If I ran the Uni I would teach Java (or Python) *only* in the last year and C++ before that. Java hides a lot of complexity which a good programmer should understand and C++ is a good language to explore that complexity, so I would teach that first.
But you don't acually want all that flexibility when you are developing applications because it gets too complicated when you want focus on higher level issues.
C gives you just enough rope to hang yourself with and C++ gives you even more rope
The Universities I am involved with in Sydney (Macquarie and UNSW) seem very wary of Java. The undergraduates are generally taught C++ but not Java.
I agree that industry still relies on C/C++ and I am sure it will for a long time, but I would never recommend it over Java for general industry applications.
a math double-major, who's considering becoming a math professor, uses C++ as his language of choice
A good friend of mine recently finished a PhD in Maths and decided to start his career in the IT industry. Having never done any computer science, he did a six month course in C++ and then a six month course in Java and found that Java was much easier for him. He said that he never felt that he fully understood C++, but he topped the class in Java. I am sure he could have done well in C++ if he had worked at it, but he has gone on to work as a very successful Java developer.
I think the Language of choice depends on the context, and the conclusion I draw from these annecdotes is that Java is good for industry and C++ is good for academia.
Apparently, the only answer Muhammad Faisal Rauf Danka got after multiple unsuccessful attempts to contact Microsoft was:
"Bugs? There are no bugs. We have destroyed two bugs, two anomalies, and a misspelling. We have driven them back. I guarantee you, there are no bugs in our software. Those who say there are bugs, (dramatic pause) THEY are the bugs. All they tell is lies, lies, and more lies! - Thank you for calling Microsoft support. (click)"
(as sent by Richard Berry to welovetheiraqiinformationminister http://64.39.15.171/index.html#quotes)
Actually, this is probably one of the only stories on slashdot that I have found by following a link from a different site. Usually I go directly to the Slashdot site and read the last day's stories. And where did I find the link to Slashdot? Google!
I remember watching a documentary not long ago that demonstrated that the cause of the Hindenburg crash was not the hydrogen, but the material used for the outer skin. The outer skin had a coating of material that was similar to solid rocket fuel and it was ignited by a static elecricity discharge that happened when the ship touched the docking tower in stormy weather. The hydrogen may have made the fire worse, but the loss of the airship and crew would have still happened if helium was used.
The last thing I need to worry about as I cut code is a _real_ flame war in the skies of my office!
Here is a link to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology's real time weather radar site. The radar image is updated every 10 minues and is designed to show rain, but I have noticed that you can see dense smoke on it too. Keep your eyes on Canberra (and perhaps Sydney) for the next day or two, I think you will nee a lot more fires spreading as the hot weather continues.
Slashdot Mirror
Java hides a lot of complexity which a good programmer should understand and C++ is a good language to explore that complexity, so I would teach that first.
But you don't acually want all that flexibility when you are developing applications because it gets too complicated when you want focus on higher level issues.
C gives you just enough rope to hang yourself with and C++ gives you even more rope
I agree that industry still relies on C/C++ and I am sure it will for a long time, but I would never recommend it over Java for general industry applications.
A good friend of mine recently finished a PhD in Maths and decided to start his career in the IT industry. Having never done any computer science, he did a six month course in C++ and then a six month course in Java and found that Java was much easier for him. He said that he never felt that he fully understood C++, but he topped the class in Java. I am sure he could have done well in C++ if he had worked at it, but he has gone on to work as a very successful Java developer.
I think the Language of choice depends on the context, and the conclusion I draw from these annecdotes is that Java is good for industry and C++ is good for academia.
"Bugs? There are no bugs. We have destroyed two bugs, two anomalies, and a misspelling. We have driven them back. I guarantee you, there are no bugs in our software. Those who say there are bugs, (dramatic pause) THEY are the bugs. All they tell is lies, lies, and more lies! - Thank you for calling Microsoft support. (click)"
(as sent by Richard Berry to welovetheiraqiinformationminister http://64.39.15.171/index.html#quotes)
Read the posts. Someone worked it out!
Actually, this is probably one of the only stories on slashdot that I have found by following a link from a different site. Usually I go directly to the Slashdot site and read the last day's stories. And where did I find the link to Slashdot? Google!
Try telling that to an Aborigine.
I remember watching a documentary not long ago that demonstrated that the cause of the Hindenburg crash was not the hydrogen, but the material used for the outer skin. The outer skin had a coating of material that was similar to solid rocket fuel and it was ignited by a static elecricity discharge that happened when the ship touched the docking tower in stormy weather. The hydrogen may have made the fire worse, but the loss of the airship and crew would have still happened if helium was used. The last thing I need to worry about as I cut code is a _real_ flame war in the skies of my office!
Here is a link to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology's real time weather radar site. The radar image is updated every 10 minues and is designed to show rain, but I have noticed that you can see dense smoke on it too. Keep your eyes on Canberra (and perhaps Sydney) for the next day or two, I think you will nee a lot more fires spreading as the hot weather continues.