Well I have to say I read these boards quite often and you gives give loads of good information and I wanted to say thank you. My first question has to do with education. I am now pursuing an Associates Degree in Computer Science while getting ready to take some speacialized game courses for 3d programming and direct X. My course load at school teaches AS/400 and COBOL as the bulk of my course load. Will an assiocates degree help if I am good at programming. I just have alot to learn and do before I am ready to go out in the world so I figured I would get an associates degree. Is it worth anything? I know a little bit of C++ and some other languages but I heard to was better to learn another language fully before going into C++ Is this true? What language do you guys think best? Thanks.

I think it is easiest to learn C++ if you read a thorough book on the basics of the language (C), and then move on the classes part of it.

In High School, our computer science department, which consists
of a computer-programmer turned math teacher and about 12
students, teaches the programming course as follows. We basically
take about 27 weeks of QBASIC programming while we learn all
about how exactly the computer stores variables, we learn
decimal, octal, and hexadecimal, flow-charting, and basically
everything else that goes in inside the computer with the
support of a small, easy-to-use (and read), interpretive
language. Then she introduces us to a little C++ (of which she
knows little). I basically took it upon myself to learn the
rest of C++, a long with a lot of DirectX (non-3D), and OpenGL.
I say if you know absolutely what is going on inside the
computer when you program you should have no problem whatsoever
with any language.

Definitely strive for language independance. Too many people associate programming with writing code. Programming is problem solving, and problem solving is 90% concept 10% implementation. If you understand the abstract ideas inherent to computer programming, you''ll have no problem picking up a book and learning whatever language best suites you''re needs.

P.S. Any degree is better than no degree.

Xorcist is definitely right: any degree is better than no degree.

But you could do much, much, much (etc. for about 100 more much''s) better than COBOL. In fact, about the only language that I can think of that''s worse than COBOL is Prolog, but, well, there it is.

QBASIC is really a very good place to start programming. In fact, I still use it when I want to test something quickly, without having to worry too much about syntax, APIs, and performance.

Really any language is good to start learning programming with (with the exception of Prolog, and quite possibly assembly), because, as Xorcist said, programming is more problem solving than implementation.

Personally, I''d go for a version of BASIC (start with QBASIC; it''s easy to use) to start with. BASIC has a very easy to understand syntax, almost like english. While it''s not quite as powerful as C/C++ for many applications, it''s good for learning (it''s not just called BASIC because it''s the Beginner''s All-purpose Structured Instruction Code. It really is a basic language). Once you''ve picked up BASIC, the transition to C and C++ is very simple. It''s mostly syntax that''s the difference.

That said, I wish you luck getting your degree. I''m working on finishing mine, and I can say that it''s definitely worth it.

Adiss
a.k.a. Magic Card

Just a note. This is a quote from the Tao of Programming:

quote:

---

The Tao gave birth to machine language. Machine language gave birth to the assembler.

The assembler gave birth to the compiler. Now there are ten thousand languages.

Each language has its purpose, however humble. Each language expresses the Yin and Yang of software. Each language has its place within the Tao.

But do not program in COBOL if you can avoid it.

---

Adiss
a.k.a. Magic Card

Thanks for all the info so far.