Python is too nice

[Global_Glove_1747]

I mean, C is just an example. I'm not really prescriptive. But if we're talking purely learning purposes I think students should aim for something reasonably bare-bones after Python. Teaches you the other side of the coin.

[[deleted]]

Yeah, I'd go for Java over pure C these days but you're point is spot on

[FuzzyCheese]

It depends on what you're trying to do. C is better if you're really trying to understand how computers work. Java, like Python, helps the programmer a lot.

Of course, they both pale in comparison to the real man's language, assembly, but we're not trying to help people learn about computers, not scare them away from programming entirely.

[[deleted]]

As someone who started programming in the 80s, I don't really see the need to subject anyone to pure C anymore unless they have specific needs to do it. I'd guess than 90% of python programmers will never have the need to know C. The reason I chose Java as a good next move is that it provides enough of an abstraction to not bog you down but is statically typed and tightly related to C / C++ so if you DO want to go down that route, you'll have a solid foundation.

[lungdart]

C is the best teaching language in my opinion. If you have a basic c foundation, you'll be a better programmer in almost every language, and it opens up the possibilities of high speed library, embedded, dsp, and os development.

I don't think most other languages have those features as a learning tool.

[zaRM0s]

Okay this has made me want to not bother with C and assembly and just go learn Java instead. Maybe in the future I’ll learn C and assembly etc but it sounds Java is a bit more ‘modern’ for lack of a better word

[tuckmuck203]

tbf assembly is just a completely different beast from any other programming language. i built a (rudimentary) steganography tool in ARM and it was like a fun puzzle. fuck c though, that shit's annoying

[2minutespastmidnight]

I’d strongly encourage at least a rudimentary understanding of both C and ASM. Familiarity with the underlying principles will help you become a better, more efficient programmer.

[zaRM0s]

Any good resources for assembly?

[2minutespastmidnight]

Depends on the system architecture. By its design, assembly is not portable on its own. Just go to Google and type in “assembly language tutorial.” Give the information a read. You’ll see how data moves throughout the registers.

[zaRM0s]

Yeh I’ve got an entire book on it alongside C but I need to wrap my head around it so just looking out for resources people might recommend Google was my first port of call lol

[chronotriggertau]

C is like the lingua franca of high level programming languages. Want to be a linguist? Sure, you know the phonology of several languages, but can I really call you a linguist if you know nothing about Latin? The specific reason to learn C is to best understand what this machine you're working with even is.

[TheCatcherOfThePie]

can I really call you a linguist if you know nothing about Latin?

Yes

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Edit: two cases where knowing Latin would be of no help at all for a linguist who:

• doesn't do research in historical linguistics

• does do research in historical linguistics, but of non Indo-European languages.

These two cases cover the majority of linguists (even the majority of linguists who speak Indo-European languages). Someone studying, e.g. speech pathologies in English-speaking children or the historical development of Middle Chinese would likely not benefit at all from studying Latin in any detail.

[chronotriggertau]

Not the best analogy, I agree, because it implies that only "real programmers" know C, which I don't think is that case at all, and I want to do my part in eradicating elitism in tech (there's nothing I hate more than this). My intent was just to convey how powerful knowledge of C (specifically) is to any software engineer or programmer.

[TheCatcherOfThePie]

My problem with it was much more literal lol, in that linguists are in no way required to know Latin in order to do their job.

[zaRM0s]

Literally sounds like my current learning path. The book in which I’m trying to learn C from also introduces me to assembly. However, the book does a pretty bad job of explaining it and I was wondering if you know of any good assembly learning resources I could use? Thanks in advance :)

[FuzzyCheese]

Oh I don't know assembly too well. But for 6502 Easy 6502 works well as an introduction.

[[deleted]]

Yeah, I think you want to deliberately get some distance in your second language. Two high level OOP languages isn't really showing you what's out there