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Ask HN : Which should I learn : C# or Java

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11–20 of 87 posts

Re: Ask HN : Which should I learn : C# or Java

#11
C# has got a bunch of neat functional stuff in it (Microsoft's researchers have seen the glory of functional languages), but Java might be easier to start off with.

Once you can get through Java, everything else you learn will feel immensely superior...

Re: Ask HN : Which should I learn : C# or Java

#12
I would recommend looking at c#, or more interestingly the .net framework and the CLR. Once you've learn't the framework then you can also look at the other .net languages. Ironpython, IronRuby and F# give you a width breadth of languages and ideas but with the benfit of the shared .Net framework and the object inter opt that comes with the CLR/DLR

Re: Ask HN : Which should I learn : C# or Java

#13
Once you said ASP.NET it is clear that you are heading to the web.

If you insist not to develop web applications using the greatest open source platforms which serve today all the largest sites, then C# would be better than Java simply because ASP.NET has much more to offer than Java in the web field.

Re: Ask HN : Which should I learn : C# or Java

#14
post #9
post #2

I think as a language C# is superior to Java. That being said, learn Java. The open source community alone makes it a much more attractive platform to build apps on. The number of choices in terms of frameworks + no vendor lock in makes it a winner. If you're serious about learning it pick up a copy of Effective Java by Joshua Bloch -- by far the best general Java book out there.

Man I know that I'm gonna get burned for saying it, but java isn't all that it's cracked up to be. I've worked for two companies that are java-based and both experiences have been horrible. Except for a handful of people, every java "engineer" I've known has been a siv. The ones that rock happen to just know java in addition to experience in other languages. Point in case, we are implementing some new web apis soon.…

Clueless management is platform independent.

Re: Ask HN : Which should I learn : C# or Java

#15
post #11

C# has got a bunch of neat functional stuff in it (Microsoft's researchers have seen the glory of functional languages), but Java might be easier to start off with. Once you can get through Java, everything else you learn will feel immensely superior...

Can you back up your claim that Java is easier to start with?

Re: Ask HN : Which should I learn : C# or Java

#16
post #10
post #5

If you are looking to only program for windows, C#. Stay away from java at all cost. Java is a career trap, and more importantly a destroyer of intellect. My roommate is a C# programmer and a system architect. Really smart and he makes close to $150k per year. Java would qualify you to flip French fries in comparison. Also, keep Objective C in mind. That opens up Mac and iPhone development to you. Macs are at 20% mar…

I think the Systems Architect position earns that salary, not just a developer who uses that specific language. I don't think anybody is saying C# developers are paid badly, but that Java is open source in (I think) every way by now, and that means it will survive for a long time. On the other hand, I'm never putting faith into Microsoft's development tools again, as nice as they are, because in recent history, Micro…

I assume you're mostly referring to VB6 being EOL'd. Any other examples?

Re: Ask HN : Which should I learn : C# or Java

#17
post #2

I think as a language C# is superior to Java. That being said, learn Java. The open source community alone makes it a much more attractive platform to build apps on. The number of choices in terms of frameworks + no vendor lock in makes it a winner. If you're serious about learning it pick up a copy of Effective Java by Joshua Bloch -- by far the best general Java book out there.

Learn Scala: http://www.scala-lang.org

Re: Ask HN : Which should I learn : C# or Java

#18
I've noticed that no-one has talked about the cost of using either.

Yes the Java IDE's are somewhat inferior to MS's, but you can get everything you need to write, develop, manage, and host Java applications for free compared to MS; the OS, IDE, Web Server ... all cost money which can be a substantial amount for commercial purposes.

Re: Ask HN : Which should I learn : C# or Java

#19
You should look at doing C# and learning .NET, and as has been stated, you could then use .NET with all sorts of languages (IronPython, IronRuby, etc.) You could also look at the Mono project for Open Source development, and as you are doing web apps, take a look at Silverlight/Moonlight. Silverlight has very impressive capabilities and potential.
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