by Kav

Created on: January 26, 2007   Last Updated: May 14, 2007

What programming language should you learn? I've been a software developer / web developer for 9 years now. In that time I've been asked this question many times. I've asked that question many times. The only adequate answer I can give is to learn any language. If you want to learn to program computers, learn the first language you encounter. You learn the basic skills, iteration, decision, data structures and algorithms.

There are lots of people that will tell you what language to learn. Most will tell you to learn C. This advice isn't wrong but it isn't exactly accurate. This question revolves around trends. The advice is based on trends. Currently if the question were asked, What programming language should I learn to get a good job, the answer would be C and SQL, mostly because C is a language that is the common ancestor to most scripting languages used on the web, SQL is the database interface that is most common on the web. The Web is currently the most popular place to look for work. The current trend is the internet. In the world of Application Software, C is recommended because it's used in Windows and Unix, and Unix like operating systems. Again it's the trend.

My first job as a developer was as a Visual Basic programmer. I learned several languages in school. Of all those languages I preferred and gravitated to C / C++ and Java the most. At work I was forced into learning Visual Basic because the code base for our application was written in Visual Basic. I learned to prefer VB over other languages as a result of this job. It didn't matter that I didn't know Visual Basic. I knew how to program and was willing to take on the challenge.

The truth is, you cannot predict what you will do from job to job. You cannot predict what tools are going to be used. These are skills and its better to learn how to use these skills rather than to focus on a specific language. In all likelyhood you will use your skills you have as a developer and almost never use the tools you used in your last job.

Technology follows trends. You need to learn how to adapt to trends. Skills will go with you for your life. You will constantly have to learn new technology and shelve the old. The trick is to keep up with the trends and use your skills. Learn what you need to learn. Learn how to write software. Learn how to develop software.

You can get Visual Basic Learning edition from Microsoft for free. There are version of C++ and C# available as well. Java is available from Sun. PHP or ASP is available on most web servers were you might host a web site. Most web based script languages can be downloaded and run locally on your computer. Programming languages are available for free many places. There are examples available on the web to help you write application. Lets not forget JavaScript and VBScript can be written in any text editor and can be run on any web browser. Learning to program is easy. With these tools you can explore your potential and experiment. Just pick one of these tools, go to Google, look up tutorials and try it out.

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