Well I'm simultaneously learning Java and C++ (C++ in school and Java by myself). I like C++ because once compiled, it can run stand alone without having to download any extra software to able to run it. Unlike Java, I will need a JVM to run .CLASS programs. Java loads pretty slow but runtime speed is as fast as C++ programs. Java seems to be faster to produce programs and the bugs are easier to find.

I'm a web programmer and want to move on to software development. So... which language should I put focus on?

As much as I love C++ for desktop application development (*cries*) you're better off focusing on Java, seeing as you can use Java to write web services (so as to bridge the gap). Java has a lower development time generally, and GUI application development is easier, and it's cross-platform...if you don't care about startup speed and not being able to run it standalone, Java is hard to beat. It does abstract many of the memory manipulation features that some of us have grown to love though.

If you like coding in C++, and don't mind the hassles associated with it...I'd stay stick with it. But yea, as you're just learning it, go with Java, you'll have an easier time. But learn C++ too Can't hurt to know more.

Alright cool. Do you know any good sites I can learn from that offers Java help? I've been using Sun's Java Tutorials but they're worded with so many words that I just get lost and don't get the whole point in what they'r'e trying to say.

What ethergeek says is right. Just to add on top of that. For java, it's platform independent, at least for those platform where you can get the JVM. So, if you intent your software to be targeted for wide range of users, then java is a good choice.

But for my personal experience, i didn't like java that much, due to it's slow execution speed. Small program might not notice the difference, but bigger one you can really see it. Another thing is the dependency on JVM, although C++ you can only use a single platform, but for a specific audience, it's just click and run. And also the source code is always visible. To hide your source code, you need to employ third party software to encrypt or so call obfuscate it. If we live in a perfectly open source world, then that might not be a necessity ;-)

Java's plus points are also it's negative points (slow, JVM vs universal). So choose wisely.

There isn't a 'best' coding language, some are more adept for certain tasks than another or you just feel much more comfortable with them. Myself I'm practicing with Java, it's not too difficult when you 'master' one to use the other with great skill. I'd say you're better off practicing object oriented programming with java, and later on you can easily switch to C++ if the need arises.

It helps to have a good book. Try the Java cookbook. I could come up with some other great names later.

This post has been edited by Alegis: Mar 31 2007, 01:37 AM

I like java more than C++ mainly because of the Platform Independence. When you create a C++ application in Windows and if you want to run that application in Linux you have to create an executable for the proram compiled for linux. Where as Java simplifies the task. I still use C++ for programs whre the system internals need to be accessed.

Well, it depends what kind of software you want to create, for bigger and more serious applications for windows or for Linux or any other OS, I would use C++ with ASM there ant there, but if you plan to make your programs smaller and want to do it faster, when you can go with Java, even though I never liked it because it is slower and etc. Furthermore, knowing only a language such as C, C++ isn't all, for creating something you usually need to learn something more or of course you can always use the Console to get your input and output So it really depends what you want to do, knowing both Java and C++ won't hurt, all you need is practice, using Java you will have less headache, but..

Java was actually designed for the web and C++ was never meant for web.

xboxrulz

Java is slow, but will catch up when CPU processes gets faster. And by the way, are there still lots of people using C++? I've have a module that I need to choose between C# and Java. And I've some knowledge in Java. So which is between comparing C# and Java. Thanks

Thanks...really. It's this bullshit attitude that justifies a slow runtime to Sun and Microsoft, and tells Microsoft that it's OK to make bloaty, slow, operating systems..."if it runs too slow, our customers will just upgrade their computers!". Good job doing a disservice to the entire computing world by propagating that attitude towards software development.