which are Java Server Pages).
As for C/C++, the companies are somewhat split between GNU C++ (meaning non-Windows), and Visual C++ (for Windows).

I presently work for the defense division of a worldwide company that employs somewhere around 70,000 people worldwide. I have however worked for a brokerage, a bank, a small company which is how I got my teeth really into programming (via a consulting role), and several others.

As for education, I never got my degree in Computer Science (although I had 2 years of college).

What helped me land my current position? Being able to change between languages as necessary (including learning new ones in a month or so), being very tenacious with my work ethic, and above all I still haven't stopped learning (which doesn't always have to be education at a school, if you teach yourself well). As an example, I currently program in TCL/TK and C++, but I have never had any formal education in either of them. And C++ is my strongest language (meaning I remember a lot of the API).

You have to remember, that converting software requirements into a working program requires learning the different business' business models. Sometimes software requirements are simple (i.e. I need a program that reads/writes files, but utilizes file locking to prevent others from trying to change the file at the same time), or some are very complex (i.e. they actually have a formal document that needs to be read and understood before coding).

Answer 4

I think in case you changed the phrase "perception" with the synonymous phrase "speculation" you would not have a crisis. Unless you are utterly unthinking, it is unattainable not to have already got a preconceived recommendations approximately what you are going to gain knowledge of. There's not anything fallacious with already having ideals, you cannot no longer have them... Anyhow because the influence of studying you gain knowledge of in case you had been both correct, fallacious, or moderately each for your ideals. Let's take whatever practical as an illustration. The Earth actions across the Sun. My Preconceived Hypothesis: From enjoy I can watch the solar transfer around the sky. The Earth feels adore it's lovely nonetheless. So you'll be able to best finish that the Sun is the one that's truthfully relocating. ^The above is nevertheless unsuitable. The argument in opposition to the above is that while you do the maths it is plenty easier for the Earth and planets to be circling the Sun and no longer the whole lot circling the Earth. Also we will be able to research Venus and word how the darkish part of Venus alterations (see as Venus is going across the solar distinctive elements of it are lit up displaying that it is relocating across the Sun). And why it feels just like the Earth isn't relocating is defined on the grounds that we're actually "relocating with" the Earth. ===== As a part word I disagree with the character who stated "ideals have a tendency to get in the way in which". That's no longer precise, actually, such a lot medical data are truthfully "ideals" earlier than they are tested. You have a perception, you pass out and end up that perception. Copernicus believed the Heliocentric mannequin, he went out and proved it.

Answer 5

You need to decide which area you want to program in.

For web design you need to look at HTML (Not a programming language but you should learn it), CSS (Again NOT a programming language), JavaScript (But do not rely on heavily as it may be disabled on the browser), PHP, Flash, JAVA.

If you want to do application programming then you could look at .NET this gives you the benefit of being able to use your knowlege of Visual Basic as one of the reasons .net was developed was to allow different languages using the .net frame work to come together. You have Visual Basic .net, C#, C++ .net, cobol.net, java .net.
Although .net is supposed to platform independant this is not entirely true (yet). Developed by microsoft the .net framework is available for windows platforms. An open source community are developing .net for Linux (I think it is called mono or something), I think .net is available for mac BUT as microsoft are update the .net frame work you will have to wait until the upgrades become available for the other platforms. I am not sure if mono will work for unix systems either. Alot of companies are developing using .net but it is JIT (Just In Time) compiled which means the first run will be slow but then the code should run at the same speed as if it were compiled.

Or just stick to C or C++.

I also program in assembler for embeded systems but you may want to stay clear of this if you are just starting out and are intending on finding work programming.

Answer 6

Learn C#.

I know several versions of VB, including .NET, I know PERL, C++, and Java, but I can't get a job as a programmer. The company I work for is going to promote me to the programming department as soon as I learn C#. So I would say that is most important. If not C# then C++.

Answer 7

Actually besides those programming language...java, VB.net..C++..you must have the knowlegde of database and network..in order to become programmer....

Answer 8

VB.NET

Since you have a BASIC bankground, syntax won't be an issue. You'll just have to learn OOP and do some fast-tracking.

Answer 9

Now the trend is Java & .NET

Both are platform independent and have good options for security aspects.

Answer 10

It will good if u do VB .net