Thanks, Timothy, for the entertainment - You stirred up a hornet's nest. I'm probably a contemporary of yours, and you probably remember that the industry has always been fragmented and contentious. Well guess what, it's far worse now! C#, Java, C++, Perl, Python, etc, enthusiasts are all convinced their language is superior to all others. The suggestion to stay with what you know is a good one if all you want to do is make some money. If you want to have fun, though, learn this object-oriented stuff. Don't let them fool you - it is not that easy for an old-style procedural programmer to make the switch. I did it in the early 90's because I had to, but it was a while before I even believed what I was doing was worthwhile. It is worth doing, believe me. Unfortunately, I can't recommend a book which starts where you are - there aren't any. You will either have to get an elementary textbook in C++ or Java and put up with wading through tons of stuff you already know to get at what you don't, or you will have to get a reference manual in your target language and fill in the gaps with on-line searches. It is a hard road, but if you are tired of being out to pasture I suggest you start with C++ and use one of the books by Savitch. C++ is the best vantage point for migrating to any other OO language.
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Thanks, Timothy, for the entertainment - You stirred up a hornet's nest. I'm probably a contemporary of yours, and you probably remember that the industry has always been fragmented and contentious. Well guess what, it's far worse now! C#, Java, C++, Perl, Python, etc, enthusiasts are all convinced their language is superior to all others. The suggestion to stay with what you know is a good one if all you want to do is make some money. If you want to have fun, though, learn this object-oriented stuff. Don't let them fool you - it is not that easy for an old-style procedural programmer to make the switch. I did it in the early 90's because I had to, but it was a while before I even believed what I was doing was worthwhile. It is worth doing, believe me. Unfortunately, I can't recommend a book which starts where you are - there aren't any. You will either have to get an elementary textbook in C++ or Java and put up with wading through tons of stuff you already know to get at what you don't, or you will have to get a reference manual in your target language and fill in the gaps with on-line searches. It is a hard road, but if you are tired of being out to pasture I suggest you start with C++ and use one of the books by Savitch. C++ is the best vantage point for migrating to any other OO language.