Languages in the workplace

[shout]

If I wanted to purse a programming career what languages should I learn? I was thinking mostly Java and C++ but I want people with programming jobs to give some input.

[FrOzeN]

First, I don't have a programming job.

But one main factor which would affect this is, what type of programming do you want to do as a career. Game/Driver programming or Application programming?

[Yegg]

First, I don't have a programming job.

But one main factor which would affect this is, what type of programming do you want to do as a career. Game/Driver programming or Application programming?

I'm pretty sure Shout knows what questions to consider. Which is why he expressed the fact that he wanted help from someone with a career that involves computer programming.

[Warrior]

Programming branches off and different languages are better for different tasks. Now, how does Game development and Driver development mix enough to be used as "Game/Driver"?

[shout]

Obviously there is going to be some variation, I was wondering the main languages it would be good to be familiar with.

[Warrior]

Hmm.. Well C/C++ is a must but depending on the job description I'd say some .NET language. Okay okay just learn them all! (Or as much as you can)

[iago]

Most jobs that I'm aware of (where I live, anyway) are Java or web (ASP, JSP, HTML, etc.).  Very few jobs I know of are C, C++, or VB, only a couple out of each of those that I'm aware of.  But it really depends on your target job, as somebody else pointed out. 

At my first programming job, it was JSP/Servlets, which is Java. 

At my second and third job, it wasn't really heavy into programming, but the development I DID do was in Java and Perl. 

If you plan to do security or networking, make sure you know Perl.  It's the #1 language for writing quick and dirty scripts, and it does that really well.  I've seen so many people suffering through menial tasks that could be coded in 5min with a Perl script. 

[Kp]

Now, how does Game development and Driver development mix enough to be used as "Game/Driver"?

Well, you can't expect to have very good Digital Restrictions Management for your game without a highly invasive driver, can you?

[Warrior]

Well I was referring to in general driver development for say some hardware you write.

[Akamas]

You should learn Fortran.

[FrOzeN]

I didn't mean to 'mix' Game/Driver Programming, I was trying to group them.

As I'm here I'll give my input.

It seems the new revelation of Application programming has entered into the .NET Framework. So if you wish to focus on Application programming knowing C# would be very promising.

If you wish to do Web Development, the major is currently ASP.net aswell as ASP still. I've been focusing on php lately as I'm building my clan's website and I find it very easy to learn. On the site phpfreaks.com which I've been idling about I've noticed quite a few jobs appear here, though  I'm guessing you'd be working with them over the net opposed to in a office/in-person (and obviously best to know (x)HTML/CSS to top it off).

If your interested in developing your career for making games. C++ is the major for this, especially considering that 99% of games made, are developed with it. Also to try and preempt the type of game programming you wish to do, learning to use DirectX/OpenGL/DirectDraw7 would also give you a little headstart/insight into this.

If you wish to do Driver programming your aiming for maximum portability and as it should be written in a high-level langauge C/C++ fits in perfectly. Also the majority (if/not all) of the windows kernal/user -mode drivers are made in C/C++.

Most jobs that I'm aware of (where I live, anyway) are Java or web (ASP, JSP, HTML, etc.).

Personally, when picking a career I would go out of my way to find what suits me and which I prefer best. I'd rather work over the net or something with a programming language I love, opposed to work using a language that isn't much of a favourite even if they were 3 blocks away.

This 'is' a Career your choosing and almost any language is out there and available for hiring programmers. So if your really focused on something; follow it.

[EDIT] And yes, I realise you said 'in the workspace' though I find what I have suggested 'could' be found within a reasonable area.

[iago]

Have people actually started writing drivers in C++?  I couldn't even imagine doing some of the onboard programming I've done in C++, what a mess it would make..

[FrOzeN]

Well I heard that C/C++ is best for driver programming awhile back. But before I stated that I did a quick google, then kind of relayered what MSDN had to say.

MSDN Link

[EDIT] Made link shorter.

[EDIT 2] Come to think of it I may of got this all wrong, that it's best to 'work with' window drivers in C/C++?
Sorry if that's the case.

[Warrior]

Why do people seem to think of C/C++ as the same thing? One totally rocks the other is totally object oriented!

[Kp]

Have people actually started writing drivers in C++?  I couldn't even imagine doing some of the onboard programming I've done in C++, what a mess it would make..

Well, it depends on which C++ features you use.  For instance, I classify almost all my source as C++ just to turn on the strict type checking (linker errors on mismatched prototypes and no implicit cast-from-void, for instance).  Some projects will make use of inheritance, destructors, or other clever features (where a clever feature is anything that causes implicit or non-obvious code generation, which I can see might be a definite downside when trying to write a driver and ensure that it does exactly what you say), but others just use it as "C with more strict checks."