The Best Free Programming Language For Linux

[Spaceman9]

There seem to be a lot of programming languages for writing apps for linux. I”m wondering which language one would the programmers say is the most commonly used free programming language for writing apps for linux. It needs to be a compiled language and it needs to be free. Would python or icon be good languages to use? Thankx for any help.

P.S. I have done some programming in MS BASIC and in MS C and in GRASP.

[farrell2k]

Python is interpreted. C or C++.

[dominiquec]

Python is used for a lot of the applications and customizations in Ubuntu. You might want to start with that.

If you're looking for something with a bit more speed, try C.

Enterprise business applications? Java.

Too many to mention, each one with their own niches (and zealots.) :-)

[pmasiar]

which language one would the programmers say is the most commonly used free programming language for writing apps for linux. It needs to be a compiled language

Why it needs to be compiled? Are you aware that static typing for compilation decreases productivity, and JIT compilers can create better code if compiled on runtime?

Best combination for both productivity and speed is to develop in Python, then reimplement parts which slows you down in C, if needed. Most time, it will **not** be needed, because what slows you down are net traffic or database access, and it's out of your control - you cannot speed up those, so why waste time?

[Spaceman9]

Thankx farrell2k. I kind of hate to go back to c. All those indentations made me feel like I was watching a tennis match. Is python a lot slower or only a little slower? I could live with a little slower.


Thankx dominiquec. Ok you said python too. How do I get python? Is it in Synaptic?

Zealots? Oh no. I don't want to have to join a religion.LOL


Thankx pmasiar. I only thought it needed to be compiled to run fast. What I wrote for Win apps needed to be compiled to run fast. May be it's different with Linux...I don't know.

[kknd]

I suggest that you don't care for speed comparisons for now. Actually, Python is like 20x slower than C (http://shootout.alioth.debian.org/), but for real applications, it doesn't works that way =). Usually, the application spends more time waiting for user input, or, for number crunching, you can use a mix of C and a interpreted language (Lua, Python, etc).

[dominiquec]

Hey, Spaceman:

Python is already pre-installed with Ubuntu. Actually, it comes as a default in almost all major distros.

If you're just starting out, look for the resources in http://www.python.org. There's documentation in http://python.org/doc/. Go through the tutorial.

Don't jump into GUI programming immediately. Python is pretty powerful as a scripting language (I use it to get some simple but repetitive tasks done.) But when you're ready for it, there's lots of GUI toolkits to explore.

If you're a bit more experienced as a programmer, you might want to look at http://www.diveintopython.org/. Actually, there's tons of stuff there even for novices. You can also install the Dive into Python book directly from the repositories:

sudo apt-get install diveintopython

It's that popular.

I hope this helps!

[Spaceman9]

Thank you very much for all the info dominiquec. I looked at all the menus in Gnome but I don't see python anywhere. I'm sure I'll find though. Must be one of those command line things I guess.

[JudgeFudge]

Thank you very much for all the info dominiquec. I looked at all the menus in Gnome but I don't see python anywhere. I'm sure I'll find though. Must be one of those command line things I guess.

Just type 'python' on the command line.

[HotCupOfJava]

Well I am VERY partial to Java, but that is an interpreted language :).
You could use C/C++ . Use Synaptic Package Manager to download the compilers for free. It will also handle setting up the paths for you. I might recommend getting the NETBEANS package - it is a powerful Integrated Development Environment (IDE) and you will be able to compile C/C++ AND write Java (if you so choose). Heck, you could even do Ruby. Netbeans will install under your "Applications" menu, and when you open it you have the ability to choose which kind of project you want to work on, and it has a VERY smart textual editor for writing the code. It will allow you to design GUIs and generate the code for you (which is WAY better than trying to manually manipulate the code for appearance, believe me). It is free and and open-source.

[Spaceman9]

Just type 'python' on the command line.

Thank you JudgeFudge. I got this:

bruce@bruce-desktop:~$ python
Python 2.5.2 (r252:60911, Apr 21 2008, 11:12:42)
[GCC 4.2.3 (Ubuntu 4.2.3-2ubuntu7)] on linux2
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> help
Type help() for interactive help, or help(object) for help about object.
>>> help()

Welcome to Python 2.5! This is the online help utility.

If this is your first time using Python, you should definitely check out
the tutorial on the Internet at http://www.python.org/doc/tut/.

Enter the name of any module, keyword, or topic to get help on writing
Python programs and using Python modules. To quit this help utility and
return to the interpreter, just type "quit".

