Programming, languages and stuff

S

(Shovel)

Guest
Well, AS exams out of the way, so A2s now... - read as: huge great big software dev project. :rolleyes:

Basically, whatever the eventual project happens to be (will probably use my mum as the end user, save me thinking of a problem to solve :) ) I need to eventually code it - including the planning of objects, user interfaces of a high standard and potentially customised objects (this aint gonna be no DOS program).

I have a copy of Delphi 4 standard (free on PC Plus - hooray!), but I am considering buying the microsoft software bundle - J++, C++, VB, etc on student license for £75.

The problem is, I can just about get a functioning program out of Delphi, though the choice of objects is limited. I have tried to work out what to do to create custom objects, but it seems very complex and frankly, confusing.

Can anyone recommend tutorials for Delphi, or whether it is worth investing in the MS bundle, and if so which language is best to develop in from a broad perspective.

If anyone else has experiance of custom object production etc - I'd be really greatful for any help and tips you can offer.

I have a vague idea of some quite flashy objects that would make a truely great interface - but limited by the fact that I can't do them - lol :)

thanks very much :)
 
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Trebz

Guest
Delphi is the dogs balls, as a student its probably your best option, you don't have all the masses of C++ coding and you don't have the restrictive lameness of VB. I bought the Delphi 5 Developers Guide by Sams, very helpful book.
 
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SoWat

Guest
I'd agree about Delphi but I'd also get Visual studio, if only for future upgrade opportunities.
 
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old.?

Guest
I have just finished my Computing A-Level... ah the memories of being as keen as you.

Firstly don't spend any of your own money just for school work, it's a waste.

Don't set targets too high, as you work load will be huge.

If you ever want a stok control system in Delphi then I can send it you ;) paper work and all.
 
M

mookie

Guest
fuck that shit use perl :}

i've uses pascal, bit of c, vb an all that shit but so far perl has seemed the coolest tbh and possibly the simplest :}
 
E

*Exor*

Guest
I've always beleived it best to learn C first, to a competent level, THEN move onto your OO stuff (C++/j++ etc).

VB is just shit, so don't worry about that. Delphi, I've never used it, but I still maintain it's best to start at the lowest level reasonable these days, which I think is C.

The problem with starting at higher levels is, people can program, but they don't really understand what/why/how they are doing it.
 
S

(Shovel)

Guest
oh so true Exor.
We've been learning Pascal all year - not sure if it is competant or not - lol.
then we've moved on to Delphi recently as it is just Pascal with windows.

I think you are righ about C too. Not ever tried it, though I think I will/should, for that very reason. Also, having checked out some websites for uni's, namely UMIST, they quote C as being their main language, so probably gonna have to learn soon. ;)

Thanks very much.
I think for the project I shall stick with Delphi and maybe get a nice big reference book to go with my little book.
I'm getting along nicely, just there are "grey areas" - which cause lots of problems :) - hense the need for C leanage.
 
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old.DonutLord

Guest
Personally I'd go straight for java. My uni course did c++ then java and tbh i didnt see the point in the c++ bit. They may be similar to a certain extent both being object oriented but I didnt find java particularly harder than c++, just more useful. BTW the only programming experience i'd had before was a little VB.
 
L

Louster

Guest
I program C. I've learnt C++. A lot of the stuff in C++ is bad. There are lots of 'features' that, while possibly making it easier to write, can cause problematic obscurity that you'll regret if you need to debug it. C is good for structured programming. C++ adds things like class methods and limiting data access which mean that data manipulation is cleaner and more predictable. But C++ is not always good for clean, structured programming (unless you avoid the bad bits, which IS, thankfully, possible.)

I meddled with VB a bit in an A-level course. VB sucked for programming in general, though it seemed perfect for quickly creating simple applications. (Anyone noticed how a lot of games these days have little pre-game setup windows completely seperate from the main game?)

As my dad said earlier in a discussion we had about C++, "C is like glorified assembler." Whether or not it's a good thing, C has few real restrictions. You're free to write good or bad code as you please. It's a useful and low-level language.
 
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SoWat

Guest
I did pretty much the same as Louster. C, then C++, then VB, which since Version4 is a much nicer tool (well...the Enterprise version is, I don't know about the others). I wouldn't like to have learned C++ without the solid foundation that C provided.

My company uses Microsoft Visual C++ as standard, though I prefer the Borland version. C++ Builder would be ideal for anyone using Delphi, as they have a huge amount in common. C++ Builder also uses OWL, rather than the devilspawn MFC, though you can use MFC if you're feeling particularly masochistic.

One good thing about learning C++, is the rapid transition to Java, which is where it's at right now.

If I were in your shoes, I'd go Delphi->C++ Builder->Java. VB wouldn't hurt either, as it's the common 'glue' language for Microsoft apps.
 
P

Perplex

Guest
Originally posted by Shovel
then we've moved on to Delphi recently as it is just Pascal with windows.

Actually, Delphi is Object-Pascal. It's not pascal with windows. It's OO
 
S

stu

Guest
I'd learn C# if I were you. It's basically MS's bastardised version of C++, supposed to be a piece of piss, and because it's MS companies will love you for it. But then again I know fuck all about programming (I have people to do that for me :) ) so do what exor says.
 
E

*Exor*

Guest
I wouldn't like to have learned C++ without the solid foundation that C provided.

Amen to that. Anyone that says you should start with C++ or Java is just plain wrong. Always start at the base and work up - and C is as low as you need to go these days.
 
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Mr B

Guest
Start with C or you will end up with a cacophony of hideous coding and design techniques in your repertoire - also without a fairly good grasp of the language and concepts of C, learning C++ is like wading through treacle...

Having a smattering of some sort of VB/VBA helps, especially when you want to quickly code WebBased COM Object layers for use in ASP.

B
 

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