Good Languages to learn, and good tutorials for them?

[Kyral]

Hi! I'm currently a CompSci Major in college, and learning C++.

But its summer and I'm bored and I want to learn other languages. Could someone suggest some and good places to learn them?

[cwaldbieser]

Well, there are lots of general purpose programming languages. Some languages currently in vogue and available for Ubuntu include (but are not limited to):

+ shell scripting - Google for "shell scripting tutorial"
+ python - www.python.org
+ ruby - www.ruby-lang.org
+ perl - www.perl.org
+ C

Your criteria is somewhat broad. I could probably fill a page with different languages I've dabbled with or just hear of in passing. You might want to consider narrowing the focus by explaining what sort of programming interests you, and then it might be easier for someone to make a suggestion as to what language(s) would make a good fit.

[Kyral]

Okay, I plan on going into IT when I graduate :P

Does that help? :P

[tncmmngs]

Okay, I plan on going into IT when I graduate :P
Does that help? :P

I've found Perl to be very useful in IT support/administration work. It has really earned it's nickname -- Swiss Army Chainsaw. I use it for log parsing, NT/AD/NDS administration, list manipulation, and the odd automation task.

We're a MS-heavy shop, so the natural bias is toward VBScript when it comes to system admin. In most cases, though, I can write a Perl script more quickly, more efficiently. And Perl just runs rings around VBScript when it comes to parsing text (think log files, command outputs, web pages, etc.).

Perl is well supported and has a huge number of modules to extend it's capabilities. It does have shortcomings -- e.g., building gui-based programs (although you can do it). All in all, though, very worthwhile to learn.

If you're interested, good books are:
Learning Perl by Randal Schwartz (if you already know basic programming)
Elements of Programming with Perl by Andrew Johnson (if you are a programming beginner -- my personal favorite)

Check out Perl Monks (http://www.perlmonks.org) web site. Make sure you go through the CUFP (cool uses for Perl) section. Good luck!

[thumper]

Okay, I plan on going into IT when I graduate :P

Does that help? :P
You have a couple of choices
- choose a language that will help with C++ coding
- choose a scripting language
- choose something for fun

For C++ help, choosing something like ML, Haskell or LISP will help with functional paradigms and help with concepts like meta-template programming in C++.

Scripting you have the general choices of Perl, Python and Ruby. Personally I like Python the best, although I have never used Ruby in anger.

Something fun? I guess D, any of the above (or maybe D the language ;-) ), with maybe Prolog or getting dirty with assembler.

For all of these, I believe that there are tutorials online. http://python.org has many great links (as mentioned above).

[Ride Jib]

Being summer, and you being in college, I recommend you learn up on the language of Beer, and Women. </joke>

For IT related, I would recommend PHP (or other web-based languages like ColdFusion). XML is always good to know as well. And basically, if you know C++, you can pick up PERL in about 10 minutes. Oh, and learn how to use databases, if you don't already know!

[christooss]

Being summer, and you being in college, I recommend you learn up on the language of Beer, and Women. </joke>

For IT related, I would recommend PHP (or other web-based languages like ColdFusion). XML is always good to know as well. And basically, if you know C++, you can pick up PERL in about 10 minutes. Oh, and learn how to use databases, if you don't already know!
hree tutorials cca 300 pages long

About java python and c++

http://greenteapress.com/