Advice on which language to learn

[Hamster]

One thing though, I have a friend that is doing his PHd in economics at Maties and he told me that he also feels that he made a mistake choosing Economics in the beginning.

Why though? You guys went that far with your studies just to change once you grad... I'm a bit confused.

Studying economics in South Africa is a bit silly. All you need to do as an economist is flip a coin every week before you write your article:

Heads: "Consumers beware, the worst is still coming - expert"
Tails: "Investors optimistic over emerging markets - expert"

Then you mail it to moneyweb or fin24 and wait for BusinessTech to publish it (free one way back link on mybroadband incl.)

 

[oober]

+1 For Javascript(ES7). And after that C#/Java/Python.

 

[FoXtroT]

Studying economics in South Africa is a bit silly. All you need to do as an economist is flip a coin every week before you write your article:

Heads: "Consumers beware, the worst is still coming - expert"
Tails: "Investors optimistic over emerging markets - expert"

Then you mail it to moneyweb or fin24 and wait for BusinessTech to publish it (free one way back link on mybroadband incl.)

Lol, thanks you made me chuckle

It is true though, any economist who tells you he can exactly predict what will happen is talking crap....yet we all do it.

One thing though, I have a friend that is doing his PHd in economics at Maties and he told me that he also feels that he made a mistake choosing Economics in the beginning.

Why though? You guys went that far with your studies just to change once you grad... I'm a bit confused.

I can't speak for your friend but for me coming out of school there wasn't anything that really knew that I wanted to do. I did know I hated accounting so didn't go that route and didn't necessarily think I had the mathematical calling for Engineering so I thought Ecos would be a good degree as it would not only give me a nice overview of all the different business aspects but it would also be somewhat more engaging and interesting as it dealt with big questions.

However it never lived up to being as interesting as I had hoped (and I kept holding out for it to do so). So kinda got stuck with it in the end. It still was useful though, did teach me some useful things and a different way of thinking about problems but now that I think back on it I probably should have done engineering since I did end up doing a lot maths and I probably would have enjoyed it more if I was doing something more useful with that maths.

 

[[)roi(]]

I think Java should burn in hell for what it has become.

...and I thought it was only me
Should I stir the pot....? Hell why not ...C# would also benefit from a syntax overhaul, or replacement by F#

 

[Magnum]

/sigh.

Ok fine. Mandarin then...Geez...

 

[Hamster]

...and I thought it was only me
Should I stir the pot....? Hell why not ...C# would also benefit from a syntax overhaul, or replacement by F#

Two different things/uses though? C#'s problem is that the standard library became too big. One sometimes look at the proposed changes in the next version and can't help think they're just adding stuff for the sake of adding stuff.

 

[[)roi(]]

Two different things/uses though? C#'s problem is that the standard library became too big. One sometimes look at the proposed changes in the next version and can't help think they're just adding stuff for the sake of adding stuff.

Yeah that's a monster, arguably there's far too much in there, but really C# is getting a bit old (syntax) for my liking & practically long past the point of being able to make any significant syntax overhauls; like Python and Java, syntax changes so far down the road are never pretty or well accepted.

Personally I'd prefer Microsoft build a new language; a hybrid between F# and C#, but a bit more syntactically streamlined like Go, Python, Ruby, Swift. ... (Holding thumbs for this one)

 

[_kabal_]

Writing servers and services with Spring is very pleasant. C# however has nicer language features than Java.

However, if you say wanted to get into web dev, then writing server side rendered apps is painful generally, and then I would recommend JavaScript. People will say learn vanilla JavaScript. I say screw that, just start learning angular and express (with typescript/es2016 modules), there are tons of good tracks/courses on this. The only problem is that getting typescript or Babel up and running is not a super simple process.

JavaScript has its flaws, but I still enjoy it.

 

[[)roi(]]

Writing servers and services with Spring is very pleasant. C# however has nicer language features than Java.

However, if you say wanted to get into web dev, then writing server side rendered apps is painful generally, and then I would recommend JavaScript. People will say learn vanilla JavaScript. I say screw that, just start learning angular and express, there are tons of good tracks/courses on this. JavaScript has its flaws, but I still enjoy it.

As much as I slate Javascript, there's no better alternative today, improved lexical analysis would help though.
In the long run really hoping Web Assembly works out.

 

[PPLdude]

Javascript for front end and backend, seeing as frameworks allows you to do this.

 

[Ancalagon]

...and I thought it was only me ��
Should I stir the pot....? Hell why not ...C# would also benefit from a syntax overhaul, or replacement by F#

We still use Java in our demonic sacrifices. It's quite useful there.

executeRitual(new Cat().Sacrifice());

To the OP - I'm not convinced you know what you want yet. What I'd say is that the language you learn doesn't matter too much. You'll see later, it isn't as important as you think.

