The best first programming language?

Here it is, another one of these threads.

What programming language is the best for a first-time beginner and can easily pick up languages like C#/C++ and VB? I'm thinking of Java, Python, and C.

Originally Posted by Parade

Here it is, another one of these threads.

Which programming language is the best/easiest for a first-time beginner and can easily pick up languages like C/C++ and VB? No fake languages like Perl or Ruby.

Perl and Ruby are absolutely real languages. What crosses your mind to think that they aren't?　

Malbolge　Is best for beginners.

Originally Posted by Virtual Void

Malbolge　Is best for beginners.

Ya this.

It depends on what you're interested in. If you're interested in very low level programming, I can tell you now you wouldn't want to start with a language like C#.

I managed to get the hang of visual basic in one day. It satisfies my needs.

What language you want to do depends on your needs/wants.

If you want to easily make pretty windows forms apps, i suggest VB or C#. They aren't just for the sake of creating pretty apps, cuz they are also pretty powerful
If you want to make games easily, choose a language that was create mainly for game creation, like darkbasic or blitz languages..
If you want to be lower level, try C++ or C. like void said, you won't be using lower level stuff with C# or any .Net language.

I chose C++ because i can do nearly everything with it, as with all general purpose languages. I make games with it along with SDL, but the upside to general purpose languages with APIs are that the possibilities are endless. with a game specific language, you are confined to what the language offers, Using C++ and SDL, you can make your own things that a game language wouldn't, and you can even modify the API, but you cannot modify a language, now can you?

The downside is it is harder and longer to achieve what you want, but it is typically more efficient, and idk about you, but i feel a sense of accomplishment when I made something with my tools and tools only. With a game language it is like you have an instruction manual on how to make things.

Im learning C# atm and it pretty Great and Would Seem easy to understand if you just Started Programming

The best noob language is Python easy simple and the code is a lot shorter than Java what my programming teacher told me. Just note that I"m still noob like you at coding that's what my programming teacher Mr.Weisswange said so just trust my teacher.

To me, VB.net is easiest to learn and make good apps with.

Visual Basic is really easy and is a good starting point in my oppinion

I started with VB and its awesome. Try satring with VB6, easier interface.
Then go to newer editions like VB.Net and even try C++!

Simplex .

Visual Basic its easy..

I've heard VB/VB.NET can't really pick up other languages and has very different syntax than others. Is this true?

@Jason and the rest of the people

Originally Posted by Parade

I've heard VB/VB.NET can't really pick up other languages and has very different syntax than others. Is this true?

@Jason and the rest of the people

Yes, it has a very different syntax, but that doesn't stops it from creating good stuff.

VB.NET:
[highlight=vbnet]Public Class Form1
Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
Msgbox("Hello, World")
End Sub
End Class[/highlight]

C# (Resembles Java, C, C++ and many more):
[highlight=c#]
using System.Windows.Forms;
class Program
{
static void Main()
{
MessageBox.Show("Hello world!");
}
}[/highlight]

I'd start with C# if you're going to start with .NET. It has a C-Style syntax, which most other languages employ (PHP, Java, JavaScript, C, C++...and many many more use C-Style syntax).

The language you wanna learn, as always, depends on your needs. A programmer should never limit themselves to a single language, as some are better suited to various tasks than others. Take Void's example about low-level programming: While C#/VB.NET are quite easy to learn, due to their managed nature, they don't have the same low-level programming capabilities as say...C++ (note: In this context, "low-level" implies greater control over the PC, not the same "low-level" as you'd expect from a game

). However, that being said, C#/VB.NET are FAR easier to use when designing User Applications that require no low-level functionality.

Moving away from desktop applications, there is a whole range of Web-Languages to choose from as well, PHP and RoR to mention just a few. You need to figure out what it is that you want to DO with your programming knowledge (at least, at this point in time...feel free to learn other languages later) and start on a language that enables you to *easily* achieve what you want.

The most important thing when you first start off programming is to pick a language well suited to you, that keeps you interested and motivated in learning. After you've got a good handle on programming and how a computer functions, learning additional languages is much easier than the first, so it's vital that you pick a first language that interests you, not something that other people tell you to learn.

Personally, I started with VB.NET 'cos I was interested in Windows Forms applications (User Applications) where you can create nice user interfaces with the ease of the Visual Studio Designer and still deliver a great end program. While I somewhat regret picking VB.NET over C#.NET, I'm happy with how I started; It gave me the fundamentals of programming and allowed me to branch out into other languages after I'd learned a lot from VB.NET.

Pick what you want.

The best first programming language?

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