To get a list of available modules, keywords, or topics, type "modules",
"keywords", or "topics". Each module also comes with a one-line summary
of what it does; to list the modules whose summaries contain a given word
such as "spam", type "modules spam".

help>

What do I use to save the code Though? Can I just copy and paste it into a text editor?

[Wybiral]

What do I use to save the code Though? Can I just copy and paste it into a text editor?

The command line is for exploration and testing. It's good to learn the language with. If you're learning, you probably don't need to save anything to a file, right?

Later, when you're ready to start building something, just open up a text editor and write your program there, save it as "something.py" and execute it from the command line using "python something.py"

[pmasiar]

see wiki in my sig for into to Python, including how to use interactive shell (BTW one of the coolest features Python has - you can learn the language one line at a time)

To edit Python files, any decent editor has Python mode: set "replace tabs with spaces" and "tab is 4 spaces", don't mix tabs and spaces - and you'll be fine.

SciTE is simple good editor, and IDLE is very simple IDE (with all features beginner needs, but no more).

[HotCupOfJava]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Spaceman9 View Post
What do I use to save the code Though? Can I just copy and paste it into a text editor?

Try using the VIM editor in the terminal. It is very minimal, but if you are going to be working from the terminal anyway, you might as well. Just type "VIM <filename>" and the editor pops up. Type "i" to begin typing. Hit "escape" to return to command mode, then "ZZ" (in caps) to exit and save the file.

[LaRoza]

Try using the VIM editor in the terminal. It is very minimal, but if you are going to be working from the terminal anyway, you might as well. Just type "VIM <filename>" and the editor pops up. Type "i" to begin typing. Hit "escape" to return to command mode, then "ZZ" (in caps) to exit and save the file.

Vim isn't minimal (well, Ubuntu uses vim-tiny by default); it is a full featured editor with advanced features.

[Spaceman9]

Thank you Wybiral. That sounds really easy.


Thank you pmasiar. Looks like there's a lot to read about this python.


Thank you HotCupOfJava. I was reading a thread here about IDE's. I'll start with VIM and see how it goes. Is there any editor that corrects your syntax for python? I remember the compiler for C did that.

[Spaceman9]

Vim isn't minimal (well, Ubuntu uses vim-tiny by default); it is a full featured editor with advanced features.

Thank you LaRosa. If it's full featured then may be VIM is all I need. Perhaps that will make my code full of VIM and vigor...haha...or may be not...

[LaRoza]

Thank you HotCupOfJava. I was reading a thread here about IDE's. I'll start with VIM and see how it goes. Is there any editor that corrects your syntax for python? I remember the compiler for C did that.

Python doesn't have a syntax to really correct :-)

Gedit is a great editor, it is the default on Ubuntu. Get its plugins (search synaptic for gedit plugins) and you can have more than you'll need for programming, including a terminal plugin, and a python shell in the editor.


Thank you LaRosa. If it's full featured then may be VIM is all I need. Perhaps that will make my code full of VIM and vigor...haha...or may be not...

Vim is my favourite editor, but it has a learning curve.

[Spaceman9]

Python doesn't have a syntax to really correct :-)

Gedit is a great editor, it is the default on Ubuntu. Get its plugins (search synaptic for gedit plugins) and you can have more than you'll need for programming, including a terminal plugin, and a python shell in the editor.


Vim is my favourite editor, but it has a learning curve.

I searched for VIM in Synaptic. Oh golly, there's a lot here. Should I install everything for VIM or what do I really need?

[LaRoza]

I searched for VIM in Synaptic. Oh golly, there's a lot here. Should I install everything for VIM or what do I really need?

Just install "vim"



sudo aptitude install vim


vim-full also installs the "gvim" which is really a crime.

[Spaceman9]

Thank you LaRosa. What about the vim-addon-manager, vim-doc, vim-python, vim-gnome, vim-scripts? vim common is the only thing installed so far.

[LaRoza]

Thank you LaRosa. What about the vim-addon-manager, vim-doc, vim-python, vim-gnome, vim scripts? vim common is the only thing installed so far.

I don't know, the "vim" package is enough for me :-)

Vim isn't the easiest editor to start with, you might want to use Gedit first while learning then learn Vim.

Whatever you do, don't install the package "emacs". It wipes your system and installs another OS that lacks a decent editor.

[Spaceman9]

Ok, I'll start with Gedit and work up to VIM.

And I won't install emacs. But now I need to google emacs. Thankx very much for all your help. Now I'm going to google land.

[mssever]

More vim vs. emacs wars....