First choose what you want to do and what platform you want to do it on. Use that to decide on the language. Makes it easier.

Then, code something. A simple app. See what you can do. Don't make any financial committments yet.

Learn more about coding and learn more about whether you enjoy it. Maybe see if you can get a graduate IT position somewhere while continuing to learn about programming. The experience could be valuable in teaching you whether this is something you want to do.

Don't see this as a decision you have to make that will affect the rest of your life. Whether you learn C# or Java, in the grand scheme of things, doesn't matter at all. See it as a learning opportunity, to learn more about yourself. If you happen to write the next Tinder or Angry Birds, fantastic. If not, you learned something.

 

[Stian]

We still use Java in our demonic sacrifices. It's quite useful there.

executeRitual(new Cat().Sacrifice());

To the OP - I'm not convinced you know what you want yet. What I'd say is that the language you learn doesn't matter too much. You'll see later, it isn't as important as you think.

First choose what you want to do and what platform you want to do it on. Use that to decide on the language. Makes it easier.

Then, code something. A simple app. See what you can do. Don't make any financial committments yet.

Learn more about coding and learn more about whether you enjoy it. Maybe see if you can get a graduate IT position somewhere while continuing to learn about programming. The experience could be valuable in teaching you whether this is something you want to do.

Don't see this as a decision you have to make that will affect the rest of your life. Whether you learn C# or Java, in the grand scheme of things, doesn't matter at all. See it as a learning opportunity, to learn more about yourself. If you happen to write the next Tinder or Angry Birds, fantastic. If not, you learned something.

Well said mate
I agree

 

[biometrics]

What I'd say is that the language you learn doesn't matter too much. You'll see later, it isn't as important as you think.

In the past I'd agree but the market seems to be fixated on title, "senior C#" or "senior Java".

 

[[)roi(]]

We still use Java in our demonic sacrifices. It's quite useful there.

executeRitual(new Cat().Sacrifice());

ROFLMAO Thanks for that

 

[Hamster]

In the past I'd agree but the market seems to be fixated on title, "senior C#" or "senior Java".

It's kinda stupid for senior positions. Do they want somebody that knows C# very well or do they want somebody that knows how to code very well?

 

[Ancalagon]

In the past I'd agree but the market seems to be fixated on title, "senior C#" or "senior Java".

Yeah but he isn't anywhere close to senior or even junior. He doesn't even know if he really wants to be a developer or not. Or a business developer.

So, OP, learn what you can about what you want to do, and make a decision later. Make a decision when you have all of the appropriate information.

It also won't cost you anything to spend say a few days learning Java and then a few days learning Javascript or C#. Again, you aren't making a decision that affects the rest of your life.

 

[FoXtroT]

Yeah, your right. It really is just about finding my way at the moment.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I'll certainly keep it simple maybe start off with a general course and then maybe go a little bit more in-depth with Java and Javascript but keeping my mind open to others.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[Stian]

Yeah, your right. It really is just about finding my way at the moment.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I'll certainly keep it simple maybe start off with a general course and then maybe go a little bit more in-depth with Java and Javascript but keeping my mind open to others.

Thanks again everyone.

No don't go with that "generalization state of mind".....
Reading your posts on this thread I've notice that you really want to learn however you just don't know where to start.

Here is the way:
Pick up a project (something you would like to solve and are REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT)and then ONLY THEN do some research about "which language will be more suitable" for what you are trying to accomplish.
By the time you will have completed that project you won't believe how much you have learnt!
The key here is to learn and practice toward "1" SPECIFIC GOAL.
That's how you start!

 

[[)roi(]]

No don't go with that "generalization state of mind".....
Reading your posts on this thread I've notice that you really want to learn however you just don't know where to start.

Here is the way:
Pick up a project (something you would like to solve and are REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT)and then ONLY THEN do some research about "which language will be more suitable" for what you are trying to accomplish.
By the time you will have completed that project you won't believe how much you have learnt!
The key here is to learn and practice toward "1" SPECIFIC GOAL.
That's how you start!

+1, good advice.

 

[FoXtroT]

No don't go with that "generalization state of mind".....
Reading your posts on this thread I've notice that you really want to learn however you just don't know where to start.

Here is the way:
Pick up a project (something you would like to solve and are REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT)and then ONLY THEN do some research about "which language will be more suitable" for what you are trying to accomplish.
By the time you will have completed that project you won't believe how much you have learnt!
The key here is to learn and practice toward "1" SPECIFIC GOAL.
That's how you start!

Ok, thanks.

All great advice guys, thanks a lot .