Learning OOP...

[Ron Stephens]

Look, no one language can ever be optimal for all your criteria
simultaneously. However, Python offers the below;

1. Easy to learn, easy to use. Joyful to learn, joyful to use. In a week,
you will be quite proficient, yet still have plenty of pleasurable
learning ahead of you. Python's creator has been known to say that
Python's power as an educational language gives hi the greatest pleasure;
and I think he means educational in a deep sense.

2. It's 100% free, it has 100% free tools with quality, depth, and
quantity.

3. It has the best user community and most helpful newsgroup.

4. It is well documented. mature and there are plenty of great books at
all book stores.

5.  In no other language can you be as productive, period.

6. As to momentum and marketplace issues (ugh, but here goes): Python is
far more alive and vibrant than Ada. Only Java has more "buzz" and of
course Visual Basic is most used, but VB will cost you an arm and a leg,
this year, next year, and for eternity, until you finally kick the habit.

7. Java and C++ may offer more of what you want in terms of static
typing; but compared to Python, they will slow down your development and
stall your productivity.

My suggestion is learn and use Python, the cost to benefit ratio just
can't be beat. Then, if you feel yo need more strict discipline, go on
and learn Java or C++; the education you got form Python will hold you in
good stead and may be the best investment you have ever made. ;-))))

Rod Weston wrote:

> Trying to decide which language to learn first.  I have programming
> experience in PICKBASIC and now want to learn OOP.At this point, I am
> leaning toward learning Ada and then Python.  Any ideas on why I
> should or should not use these languages in this sequence?