[Slipaway172]

i would like to start to learn to program. I would like to know what is one "knotch" above visual basic. I would also like to know what the most active or used language. What are the best IDE's for each popular language. I will be running this on a winows computer with java installed.

thankyou,

paul

[Slipaway172]

would java sudio be a ok place to start?
and yes i do understand that programming will be VERY hard.

[aewarnick]

I myself, started with C# and moved on permanantly to c++. I will never touch VB with a 200 ft pole.

You can use Dev-C++ with c and c++ or Code::Blocks. If you want to spend money, get Visual C++ standard edition (100 bucks).

[Slipaway172]

what program do you use for C++?

[Shadow2531]

Originally Posted by Slipaway172

what program do you use for C++?

I myself use Mingw and a text editor.

Specifically, I use this distro. (If link is down, try later)

You install to c:\Mingw so that the bin directory is at c:\mingw\bin

Then, you have to add c:\mingw\bin to the PATH environment variable, or you can create a shortcut like this to use (assuming WinXP):

%COMSPEC% /K "set PATH=%SystemDrive%\mingw\bin;%PATH% && set RM=del && cd %USERPROFILE%\desktop && cls && echo MinGW 3.4.2 && prompt $P$_$_$G$S"

(to create a shortcut, right-click on desktop -> new -> shortcut and paste the command in)


Then, to compile, you do:

g++ -Wall -Wextra file.cpp -o file -s

An example c++ program would be:

file.cpp

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

int main() {
    cout << "Hello, world!" << endl;
}

Note: For command line programs like the above, you generally don't double-click the exe. You open a command prompt and type file.exe and press enter.

There are many text editors you can use (search google):
Metapad, notepad++, notepad2, jedit, editplus, ultraedit, regular ol notepad.etc.

If you want an IDE that includes Mingw, you can use DevC++, but you should learn how to do things manually first.

[aewarnick]

I use Visual C++ only because Dev-C++ does not compile Gdi+. Other wise I would use Dev-C++ or maybe Code::Blocks. I havn't had a chance to play with Code::Blocks much.

[blaqDeaph]

I've used DevC++, and no complaints so far.

[mphair]

YAY PYTHON!
python.org
sorry, i felt a sudden urge
-mphair