[Tutor] Beginner Noob

[Michael Deslippe]

Thank you very much for the input. Somewhere around 5-10 years ago
Microsoft was deciding whether to retain VB or drop support all together.
After much debate they decided VB could be as structured and modern as any
language and that they were going to move in that direction. I had moved
away from programming by then and never followed what has happened with
the language. I remember Microsoft's first foray into improving BASIC when
they introduced Qbasic. It was well received (I still have the components
for it) but it wasn't much of an evolutionary leap, however it helped the
average MS-DOS and early Windows user deal with quick programming.

Sounds like I may jump on the Python bandwagon and slow my work on C# until I need it, or I have gone the distance with Python. I don’t believe anyone ever masters an active evolving language, but I believe their are users and there are inventors. I user learns enough to become proficient in solving problems in other environments requiring programming, an inventor is always looking for better ways to use the tool and rewrite code they’ve already written to make it the best they can. I’m the former. I’ve been the latter in other stages of my growth, but now most things have me living with practicality.

Thanks for the input, it’s been helpful.

—-Mike

-----Original Message-----
From: Tutor <tutor-bounces+1611kjb=gmail.com at python.org> On Behalf Of Alan
Gauld via Tutor
Sent: Saturday, June 6, 2020 3:59 AM
To: tutor at python.org
Subject: Re: [Tutor] Beginner Noob

On 06/06/2020 01:19, 1611kjb at gmail.com wrote:

> Whew, I'm long winded, I say all that to ask, what are the advantages
> to jumping over to Python from VB?

Python is a more modern language with more powerful data structures and
language constructs. Although with modern VB.Net that's less of an
argument. Python also has an awesome standard library and third-party
supported ecosystem.

> I am simultaneously working on C# and
> wondering if it's worth taxing myself to learn another language.

Every language teaches lessons that you can apply in every other language.
Some teach more than others - Lisp, Smalltalk, Prolog, etc

C# is a traditional language in the same vein as C/C++/Pascal/Java.
It's very good for large projects (100k+ lines) involving many
programmers. But it requires a lot of planning and design at a detailed
level to use effectively.

Python is designed for rapid implementation. It's not as fast in execution
but it can be thrown together in a more experimental fashion. Before I
retired I used Python as a prototyping language before handing designs
over to our contractor programmers who were using Java. Of course Python
can be used in production code too with a little extra care.

VB sits somewhere between those two on the technology continuum Faster to
write than C#, not as fast as Python(unless you are building GUIs) but not
as powerful as C# either. (I may be wrong but I get the impression that
VB.Net is slowly fading away.
C# has closed the gap to the point where VB's advantages have been
eroded.)


> platform for K12 education, Arduino controllers and Raspberry PI
computers.
> They all seem to like Python and C, C++ and C#. I'm an old retired guy
> stretching the grey muscles and just wondering if this is a good way
> to apply myself. Thanks for any input. I'm sure I'll br here a lot.
Python is used in all these areas and is generally considered easier to
learn than C# and certainly C++. I would only recommend C++ if you are
tinkering at the machine level - its the natural partner for an Arduino
for example. C# (and Java) are similar to C++ but more focused on higher
level application code. C++ compiles to native machine code. All the
others compile to bytecode which is then interpreted. For normal human
interactive programs it makes little difference on modern computers. If
you are writing a high data volume server or a piece of hardware interface
then speed may become an issue and c++ wins. But at the expense of much
harder to write, test and debug code.


--
Alan G
Author of the Learn to Program web site
http://www.alan-g.me.uk/
http://www.amazon.com/author/alan_gauld
Follow my photo-blog on Flickr at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alangauldphotos


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