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"C Programming"

I've been doing web programming and stuff for over 5 years but have never dared try application programming like C/C++/C# or VB. I know at Uni next year I can do a module in progamming (probably Fortran), but I'm interested in learning a powerful core language before then - something like C.

Can someone explain the differences between C/C++ please or point me in the direction of a good beginners web site. I like the sound of a C variant because you don't need any expensive software to progam in it, other than notepad and a compiler. What's a good compiler to use? I've downloaded lcc-win as I'm programming on and for Windows.

Cheers.

I've been doing web programming and stuff for over 5 years but have never dared try application programming like C/C++/C# or VB. I know at Uni next year I can do a module in progamming (probably Fortran), but I'm interested in learning a powerful core language before then - something like C.

Can someone explain the differences between C/C++ please or point me in the direction of a good beginners web site. I like the sound of a C variant because you don't need any expensive software to progam in it, other than notepad and a compiler. What's a good compiler to use? I've downloaded lcc-win as I'm programming on and for Windows.

Cheers.

C++ is basically C with classes; C is a subset of C++, so in theory any program made in C can be run with C++. C is based on structured programming concepts, while C++ is object orientated from the start. This means you can use features such as encapsulation, inheritance and polymorphism - much easier to handle code than C, although a few oldies in the office still code in C in their spare time.

We use the freeware compiler, gcc

Nimco wrote:
> I can do a module in progamming (probably Fortran)

Nimco wrote:
> (probably Fortran)

Nimco wrote:
> Fortran

Oh my god, why? Learning FORTRAN is beyond worthless, it bears no resemblance to modern languages. If you've been writing PHP or ASP for 5 years then learning FORTRAN can only teach you bad habits. If you're up for application programming, jump straight in with either Java or C++. Don't bother with C either, it's the past, although it's not a museum piece like FORTRAN.

EDIT: and I don't want to hear about FORTRAN.net either, smartarses!

frankly buy a book. go onto amazon and just look for one with consistantly good reviews. i don't think any of Sam's stuff is any good. and there are tons of free compilers on the net.

and Fortran is what my mum did at uni !!! If they try and teach u just kill them. or torture them first.

I hate to fly in the face of public opinion but I really think anybody serious about programming should attempt to learn a language like Fortran.
Such languages are great for promoting understanding of the programming better and providing different perspectives on how to achieve things.

Modern languages are all about abstracting things into models that we understand better. Languages such as Fortran are mostly about maths, simple data types and working in ways the computer understands.
Also its often been considered a good introduction to other high level languages such as C.

Anyway, thats why its still taught in universities.

Also at last count Fortran was still the de facto standard for engineering applications as mathematical computation is where its strength lies.

it's probably true that u should start off in something somewhat simpler without all the polymorphism, etc. although i started off in basic (back when i was a really ickle one) C is probably good enough if u're really willing to put the effort in.

garin, i think u might have got miserableman annoyed.
*hides*

I started with Visual Basic.

Then moved onto C.

Still learning C now.

*disPute* wrote:
> garin, i think u might have got miserableman annoyed.
> *hides*

I'm sure he can cope with the traumatic experience of somebody having a different opinion to him. :)

I'm going to be doing a Physics degree, and the Fortran course is designed to allow us to produce programs for mathematical modelling... OK, this is going to sound really newbie-ish, but if I wrote a program in Fortran and compiled it, does it require any kinda of software running on my PC to run the program - like a program written in Java requires the JVM?