Joey's First Programming Language [was: RE: [BITS] Sex on the Bra

Joe Barrera (joebar@MICROSOFT.com)
Fri, 17 Jul 1998 15:41:50 -0700


Thanks, Tom, I feel better now.

But here's the real question. What programming language should Joey learn
first? He's 6 1/2, and he wants a faster computer (he currently has a P/75),
and I've told him that I'll get him one once he learns how to program.

BASIC? No, I can't do that to him.

Pascal? Just too ancient a language. Plus, Microsoft doesn't make a Pascal
compiler any more.

Let's not talk about LOGO.

Really, the candidates in my mind are Java and C++. I suppose Java is the
more politically correct choice. But I'm worried about it hiding too much
(e.g. with garbage collection), whereas in C++, you can drill down and
actually see how auto_ptr<T> works. Besides, I suspect C++ will long outlast
Java.

So, I'm probably going to go with C++. Unless y'all can talk me out of it
(and offer a better alternative).

- Joe (feeling fegmanic-depressive today)

"There's no one else, in the abandoned brain,
But that's not necessarily bad.
It feeds on itself and it's not insane,
This brain's too old to go mad." -
http://www.fegmania.org/archives/lyrics/the_abandoned_brain

Joseph S. Barrera III
{allegra,ihnp4,decvax}!microsoft!joebar
<http://research.microsoft.com/~joebar/>
The onions expunged anise vestige are muon purse and navels.