Message 14/45
Date: 28-Mar-03 @ 08:28 PM -
RE: want to program?
hey,
i too have a fondness for "toy" languages, such as the new wave of BASIC-based langs (darcbasic/realbasic/etc.).. but at the same time, there's a certain degree of limitation.
it's great that a language lets you get programing quick+easy, but when you have to design your app to get around the limitations of the language.. it's almost more work than just learning c++. (i speak from intensely frustrating personal experience.)
rapid-q looks decent.. (um.. why is it running in the java VM though?!). i suppose it's just a clever BASIC-style wrapper around a few core parts of java?! (i.e a simple cut-down version of java..) um.. it might just be easier to learn "basic" java or even javascript.
recently i had to actually code in BASIC (i.e no function calls, etc. etc.) and it really made me realise how much i love modern languages.
i MUST recommend ActionScript ("scripting" lang of flash.. almost identical to javascript); it's probably _the_ slowest language, but.. it's sooooooo easy to use. i realise it involves having $$$ to buy flash... but, it's an extremely small, friendly-to-use lang. dynamic EVERYTHING. (the tradeoff is, it can check very little beyond syntax errors at "compile"-time)
anyway, let me just correct xoxox: if you want to learn programming, try AS. it's VERY simple; much prettier/nicer/cleaner/etc. than BASIC-style stuff. and you'll learn a bit of OOP too, instead of all that nasty SUB/FUNC "bollocks". (and the built-in graphics and sound APIs are, while basic, very simple to use. AAAND.. who doesn't love anti-aliased gfx?)
having said that, it's nowhere near as poweful, in terms of speed and capabilities (i.e no directX, etc.). BUT: if i had to learn programming in BASIC, i would kill myself. soooo ugly! and.. isn't it statically typed? etc.. kind of "unfriendly". not the kind of stuff "newbies" want to worry about...
anyway xoxox.. "rapid q. best running interactive web media i've ever used.".. um.. what about flash?!
raigan
p.s - also -- java and c++ are free, aren't they?! there are TONS of online books and tutorials.. and good compilers... etc.
p.p.s - AS is also cross-platform... haha!
p.p.p.s - sadly, it's also quasi-proprietary.. (the language spec/etc. are free/open, so technically someone could write a free AS compiler.. and a few people have, but not a fully-functional one like the embeded-in-flash one.. more like for use as a UI scripting tool for playstation games/etc..)
p.p.p.p.s - sorry about this deranged post...