I personally install vim-full, which provides syntax highlighting for more languages and file formats than Ubuntu's default. I also like to have gvim: when firefox wants to open up some file, it's quicker to start then gedit with the plugins I use, and starting a terminal program from a GUI application is non-trivial (unless you just start another terminal, in which case you might as well use gvim). Gvim is also a good way to discover new commands: just look through the menus.

Since I learned vim, I haven't seen any reason to spend more time learning emacs. Although, if I ever get around to learning lisp, and wind up liking it, then the case for using emacs would become much stronger.

For programming, I use vim as my general-purpose editor, and gedit with plugins for extended programming sessions or situations that involve editing many files at once. Sometimes I use Scribes--I like its template feature--but that's mostly when I'm forced to use an inferior language such as PHP which can benefit more from extensive code completion tools.

[LaRoza]

I personally install vim-full, which provides syntax highlighting for more languages and file formats than Ubuntu's default. I also like to have gvim: when firefox wants to open up some file, it's quicker to start then gedit with the plugins I use, and starting a terminal program from a GUI application is non-trivial (unless you just start another terminal, in which case you might as well use gvim). Gvim is also a good way to discover new commands: just look through the menus.


vim provides the syntax highlighting, but doesn't install gvim.

[xlinuks]

I consider Visual Basic the best choice for Linux. Some people might disagree.

[Spaceman9]

Thank you mssever. VIM is a bit hard to understand...with no sleep...I'll figure it out though.


Thank you xlinuks. I'll look into Visual Basic. Is that free? Is it in Synaptic? There are so many different one's to think about.


I discovered cream. It runs on top of VIM. So now every morning I can have cream and vim...yum, yum... If you haven't tried cream with VIM try it.

[Wybiral]

The church of emacs looks down on this conversation.

[LaRoza]

Thank you xlinuks. I'll look into Visual Basic. Is that free? Is it in Synaptic? There are so many different one's to think about.

It is a Windows only language and generally worthless for most programming needs.

[xlinuks]

It is a Windows only language and generally worthless for most programming needs.


This new and improved compiler, which supports Visual Basic 8.0 code, is bundled in Mono 1.2.3. In addition to Visual Basic support, this version includes many bug fixes and an almost complete ASP.NET 2.0 API (application programming interface) implementation. WebParts, however, still isn't completely supported.
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS9725385854.html


http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/02/21/visual_basic_mono_linux/

[kknd]

It is a Windows only language and generally worthless for most programming needs.

+1.

It damages your head. Badly.

[pmasiar]

I consider Visual Basic the best choice for Linux. Some people might disagree.

You are in very small minority, and **most** people (95% or more) certainly disagree.

VB on Linux may have sense for someone who knows it, and is not mentally capable learn anything else, or has some existing VB code in need to run on Linux.

Most programmers are ready to learn more than one language, and often chose languages used based on use in other projects - because of support from the community.

Python is easy to learn and one of 3 main languages used by Google, and main language to develop web-based apps - Google App Engine uses Python only. Other 2 languages used in Google (C++ and Java) are used for system functions and where speed (even for price of less flexibility) is important.

And let's not descend into language wars again, I an going to ignore any following flamebaits from this poster.

[ByteJuggler]

I personally would also recommend you get going on Python. As for editors, use "IDLE", the default Python "IDE" for now, or use Gedit. Can't remamber if "IDLE" is installed by default on Ubuntu or not, but if not it should be easy to install (and should show up on your menu's under "Programming".) Learn VIM or Emacs later if you want, at your leisure.

If you feel like it you might try this challenge which helps in learning python: http://www.pythonchallenge.com/

(I'm up to level 17 now... :) )

[mssever]

@Spaceman9,

It's not clear to me whether you understand that a) some of the comments here are intended to be humorous and shouldn't be taken literally, and b) that some opinions are less valuable than others.

Both languages and editors are subjects that spur much debate and have started many a flamewar. In particular, there is a long-standing dispute between vim and emacs. We haven't heard very much from the emacs people, but there are very good programmers on both sides of the dispute. Neither editor is friendly to newcomers.

Then, some opinions are pretty much worthless. I'm not going to single out any in this post, but remember, every recommendation is merely the poster's opinion. Some of those opinions are based on experience and wisdom. Some (like my own) aren't.

[Spaceman9]

It's been years since I thought about visual basic. I forgot it's for windbloz. Silly me.

pmasiar, xlinuks was just joking. If I hadn't been so tired I supposed I would have remembered visual basic is for Windows and I would have posted LOL instead of asking questions about it. I haven't thought about visual basic since 1993. And I can't say I wanted to then either LOL



ByteJuggler ta very much for the help mate. I'll d/l IDLE and have a butchers.



mssever I'm just learning about python so at this point one could say I'm not entirely sure what to believe. I am sure though most people will be helpful and I personally like a good joke. I just forgot visual basic is for windbloz. By the by, I just started using linux last June so linux is still new to me as well. I'm not an old hand at linux.

