/prog/ - Programming

In my classes, I had to use Java, C++, assembly (for x86), and C in that order. I also had to use Prolog and Racket for a small project. I already knew how to use about half of those pretty well before starting university. This is only my experience at my university.

For my research projects, I've had to use PHP, SQL, and JavaScript. I learned those on the job. I had to re-do a lot of the first things I did for those projects later on when I learned more about the finer details of the languages.

>>1651 ++

READ SICP

Most important, don't do PHP, it sucks.

I know this isn't what you asked, but you should brush up on math. It will help you more (assuming your CS degree is actual CS, and not just IT).

Epp's Discrete Mathematics with Applications is a great book. It's easy to find online, and it's very popular, so chances are it will be your first year textbook for discrete mathematics.

>>1589

>'m planning to get a degree in computer science (B.S)

python x 10 000

then C and C++

you'll be using them a lot

wouldn't hurt to start practicing on JES either

>>2250

Have to agree with this guy. If you're math isn't up to scratch I would definitely practice, it makes a world of difference.

>>2251

what this anon said, Python, C and C++.

They're useful and good.

JavaScript obviously

Don’t feel as if you’re Bible salesmen. The world has too many of those already. What you know about computing other people will learn. Don’t feel as if the key to successful computing is only in your hands. What’s in your hands, I think and hope, is intelligence: the ability to see the machine as more than when you were first led up to it, that you can make it more.

What everyone's said is pretty accurate, but a good thing to know is that there is heavy overlap with programming languages, especially going from C->C++->Java->C#. They're all completely different, yet they share a lot of syntax…

Honestly, you learn one language and the carry-over is pretty substantial.

>>2250

>>2252

I agree with these guys. I just failed out of Linear Algebra, not a fun time. Knowing how abstract math works and how to do it can be necessary if you're not just in IT, but you need to have a good handle on your math.

>>2155

>not ++ >>1651

>>1589

C, C++, (some dialect of) LISP.

C is small and simple (far simpler than python &c). People may caution you against it because python &c make it easier to get started, but you'll be crippled until you understand everything C forces you to learn. If you learn a more complicated language first because it's easy then you'll just waste time half-understanding enough things to get by and learning slowly because there's no need to do so.

You have to understand what you're doing in C or you'll fuck it up. It'll teach you the basics without shiny features making things so easy you don't learn.

C++ makes things a lot easier, and will introduce you to OOP. You could pretty much go for a whole bunch of languages here, but C++ will be the fastest to learn due to the similar syntax. Almost all C programs are valid C++ programs; so you can learn one new feature at a time. Don't bother too much with the functional or generic aspects of C++ for now, just focus on OOP, RAII, &c. C++'s support for functional programming is a shadow of the real thing.

LISP is the simplest and the nicest to work with; once you've got imperative and OOP down you need to learn a functional language. Haskell would also be a good choice. Mainstream languages have been growing closer and closer to functional programming languages every year, you may as well take a shortcut and get all the key ideas down. They'll help you even outside of functional languages.

>>2499

P.S.: Learn Java because it's popular and gets you jobs (good lord you'll hate it after LISP though), and learn Python for the same reason (good for scripts too).

I'd also recommend becoming familiar with basic complexity theory, common algorithms, a little graph theory, and data structures.

IDK about you but most of what I was taught under the name of math before uni was boring and useless; most of the math I learned in uni is invaluable. Math is really just applied logic, and provides tools for thinking in the much same way engineering provides tools for doing; the more relevant math you know, the easier complex things become to think about. Math acts as an amplifier for ones ability to reason and while the boring parts are a pain to learn, once it becomes intuitive you'll have gained a valuable ability to think in a new way.

Choosing the right data structures, and the right algorithms makes your life far easier; and allows you to optimise when you need to (and don't do it until you need to.)

If you want a crash-course tour of compsci then read Godel-Escher-Bach.

you might want to learn other language before C# because frankly C# will spoil you rotten with syntax suggar..

the only thing besides c# i feel like coding is javascript but that because i find prototypal inheritence almost as fun :p

plus they go together well.

But java will for ever feel like a gray bleek depressingly limited thing for me : )

Microsoft business model going ahead seams to be to spoil programmers rotten with awesome sause until they drown in it and then drag them over to windows azure.

on the plus side at least this strategy is one in which they actually embrace open source instead of trying to compare it to canser.

Anyway most languages over lap with a few crazy exception…

there is a crazy language that i think is called cat where the operator comes last in a statement… that kinda freaky…

and i am not sure brainfuck even truely qualifies but except for the crazy stuff moist is similar…

>>2250

+1 on this.

I'm studying software dev and for the first half of the course we're mostly learning maths, Discrete Mathematics (two semesters), Linear Algebra, Analysis (3 semesters), Probability, Logic and Computation, and a bunch of theoretical programming.

Basically all the foundations that you need to know regardless of any specific programming language or computer. Stuff you need to know if you want to become an actual professional and not just some codemonkey.

If anything, I definitely recommend getting familiar with Discrete Mathematics, as that basically shows you how components of most of maths actually work "under the hood", which is basically the foundation of any further higher level mathematical studies.

As for a programming language, we began with C++, I would recommend something similar. Any language where you actually have to think about what the computer (and your code) actually does with the memory etc., otherwise you'll be spoiled and will have a harder time learning them when you'll inevitably have to. (As opposed to the inverse, in which case you'll find it really easy to learn e.g. C# after learning C++).

Also if you haven't been to uni before prepare to study shit tons compared to high school, and I do mean it. It's exam season right now for me and I spend all of my afternoons studying for exams, and there were also days where we wrote a test in the morning, studied all day and then wrote another test in the evening. The trick is don't let all the maths and complicated shit they dump on you scare you. Anyone with a bit of intelligence and aptitude can learn it, it's not black magic, so don't shit your pants after your first Discrete Mathematics lecture like I did.

Of course if you just want a job you don't have to get a degree per se (at least where I'm from), you can just learn one programming language really really well and then get a job with that (just don't expect it to be a particularly good one or to be able to move up anywhere significant).

>>2441

I almost failed Linear Algebra myself, I'm planning on studying it a bit more over the summer because I'll actually need it where I want to work.