C++ or VB?

[SpookyEddy]

To answer a question with two more...

1) Why do you want to learn a new programming language? Are you interested in a particular paradigm, do you have an existing problem to solve or are you just interested in learning something new? Without knowing what you hope to achieve it is impossible to recommend a starting point (for example you may want to write a kernel module for an OS, in which case VB is going to be a non starter).

2) Are you set on limiting your options to VB or C++? Perhaps you have a valid reason for just listing these two languages or did you pull them out of the bag at random?

Anyway... both Ruby and Python are excellent languages and well suited to the novice programmer (not to say that they are lacking in functionality). I would not hesitate in recommending them to the majority of people looking for a first language.

BTW..... Linux has everything I need to play with ruby, c, c++, python, perl, php, and more..... all FREE

The point being? Ruby, C, C++, python, perl and php are all cross platform and are all freely available for the Win32 platform. I am all for pimping Linux.. but I find it best to stick to the times where there is actually something to pimp

Back on topic, all things being equal if I was faced with learning either VB or C++ I would opt for the latter (largely because its cross platform and I just find it more interesting).. but given the choice I would go with Ruby every time. However, as I mentioned earlier this is all speculation really as we have no idea what you are wanting to achieve.

Regards

ed

[teengeek88]

Well Eddy to answer your question i am pretty much just trying to learn something new. I use windows and i am also learning linux (i love it so far! its awesome!) i do want to learn programming though be cause im in to building robots and i know that with C++ you can program them, so thats why i picked C++. I have a project that im am going to be doing this summer for school that i would like to do about programming a robot, so i want to get an early start. i have heard about VB but i wasnt exactly sure what it was, so i mentioned that as well because i heard it was a starter language......but in a whole i just want to learn something new and enter into programming, because i know i will use it in the future.

Thanks for the help

-Rob-

Sidenote: I am not limiting it to C++ and VB i am just seeing what experienced users think i should start out with cuz i am totally new to this (the only language i know is HTML)

[crouse]

Originally posted by SpookyEddy

The point being? Ruby, C, C++, python, perl and php are all cross platform and are all freely available for the Win32 platform. I am all for pimping Linux.. but I find it best to stick to the times where there is actually something to pimp

Sure they are available...... but......

I have tried to install gcc for windows and ran into nothing but trouble...(might just be me though) .... I finally just gave up. Installing perl and php not to mention apache on Windows is a royal pain in the posterior for me. I have gotten php and apache setup in windows, but have yet to get perl to work. Never tried ruby, or python for windows though....

Now..... all these are ALREADY installed on my linux system, so I just have to learn to program, and I don't have to worry about installing or getting things to play nice together.