[ByteJuggler]

I
ByteJuggler ta very much for the help mate. I'll d/l IDLE and have a butchers.


No problem. Feel free to private-message me if you want. I'm also still learning Python but I'll help if I can. (I do have quite a lot of general programming experience, being a programmer for a living, which helps.) Anyway, I decided to learn Python as it's apparently a wonderfully capable language (with the multi platform advantage) that looks like it should have value in many ways, and secondly it is used a lot in Ubuntu in particular, so should you ever want to write/contribute to Ubuntu in any way (which is where I'm headed), Python should stand you in good stead.

[danbuter]

I don't know, the "vim" package is enough for me :-)

Vim isn't the easiest editor to start with, you might want to use Gedit first while learning then learn Vim.

Whatever you do, don't install the package "emacs". It wipes your system and installs another OS that lacks a decent editor.

Just so you know, the emacs thing is a joke/lie. It will not delete your OS. Look up vim vs emacs to see why. Also, good luck learning vim or emacs AND python at the same time.

[danbuter]

IDLE is already on your Ubuntu install, btw.

[LaRoza]

Just so you know, the emacs thing is a joke/lie. It will not delete your OS. Look up vim vs emacs to see why. Also, good luck learning vim or emacs AND python at the same time.

Oh, yeah. It was a joke (sort of, but the practicle aspects are the same)

I also don't recommend learning the editor and language at the same time.


IDLE is already on your Ubuntu install, btw.

It is? It usually isn't.

[Spaceman9]

Ta ByteJuggler. I do want to write apps for Ubuntu of course. And apps that can be used on any linux distro and also port them to other platforms as well and all.


Thank you danbuter for your help. I realize now LaRoza was joking. I'm exploring vim and emacs and also I discovered this gui for vim called Cream. Cream with vim and a few marmite soldiers sounds like a jolly good breakfast.

By the by, I had to install IDLE from Synaptic. It wasn't installed with Ubuntu. Not to worry though. No one can be right all the time. I know sometimes I'm left, but usually I find my way back.

[danbuter]

Oops, sorry about the IDLE thing. I think it used to be installed by default in a prior release. Or maybe that was a different distro... (I am feeling old and confused :)).

[GeoffreyBernardo]

You can also install the Dive into Python book directly from the repositories:

sudo apt-get install diveintopython


Hi Dominique,

I have installed Dive into Python from the command line, but I can't find it. The same thing with the python documentation, which I installed with symentic.

Please help.:confused:

[nvteighen]

Open /usr/share/doc/diveintopython in Nautilus or even Firefox or Epiphany.

[wd5gnr]

Not to resurrect the Visual Basic thing since I am a crusty old C guy for the most part (and yeah, C++, and Java, and a dozen others back to PL/1 and Fortran). But if you really want the VB RAD sort of thing, try gambas2. It is in the repos, although if you are using 64 bit Hardy it is broken there. You can always go get the DEB from the home page.

http://gambas.sourceforge.net/

http://gambasrad.org/

Pretty slick. Only problem I see is that distributing it requires the interpreter to be correctly in place which is a problem on 64-bit Hardy, for example. Haven't really looked at how you'd widely distribute anything with it though.

[directhex]

Not to resurrect the Visual Basic thing since I am a crusty old C guy for the most part (and yeah, C++, and Java, and a dozen others back to PL/1 and Fortran). But if you really want the VB RAD sort of thing, try gambas2. It is in the repos, although if you are using 64 bit Hardy it is broken there. You can always go get the DEB from the home page.

http://gambas.sourceforge.net/

http://gambasrad.org/

Pretty slick. Only problem I see is that distributing it requires the interpreter to be correctly in place which is a problem on 64-bit Hardy, for example. Haven't really looked at how you'd widely distribute anything with it though.

Or vbnc is available in Jaunty, if you want something more VB.NET-flavoured

[wd5gnr]

vbnc is ok when coupled with monodevelop but it doesn't have the polish that Gambas has in my opinion. I do have a major C# app I wrote on Windows that I keep thinking I'll port to mono just to see how it does.

[ByteJuggler]

If you want the RAD sort of thing, then also have a look at Lazarus (http://www.lazarus.freepascal.org/). Write-once compile anywhere (meaning Linux/Windows.)