[smirnoff]

Programming experience: None

I don't even know what features I need in a language. Must work in windows. I just want normal workable windows. Works with internet stuff. I don't know what I'm talking about obviously...

Help me out...

[ThatHideousStrength]

I'd suggest VB.NET

You can get VB.NET Express for free from Microsoft.

[SoulAssassin]

Originally Posted by ThatHideousStrength

I'd suggest VB.NET

You can get VB.NET Express for free from Microsoft.

^ What he said. It's a great place to start. Unfortunately I got started on C++ in college with no experience in an engineering class and it soured me on programming.

[smirnoff]

I've read something to the effect that VB can lock you in, in that eventually your program will rely on it and you'll have to pay the big bucks to proceed or something. Should I be concerned about this?

So in layman terms, what is VB and what is .net?

[SoulAssassin]

You should really learn VB as a building block into ObjectOriented programming. .net is the next version of programming language from MS. I still think that C++ is the best all-around language to know a lot about. VB should be your "starter house" in terms of learning programming, variables, logic, etc.

[smirnoff]

I see. Sounds good to me. Lots of material out there to read thankfully.

[ThatHideousStrength]

Originally Posted by smirnoff

I've read something to the effect that VB can lock you in, in that eventually your program will rely on it and you'll have to pay the big bucks to proceed or something. Should I be concerned about this?

So in layman terms, what is VB and what is .net?

Visual Basic is Microsoft's programming language I would say. It's very easy for newbie programmers to create programs. I'm no way a web developer but I do enjoy programming and this language cuts a lot of crap out that I don't really want to deal with.

.NET is the core of it all I would say. Basically if you program in C# or VB.NET, .NET takes your code and converts it to the same language that the computer uses. I could be wrong.

[SoulAssassin]

Originally Posted by smirnoff

I see. Sounds good to me. Lots of material out there to read thankfully.

Jok3r is the best to ask about this stuff. I can do simple programming, nothing too large as I don't get enough time to worry about it. VB is very useful though in windows networks, for example I can create a VB script to add printers, users, groups, etc in Active Directory.

[j0k3r]

It all depends on what you want to do. VB.NET might instill some bad habits in you if you start with it. I would suggest reading some books on OO design before you get started with the actual programming.

[smirnoff]

Thanks Joker, I will do that.

As far as what want to do with the programming, I guess I'd essentially be making a replacement for the trade execution software at work...

[smirnoff]

In my browsing around the net I've been hoping to find something of a list of the programming languages and their philosophies. That or some metaphor I can relate to.

Something to the effect of C++ is like ford.... been around forever, simple, cheaply produced, but less reliable.
Java is like Honda.... innovative, reliable, and blah blah....

That sort of this would be really helpful to me, since it speaks on my level (clueless).

[smirnoff]

Found what looks like a good book Joker. In line with your recommendation.

Object Oriented Thought Process

Thus, it is of vital importance that while you're on the road to OO development, you first learn the fundamental OO concepts. Resist the temptation to jump directly into a programming language (such as C++, C# or Java) or a modeling language (such as UML), and take the time to learn the object-oriented thought process.

He equates learning first about the OO concepts to learning about electricity before learning to read an electrical diagram. Makes sense to me I guess.

[j0k3r]

Originally Posted by smirnoff

In my browsing around the net I've been hoping to find something of a list of the programming languages and their philosophies. That or some metaphor I can relate to.

Something to the effect of C++ is like ford.... been around forever, simple, cheaply produced, but less reliable.
Java is like Honda.... innovative, reliable, and blah blah....

That sort of this would be really helpful to me, since it speaks on my level (clueless).

You have been reading the wrong forums.

C++ is in no way unreliable, but it is a difficult starter language. I have never liked Java. It's slow, bloatish, and just funky. If you learn C#, Java will be easy to pick up if you want to. The syntax is very similar.

[smirnoff]

Originally Posted by j0k3r

You have been reading the wrong forums.

C++ is in no way unreliable, but it is a difficult starter language. I have never liked Java. It's slow, bloatish, and just funky. If you learn C#, Java will be easy to pick up if you want to. The syntax is very similar.

No sorry. I was just making up those descriptions as an example. I've got no idea what I'm talking about. I don't know what language is best for me yet either... I've really got no bias.

[j0k3r]

Originally Posted by smirnoff

No sorry. I was just making up those descriptions as an example. I've got no idea what I'm talking about. I don't know what language is best for me yet either... I've really got no bias.

After you familiarize yourself with OO concepts, C# is a very good language to start putting it in to practice. You won't have to worry about the weird things in C++ like why it takes a buttload of code to convert a TCHAR to an integer (w/o MFC, etc.), or where passing by reference vs. passing by value will cause your code to blow up. Then when C# becomes natural for you, you can break it down in MSIL and really find out about the guts.

[smirnoff]

It's tough cause I don't really no what is relevant to ask as far as selecting a language goes. I guess the best I can do is describe what the most basic trading program does.
It simply receives packets of info about stock price and time and order status, and send out packets containing trade execution requests...

edit: So C# is a good stepping stone. Good to know.

[ThatHideousStrength]

Visual Studio is awesome for getting data from various sources. I don't know how your software works but if you can extract it from the source and convert it to XML, you can use Visual Studio to interpret the data easily. I guess you can parse the data as well but that's harder. Does that trading program have any developer documentation to add to it?

I'd say C# is a great start especially if you are only programming for Windows. If you want cross platform use C/++ (Think Firefox, I believe they use C because it's easier to compile under different environments)

[smirnoff]

Unfortunately there is no developer info. Thanks for the ideas though.

[sensemann]

I personally didn't like C++. I started with Java during studies and sticked with out. C# seems to be THE language today, and it's not much different from Java as far as I hear. So I'd say: go for Java or C#