C first? or Java first?

dissipate

Sep 17 2004, 02:43 AM

Java was taught first in school and I learnt C about three years later. I reckon it was quite tough switching from Java to C and it'd have been better if I learnt C first then Java. Was discussing this with a couple of my friends at that time and those that had learnt Java before C agreed. Would like to know your opinions about this.

Jhonny

Sep 17 2004, 07:07 PM

Should be C++ or Java first.

C and Java have just a few simmilarities. While C++ (or any other Object Oriented language) is more similiar to Java.

Although C++ is OO lang, it still is mix of OO and non OO. While in my opinion Java is pretty tight Object oriented lang.

I'd vote for Java first

almoo7

Sep 21 2004, 03:37 AM

Well, in our programming class, we learned Java first before going to C.

Sorry for the short post, this is a sincere contribution though.

helix

Sep 21 2004, 09:58 PM

That's a hard one to answer. I learned C in programming1, and C++ in programming2 and never was taught java. I think maybe for the people with no programming experience at all, java would be a good way to start since it's a simpler and more constrained language. But I voted C just because that's how it was for me and I turned out great!

phoboi

Sep 22 2004, 02:28 AM

I would say learn C first. Yeah like another poster stated it should be c++. Java is based on c++. It was designed to eliminate the overly complex features that c++ had. Both languages are powerfull and pretty much do the same thing. However, java is just simplier to use. I say learn c++ first because if you know it really well then learning java would be really easy.

helix

Sep 22 2004, 09:43 PM

QUOTE(phoboi @ Sep 21 2004, 07:28 PM)

But that's a good reason to learn java first -- it's easier to learn programming concepts first. Then move to C++ and learn all the little idosyncricies in that. I just can't make up my mind if that's better than learning all the little things like pointers and dynamic memory first. hmmm...

jun xin wô xin

Sep 23 2004, 02:06 AM

I learned C++ first and found it really hard to understand for a while. I did learn a lot, but going with java first would be the better way to go because it just makes learning it a lot easier.

currahee

Sep 23 2004, 02:21 AM

I've heard that C is completely different from C++. If you want to learn C then C++, just learn C++ or one or the other because it would be much more eaisier.
Also I think Java is really really hard. Even worse than C++ itself. I would just stick with C++ or Visual Basic

bx93

Sep 23 2004, 04:40 AM

I'm not the majoritarian.

Though C, C++, Java is different between each other. I think C language is valuable to learn. I learnt C in 1990 and now I has already forgot the very detail. But I got the basic concept of the programming, this still help me in the programming with other language. Actually for our programmers, the languages are just the tools, we may choose one from others, but the skill in programming is the important and could be helpful each time.

Of couse, we may choose C++ to learn at first, then transfer to Java.

marijnnn

Sep 23 2004, 12:36 PM

i learned c++ first and i'm glad. though java has more ready to use functions included, c++ is just better to start because you focus on the basics: you learn to make calculations, you learn to do loops and conditional stuff. you learn about classes, functions,...
once you can handle that, you can switch to java, which offers you the possibility to easily create gui's.

besides, i think that, once you know C, you know a lot of languages: c#, java, php, awk,... they are almost the same as php.
and switching to other languages like vb and stuff goes fine too, because you know how to use loops and stuff

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BitShift

Jun 23 2006, 06:27 AM

I learned Java first and now I'm trying to learn C++

I think this was a HUGE mistake. I got so used to all Java's built in functions, commands, and classes that when I try programming in C++ I get so frustrated because everything is not as straightforward as Java is.

I would have definately learned C++ first. Even though its a harder language to start out with and learn, it is better for you in the long run.

Ola Daniel

Jun 15 2006, 10:38 PM

I say better to learn C first. Its not like its a requirement for Java. But its a valuable skill to possess. In my case I learnt C language first then shifted to C++ and right now Im using Java for everything like crazy. But Im glad i have a background in C and C++. Oh and by the way the basics of C, C++ and Java are only slightly similar by the time you get to the object oriented part they are worlds apart. Same logic but worlds apart.

Unitechy

May 28 2006, 02:14 PM

i learned c then c++ yet java yo learn
how much time it takes to learn java?
considering tht i have not completely mastereed c++ yet???

KazDoran

Apr 27 2006, 07:13 PM

In my opinion, Java has far too much nitpicky details to begin with.

First, every time you want to make a new public class, you have to make a new file with it inside.
This forces you to import loads of files for small projects.

In the other hand, C allows you to declare all the data structures in the same file (not recommended

) and you don't have to worry if they are or are not in the same file.

In C it's easier to make mistakes, but then again, you learn a LOT with them. It's a bit funny when your first programs start spitting out wierd characters or just seg fault because you moved too far into that array...

Has it was said before, after learning C, Java will look like a simplified version of it. Sort of.

If you're just learning the basics, there's no point in going over interoperability, because the standard C libraries are avaliable for every system.

C is also great to learn how some higher level functions work. You can very easily manipulate strings, lists, arrays and trees in Java, but it's not nearly as fun!

Why? Because you'll WANT to do them all by yourself some day, because that existing tree type doesn't do stuff the way you'd like it to. Up goes the home-made one!

Sure you can do all that in Java as well, but let's say Java doesn't encourage that much by having all those things ready to use.

All in all, I (as you may have noticed because, oh I don't know, I didn't talk about anything else this whole post) voted for C.

Compuccino

Apr 25 2006, 07:10 PM

Wow the votes are at 50-50!
I learnt Java first, found it hard but you should always have someone to help you as you learn faster!
I voted C as I tried it and found it much easier (and regretted learning Java first!)

Compuccino

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