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jlac1024 wrote: Ah, but semantically they're all nearly identical.
C# and Java, yes. C++ is very different from them.
jlac1024 wrote: The whole point is to learn how to define variables, use logic and logic tables for if/else/whatever statements, and basics of loops.
How about scopes and lifetime of objects? Then passing by value vs. reference? Destructors? Copy semantics?
jlac1024 wrote: Define an 32 bit integer in all 4 languages and tell me which one is different.
C: int32_t i;
C++: // no way to portably declare a 32-bit integer in standard C++ (will be the same as in C soon)
C#: int i;
Java int i;
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jlac1024 wrote: However, if I say "define an integer variable" in all 4, would you be complacent enough to define it in the simplest terms and without fuss? This is, after all, a means for learning how to program and not the ins and outs of it.
How about declaring a string in all 4 languages?
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jlac1024 wrote: Learning how to program would be nearly the same in everything based from C-style syntax.
Oh, no. No, that's just not true.
You might as well say, learning to write poetry is nearly the same for every verse form provided you use English words.
Citizen 20.1.01 'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master - that's all.'
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jlac1024 wrote: Again, we're not talking about making a full fledged application or tools associated with it, merely an understanding of the fundamentals in what you need to know to accomplish those things
C supports pointer arithmetic and preprocessor macros - Javascript and C# do not. JS and C# support lambda expressions - C does not. Floating-point arithmetic differs widely. C# supports initializer lists for objects, JS is built on associative containers and first-class functions with literal syntax for both, C supports static initializers for structures... Both C# and JS have some sort of garbage-collection as an integral part of the language, while C requires library support for any heap-allocated storage and leaves both allocation and deallocation to the programmer. Etc...
Writing C#-style code in C is a great way to write terrible, flaky software. Writing C-style code in C# is a great way to write terrible, verbose, unsafe, and unreadable C# code. Using either style when writing JS code is gonna produce slow, ultra-verbose code. Worse yet, all of these practices exchange the advantages of the respective target language for the limitations of the source language. The worst [C|C++|Java|Javascript|C#|...] programmers tend to be those that think they already know the language because they've learned some other C-style language in the past. The fact that you can write C-style code in C++ without serious penalty is the only reason why they can be grouped, but even then you're obviously failing to take advantage of the language even if you aren't actually suffering any real harm in not using a dedicated C compiler.
Citizen 20.1.01 'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master - that's all.'
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jlac1024 wrote: Reads: Learn the >_fundamentals_< of programming.
Which fundamentals are those?
Want to demonstrate a loop? C and C# support goto, Java and JS do not. C#, JS, and Java support labelled continues, while C does not.
Want to demonstrate a conditional statement? Evaluation of expressions and boolean types differs, sometimes subtly, between languages.
Want to demonstrate subroutines? C has functions. JS has a totally different sort of function. Java has methods, which are similar - but not at all identical - to functions in C. C# has methods which are probably closest to Java methods than they are to anything else, and lambda expressions which are implememted by the compiler as methods on annoymous types...
jlac1024 wrote: I don't know about you, but I didn't start out writing commercial applications. Unless, "Hello world!" is commercial.
"Hello World" often depends on some library support as well, and therefore differs greatly across languages and platforms. Rarely does it actually demonstrate any useful programming concepts beyond those required to represent a simple program - in the target language - and call a library method with a string - using the target language and platform.
Citizen 20.1.01 'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master - that's all.'
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jlac1024 wrote: Declare an integer variable.
Eight or so integer types in C; nine in C#; five in Java; one in Javascript (but JS doesn't really use anything close to the same type system, so the comparison is even less straightforward).
jlac1024 wrote: Compare to integer variables and do an action of your choice if they are the same.
Which languages will this work in: if ( !(a-b) ) action();
Which languages will this work in: if ( a === b ) action();
Which languages might this not work in: if ( a == b ) action();
jlac1024 wrote: Give me an example of a loop of your choice.
Which languages will this work in: for each (var o in ['yes', 'no', 'maybe', 'so']) action(o);
How about this one: foreach (string s in (new string[] {"yes", "no", "maybe", "so"})) action(s);
Those two are both fundamental constructs in at least one C-syntax language.
Citizen 20.1.01 'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master - that's all.'
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jlac1024 wrote: What does that get you in all of them?
