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<blockquote data-quote="Exolon" data-source="post: 532206" data-attributes="member: 42014"><p>A lot of people are suggesting C++ without really thinking about the woe this entails.</p><p>Firstly, C++ is NOT automatically the most "efficient" programming language, whatever that even means (are you planning on using it just to write mathematical simulations that run for hours/days/weeks? or a high framerate 3D game?).</p><p>Secondly, it is a horrible, painful language, with a high likelihood of scaring off newbie programmers with undiscovered talent. Needing to explicitly manage memory and be careful enough with pointers to avoid undefined (maybe crash, maybe just invisible corruption of program data leading to hours of confusion) is not what a new programmer needs.</p><p></p><p>I started programming with BASIC on the C64 years ago; a really bad implementation it was. Then I took a break for a year or so and eventually moved onto GFA Basic, a structured BASIC on the Atari ST. This is what started the chain reaction which helped me get the 'knack' for programming over time, and to love it too.</p><p></p><p>To any newbie programmers, I would say there is absolutely no good reason at all to choose C++ over a nice, well-designed higher-level language like BASIC, as long as the implementation is decent and useful APIs (libraries) are provided.</p><p></p><p>Do not fall into the trap set by the semi-novice popular crowd of selecting C++ merely because it is so popular. I've used it for about 9 years and I don't like it. I still don't understand probably more than 50% of the language, because it is so ridiculously broad and so many features are duplicated.</p><p>Also, the fact that writing an application in C++ takes much longer (and causes more pain) than in many other modern languages is significant. At the moment, I'm learning Eiffel and enjoying it, but there's other good choices out there.</p><p></p><p>Have a look at the <a href="http://yosefk.com/c++fqa/index.html" target="_blank">C++ FQA</a> for some other reasons to steer clear!</p><p>And if you're really concerned about "efficiency", rather than just some invisible ideal for the sake of it, have a peek at the <a href="http://shootout.alioth.debian.org/" target="_blank">computer language benchmarks game</a>. C++ can be fast, but it's not really that much faster than its competitors. Note that C tends to consistently beat everything, of course...</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Exolon, post: 532206, member: 42014"] A lot of people are suggesting C++ without really thinking about the woe this entails. Firstly, C++ is NOT automatically the most "efficient" programming language, whatever that even means (are you planning on using it just to write mathematical simulations that run for hours/days/weeks? or a high framerate 3D game?). Secondly, it is a horrible, painful language, with a high likelihood of scaring off newbie programmers with undiscovered talent. Needing to explicitly manage memory and be careful enough with pointers to avoid undefined (maybe crash, maybe just invisible corruption of program data leading to hours of confusion) is not what a new programmer needs. I started programming with BASIC on the C64 years ago; a really bad implementation it was. Then I took a break for a year or so and eventually moved onto GFA Basic, a structured BASIC on the Atari ST. This is what started the chain reaction which helped me get the 'knack' for programming over time, and to love it too. To any newbie programmers, I would say there is absolutely no good reason at all to choose C++ over a nice, well-designed higher-level language like BASIC, as long as the implementation is decent and useful APIs (libraries) are provided. Do not fall into the trap set by the semi-novice popular crowd of selecting C++ merely because it is so popular. I've used it for about 9 years and I don't like it. I still don't understand probably more than 50% of the language, because it is so ridiculously broad and so many features are duplicated. Also, the fact that writing an application in C++ takes much longer (and causes more pain) than in many other modern languages is significant. At the moment, I'm learning Eiffel and enjoying it, but there's other good choices out there. Have a look at the [URL="http://yosefk.com/c++fqa/index.html"]C++ FQA[/URL] for some other reasons to steer clear! And if you're really concerned about "efficiency", rather than just some invisible ideal for the sake of it, have a peek at the [URL="http://shootout.alioth.debian.org/"]computer language benchmarks game[/URL]. C++ can be fast, but it's not really that much faster than its competitors. Note that C tends to consistently beat everything, of course... [/QUOTE]
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