Java, .NET or C++

[JonW]

All,

I have discussed this issue with several individuals. I was wondering if
anyone would like to share his/her thoughts on which skill is best to add
to one's resume assuming extensive experience with Visual Basic (7 years)
and Visual C++ (2 years).

To me, it seems like Java is a difficult fit. It is not a difficult language
to learn. However, it seems many of the opportunities lie in the UNIX arena.
(I joyfully left it 7 years ago! :-) )

As for .NET, you have to ask how fast it will be adopted. For example, in
the first year, will 20% of the MS shops move to .NET? In year two, an additional
20%? It seems like it will take a while to build up to the current VB 6 &
VB 7 levels.


Finally, Standard C++ seems like a clear winner. If one spends a lot of time
truly mastering it, it seems like that skill will be useful for the next
five years or so. This seems to be a big selling point; it has a high barrier
of entry. It seems like there are not a lot of C++ masters out there. Also,
it gives one a lot of flexibility to move between programming environments
- Visual C++, C++ Builder....

Does anyone have any thoughts?

Thanks,

JonW

[JonW]

>>It seems like it will take a while to build up to the current VB 6 & VB
7 levels.

It should read VB 6 and VC++ 6.

JonW

[.netGuy]

IMHO, standard C++, will not be the choice, as it isn't at the moment. It
isn't very productive, because it isn't quick enough to write programs. Java
is good, but I prefer to stick on MS technologies and tools.
I'm going to .NET (see my nick :-) and I'm going to study it as hard as possibile
for the next period, to be ready when most companies will switch. In the
meanwhile, I have solid knowledge of VB like you, so we can keep on working
with VB. Today VB apps are not going to be re-written within few days/month,
so VB is still THE choice for the MS world.
I go for .NET also because M$ and 3rd party companies (Corel and an other
from Australia, but I can't remember that name) are going to port the entire
platform on Linux/unix. Sure, not within months, it will take proably a few
years to have a complete and stable environment, but I don't think M$ is
going to invest billions of $ and energies to work on something that won't
have a great success. If they are writing a platform that will run on Window
and Linux, well, I believe it, and I'm exited about it!!!

- .netGuy




"JonW" <nomail@nomail.com> wrote:
>
>All,
>
>I have discussed this issue with several individuals. I was wondering if
>anyone would like to share his/her thoughts on which skill is best to add
>to one's resume assuming extensive experience with Visual Basic (7 years)
>and Visual C++ (2 years).
>
>To me, it seems like Java is a difficult fit. It is not a difficult language
>to learn. However, it seems many of the opportunities lie in the UNIX arena.
>(I joyfully left it 7 years ago! :-) )
>
>As for .NET, you have to ask how fast it will be adopted. For example, in
>the first year, will 20% of the MS shops move to .NET? In year two, an additional
>20%? It seems like it will take a while to build up to the current VB 6
&
>VB 7 levels.
>
>
>Finally, Standard C++ seems like a clear winner. If one spends a lot of
time
>truly mastering it, it seems like that skill will be useful for the next
>five years or so. This seems to be a big selling point; it has a high barrier
>of entry. It seems like there are not a lot of C++ masters out there. Also,
>it gives one a lot of flexibility to move between programming environments
>- Visual C++, C++ Builder....
>
>Does anyone have any thoughts?
>
>Thanks,
>
>JonW

[David K.]

JonW:

I think that C++ is a great language to have under your belt. Besides being
useful in a lot of areas that Java/VB/.Net isn't, it is easy to transition
from C++ to other languages should the need arise. As somebody who learned
C++ before Java, I found that it didn't take a lot of effort to learn Java
with a C++ background. Many things that you have to worry about in C++ are
taken care of for you in Java.

Right now, I am learning C#, and I am finding that knowing C++ and Java makes
learning C# fairly straightforward.