Programming language to specialise in for computer science student

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Academic

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My son is starting computer science at Stellenbosch soon. He used Delphi, little bit of C++ and little bit of Python at school.

What language do you suggest I get him to skill up on instead of lazing about playing computer games? I have had a suggestion of Rust.

Thanks.
 
Python is dominant at the moment. We also have some people doing Golang and of course, Javascript.
 
In Computer Science you don't really learn languages, you learn the fundamentals of programming. Those fundamentals help you better use your tools (the programming languages) to solve problems.

Another important aspect that most newbies make is to drone through tutorials. Tutorials give you some very basic aspects of something but skip over the stuff that matters so it's best to be very careful with those.

That aside, Computer Science courses rarely have a single programming language. They use multiple to teach the aforementioned fundamentals of software development. The first is normally C, C++ or Java. Later they add maybe C# for visual programming.
Python is also used quite a lot.

I would personally suggest you give him a target. Get him to achieve something. That way, he's not just collecting knowledge but also using it.
Maybe something like build a small app that does something. Something like ChatGPT is great at suggesting apps for beginners.

Quick Edit
Push him to instead study the fundamentals of programming. Those are Declaring Variables, Operators, Loops, Functions etc. A quick Google Search will get you a nice list to follow.
Then for each, he must build something small to impress you and you reward him with a Fortnite session after each task 😏
 
Whatever you could get him iterested in. That's more important than the actual language.

People who are good at c++ can usually flow over into other languages fairly easily and have very solid understanding of programming. It tends to be harder but is great for fundamentals.

But time spent learning and playing with code is more important than the actual language especially if he's going to university where they will drill in fundamentals.
 
With Python and C++ he would have all bases covered. Since Python will most likely be used in more courses (especially at the beginning), I suggest starting there.
 
Language is not that important, last i heard that they will do instruction in Python and C++.

What he will be using a lot of is Vim. He will need to configure Vim and plugins which can be a pain…if it is your first time
 
Academic said:
My son is starting computer science at Stellenbosch soon. He used Delphi, little bit of C++ and little bit of Python at school.

What language do you suggest I get him to skill up on instead of lazing about playing computer games? I have had a suggestion of Rust.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
Once he's in the work world he likely wont have much time for lazing about playing computer games, so maybe, let him.


Also if he's already had a taste of programming at school level, it's unlikely he'll struggle with that at university for the first year as the courses almost always assume no one has touched programming beforehand.
 
As mentioned in previous replies a language is not that important. As long as he has the correct attitude and is willing to be taught, he will be able to get his foot in the door. If it was me in his position I would get to understand the nuances of developing in Javascript and Python. From personal experience and where GenAI and ML is heading, definitely Python.
 
Many moons ago we've asked our ICT lecturer what language he would recommend us learning and without blinking he said Spanish because it was the fastest growing language (at that stage.) 🙄
 
Get him to build stuff for fun.
Make websites and/or apps, CLI tools, heck even games with ThreeJS, etc.
Language doesn't matter, it can be Python, Javascript, Ruby, PHP, really doesn't matter.

That way he'll be ahead of the curve in terms of practical experience.
The computer science courses will drill in a different set of fundamentals with how to become a better software engineer and having practical knowledge.

As he gets into the workplace, 3 books I can highly recommend and I still refer to it a lot after 7 years as a professional engineer:

- Refactoring by Martin Flower
- Clean Code by Robert C Martin
- Clean Architecture by Robert C Martin
 
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Games: Get him to write games. Even simple game like Black Jack or Space Invaders. Even the simple match the pair of cards/pictures turning them over showing the card then hiding it. Make it with levels of difficulty that the PC only remembers some cards it remembers more cards the higher the difficulty level
He is into gaming thus his interest is already peaked. There he will apply the fundamentals and practice them.

A scholar or even a student are more interested in things they can relate to and keeps their interest.
 
Academic said:
What language do you suggest I get him to skill up on instead of lazing about playing computer games?
Click to expand...

1. Make him aware of life.
Let him sit next to you after payday and do all the payments.
Let him add up how much you spent on groceries this month.
Let him book the next car service, etc.
They need to learn that life costs and there are things you can do to make it easier and things that make it more difficult. That machine he's playing games on, you bought with money you had to work for.

2. Have him browse careers24 etc and look at what php, python, .net, java etc devs are paid.
It will be a win if at least if he's aiming at something.
 
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