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Re: which language should I learn?

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On 19/02/2021 07:01, chovy wrote:
> I am wanting a flexible language that compiles down to a binary. I
> played around with V but its alpha phase and everything breaks on every
> update.
> 
> I took a look at Go which is very similar to V but I don't like Google
> or BigTech so I would rather avoid it.
> 
> There's something called Haxe which looks cool but there's only two
> books on amazon so its not well adopted. and its been around for 10
> years so I doubt it will suddenly get popular.
> 
> Rust, Erlang, Elixir...
> 
> 
> If it compiles and runs everywhere, linux/mac/win/ios/android I'd be
> interested in hearing about it.
> 

Take a step back, and think about these questions:

1.  What do I know now?  What are my skills?

Some programming languages are difficult to understand and use well, and
are a poor choice for a beginner - others are easier.  All programming
requires logical thinking and a rational, ordered approach, but some are
really only appropriate for the more mathematically inclined.

2.  What are your interests?

Are you looking for something that gives results quickly, or something
that you can spend a lot of time learning and will be useful for many
projects?  Is this for fun, or for getting work?

3.  What kind of programs do you want to write?

Are you writing big programs or little ones?  Graphics programs,
embedded programs, database programs, server programs, games, scripts,
low-level code, web services, libraries, or what?  Do you need high
performance, fast development, extensive libraries, portability?  Do you
need to stick to just one language, or do you want a mixture?

4.  How realistic are you being?

"I want a language for my super app that will run on everything so that
I will be a gazillionere like that Facebook guy" is not realistic.
There is almost no purpose in software that compiles for
linux/mac/win/ios/android.  There can be use in /similar/ software on
the these platforms, or software that provides a similar purpose - but
they can be different programs.  And being "compiled" is almost always
unnecessary - it is a requirement added in ignorance.

5.  What tools do you need?

Do you want to write small programs in a simple text editor, or will you
want a good IDE and development aids that you can use day in and day
out?  Do you need gui design tools, or debugging tools, or static
analysis tools, or continuous integration tools?  Do you need libraries,
or integration with external libraries?

6.  Who are you?  What is your motivation?

Are you a student looking for skills that can lead to a job?  Are you a
pensioner wanting a new hobby?  Are you full of energy, leaping from
idea to idea and learning quickly, or are you methodical and focused?
Do you learn from videos, books, tutorial pages, or trial and error?  Do
you want to work with other people or alone?


From your post, it looks like you have googled for "what languages are
new and cool today?".  That might be fine if you are just messing around
for fun and learning (and those are both excellent reasons for doing
anything), but not if you want to end up with useful results.

At the moment, I don't know whether to recommend APL or Logo for you.
But think through the these questions and give some answers, and perhaps
you can get some useful suggestions (you will certainly be in a better
position to make choices yourself).

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Thread

which language should I learn? chovy <chovy@pm.me> - 2021-02-18 22:01 -0800
  Re: which language should I learn? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2021-02-19 08:54 +0100
    Re: which language should I learn? I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I a <rurokary@physicalcloud.co> - 2023-11-25 03:55 -0800

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