Programming Languages

Overview Programming languages range from simple scripting languages, such as VB script, to very complex languages, such as C++, that take years to truly master. Visual Basic, C/C++, and Java are the most popular programming languages in use today. Languages such as FORTRAN and COBOL are still being used in legacy applications, and JavaScript and PERL are often used for the newest Web development projects. Read about these and other languages by following the links below.

Visual Basic Microsoft released the first version of Visual Basic in 1991 and it's been a popular favorite ever since. VB had one of the very first visual programming environments, allowing programmers to design graphical elements on screen with a minimum of programming requirements. You can read about the newest version of Visual Basic here. A good source for news and VB how-tos can be found at the Visual Basic Web Magazine. You can find VB tutorials here. Interested in finding a job as a Visual Basic programmer? Look here.

C/C++  C and C++ are the current heavyweights of the programming world. Check out www.cplusplus.com for general information including a tutorial. Microsoft publishes a very popular C++ development environment. You can read about it here. GNU C/C++ is a popular C/C++ compiler for Unix systems. Read about the GNU Compiler Collection here.

Java Sun Microsystems released the Java programming language in 1995. It quickly became popular due to it's platform independence and ease of use. One of the best sources for Java information is Sun's Java Developers website. This site includes links to tutorials and a showcase of the types of programming people can do with Java. Check out www.JavaWorld.com for hints and tips about the Java programming language.

C#  C# is Microsoft's answer to Java. Designed to simplify Web and Internet programming, C# attempts to combine the power of C++ with the ease of Visual Basic. Read Microsoft's C# press release for an overview of Microsoft's C# vision, or check out their Visual C# Homepage. A C# tutorial can be found here. You can read a comparison of C#, C++ and Java here.

Pascal Pascal was first created in 1970 by Professor Niklaus Wirth and wass intended to teach students structured programming. The implementations of Pascal have changed and it has greatly influenced the design and evolution of many other languages such as Visual Basic and the Delphi Programming Language. For more information about Pascal go to Pascal Central. If you want to learn how to use Pascal review the tutorials at this Web page. For an open source compiler for Pascal go to the GNU Pascal Home page.

Other Languages Perl is a popular choice for writing Web-based and other types of scripts. JavaScript is similar, but based on Java, whereas Perl is based on C++. FORTRAN and COBOL are both languages primarily used for maintaining legacy applications. Check out this page for funny quotes about these near-obsolete languages. You can read about Prolog, a fifth generation language, here.