Javascript: SyntaxError: missing ; before statement
Others: an integer variable of system- and platform-defined size, with storage and scope dependent language and context.
jlac1024 wrote: What does that get you in all of them? An integer variable(regardless of the type -- being 8 bit, 16 bit, 32 bit, 64 bit, 1024 bit, etc)
How are you going to talk about the fundamentals of programming and then imply that it's ok to ignore the size of an integer?!
jlac1024 wrote: All of them, however, if you pick up a "learn C++\Java\C#\C in 25 seconds!" they will nearly teach you the same syntax for all of them. So grouping them up for a learning purpose is moot.
And if you don't understand the fundamental differences between what appears to be similar syntax, then you're going to be in for a world of hurt[^].
jlac1024 wrote: When teaching, you don't usually teach how to build a house without starting at how to use a hammer and nails.
Ideally, you'd start with basic things like squaring up a foundation. And I suspect you'd be remiss in not mentioning the advantages screws have over nails in many common scenarios, although i don't build houses so perhaps not. Still, i'm pretty sure that if you're gonna be using nail guns then it's probably not as important that your new worker becomes an old pro WRT the hammer method.
I expect though, that you'd really stress the difference between 3" siding nails and shingle tacks.
Citizen 20.1.01 'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master - that's all.'
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The difference is one of perspective.
If you just take the raw language definition, then the big difference between C and C++ is classes and templates. Its an addendum really. Certainly you can make use of C++ just like C except in Embedded applications (as noted above), but its important to note that embedded C compilers also have special aspects to them that a C compiler on Unix does not need (since issues around where the stack lives and how ram is used are much more important in embedded than they are in Unix or Windows or etc..).
The big differences aren't language differences, they are environment differences. C/C++/Embedded C/Embedded C++ are very close to the hardware, in comparison to C# and Java, which are intended to isolate the programmer more from the considerations of hardware. There is still a blend, since there is still a lot of language support for bit manipulations, etc... but its still the environmental difference which stands out to me.
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C and C++ are totally different languages! If you ever programmed with them before you would know.
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I'm not sure I agree, but then again, I voted for Lisp (specifically Scheme) 
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tlcouger wrote: I voted for Lisp (specifically Scheme)
Very good, but not as a first language IMHO 
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It was probably just as much a vote for Functional Languages as it was a vote for Lisp/Scheme. Not that I think Functional Languages are the solution to all problems, but part of me wonders if people new to programming might have an easier go of it with a Functional Language (versus Iterative or Object Oriented).
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tlcouger wrote: but part of me wonders if people new to programming might have an easier go of it with a Functional Language (versus Iterative or Object Oriented).
That's an interesting question indeed. I believe that people with a strong background in math would probably really feel more at home with a functional language. Although, I would probably recommend Haskell as the first one
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The only good thing about C# is that it's not Java, while the only bad thing about Java is that it's not C#.
Love is the illusion that one kiss is different from another. - e.m
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The single biggest difference are the libraries / frameworks that ship with them.
And frankly, learning frameworks is a terrible way to learn a language.
Citizen 20.1.01 'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master - that's all.'
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Shog9 wrote: And frankly, learning frameworks is a terrible way to learn a language.
Quite. You meet these people in the field all the time. But you could also say that of IDEs. Its pretty hard to move to a different IDE once you get used to one (even with whatever crap you might have to endure).
"Every time Lotus Notes starts up, somewhere a puppy, a kitten, a lamb, and a baby seal are killed. Lotus Notes is a conspiracy by the forces of Satan to drive us over the brink into madness. The CRC-32 for each file in the installation includes the numbers 666." Gary Wheeler
"The secret to a long and healthy life is simple. Don't get ill and don't die." Pete O'Hanlon, courtesy of Rama
"I realised that all of my best anecdotes started with "So there we were, pissed". Pete O'Hanlon
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Despite the fact I am primarily a VB.NET programmer (and C#, if I have to (I just prefer the VB syntax, ok?)) the first language I learnt was ASM, but the first one I understood was Command Line C++, which seems to have been a good start.
I also have a design pattern book which is written in java...I didn't realize until over halfway though, I thought it was written in C#!
Besides, in the end, surely the framework/platform is the important decision, isn't it?
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Andy Davies wrote: Besides, in the end, surely the framework/platform is the important decision, isn't it?
Not for learning programming concepts. I'd say it may even be harmful, giving a kid a treasure chest like a framework and not first teaching them the basics. I know I did some hideous things with the .NET Framework when it first came out.
regards,
Paul Watson
Ireland & South Africa
Fernando A. Gomez F. wrote: At least he achieved immortality for a few years.
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If you can't communicate your ideas clearly, succinctly, and concretely, you won't be able to code them.
Marc
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