[AndreeU17]

how does a student go about memorizing so many languages by the end of they're Bachelor Degree (California, USA). I used to be a Computer Science major, but decided to switch over into Electrical Engineering were i found my passion to grow (Robotics). During my Semester as a computer Science, i took a class on C# and Java. Now that i switch to Electrical Engineering degree, i will be introduced to C and Assembly (Maybe more low level languages)! However, i enjoy coding in C++ since i find it the most efficient. My question is, i'm most focused in C++ and im slowly forgeting C# and Java since i havent even started a course in C, etc. I love programming as a hobby, a hobby that helps me relax and think outside the box. The idea of creating something out of nothing gives me butterflies (No Homo!)! How can i learn Java(Android), C/C++, Objective-C (iphone) and any other low level language to an intermediate level. I know most languages follow the same concept with an almost near syntax. However, how does an individual with a Computer Science manage to fluently write code in multiple languages without using libraries that are cross-platform!

Just a tip or hint that can help me still know my languages as i learn, something that can help me keep my hobby afloat.

I know studying and practicing languages is best recommended but id like to hear CS opinion since they tend to know multiple languages to an intermediate level!

Thanks

[Skydiver]

Only through practice and repeated use. It like learning other foreign languages. You only build up proficiency by using it.

Yes, concepts may translate across languages, and if you know the rudimentary elements of the other languages, you could get by, but by no means will it be "fluent". Somebody who is more familiar with Java can successfully write C# code, but the native C# code writers can spot them by their choice of coding patterns, and naming conventions. Each language has its own idioms, and hence the phrases like "Pythonic code" or "The Ruby Way" which distinguishes what "native" vs. "ported" code is supposed to look like.

[modi123_1]

Simple - plan. Break the project down into logical bits of functionality... scrawl out some pseudocode if needed.. then hit the language you need for the things you need.. how are variables created? Methods? Functions? What about loops? Etc... See the data structures you'll use (and that you know how to build) and apply them. That and know where the help docs are.

[Skydiver]

See this closed thread for an example of C code that was just ported to C++ and notice how un-C++ it looks like.

[DarenR]

well in my opinion you really cant-- sure you can get some of the basics but every app that you will work on for a company will have different styles and system usages with using the various parts of languages. These languages are so extensive that it is virtually impossible to memorize it all-- besides that is why you have the Google machine and DIC..

[AndreeU17]

See all that is understandable! My plan was to, read a book pertaining to a specific language, let's say C++! Read the book and highlight that which you find important since most book then to repeat few things! After highlighting the important, begin taking notes of it into a notebook (3 section for each language) that way you can compare easily and keep everything maintain! Does anyone so this? Is it helpful! I was also thinking, to grab the language I'm most comfortable with and creating something, then recreate it or port it using another language! You can get practice in multiple language that way !!! What so you guys think? All information is helpful!

[modi123_1]

Quote

creating something, then recreate it or port it using another language! You can get practice in multiple language that way !!! What so you guys think? All information is helpful!

Yes, I have seen that operate with a few people to a successful degree.

[baavgai]

AndreeU17, on 29 July 2014 - 10:10 AM, said:

then recreate it or port it using another language!

A deck of cards, tic-tac-toe, a few sorts, a class for rational numbers: all little programs that I like for playing with a new language. I've actually thought of putting my tic-tac-toe collection on GitHub...

The answer the the original question: you don't memorize squat. You use a language until you don't have to look stuff up as much. If you haven't used a language in a while, the look stuff up goes back down to almost base line.

I wrote a web app in TCL once: I wouldn't even recognize the language. I don't use perl enough to bang it out anymore, though python fills the niche. If I'm doing a shell script, I'll have to look up the syntax at some point.

Also, you're not just talking about just the language syntax: you're talking about all the bloody libraries. I stepped away from Java for a bit and BufferedReader got replaced by Scanner ( thank gods.) My C# programmers still don't know WPF, Linq, or lambdas. I just opened up a web project in VS2013 and I don't know what half that crap is. I've yet to seriously mess with C++ x??

Short answer: you're a programmer, you figure it out. If you use the same tool a lot, you will gain proficiency. But even the tool itself can change out from under you. Don't sweat it, just use your tools and be ready to learn something new.

[AndreeU17]

Yeah I've realize that memorizing a language will only give me more headaches on top of what I'm doing in class with all this Electrical theory crap but yeah I will simply just work on the languages I feel most comfortable in (Java and C/C++) until I know for a fact I won't forget (I use them daily for school or fun) and then beging learning the Android API as we'll as Objective C for iPhone, even though few libraries in Java provide cross platform with IOS which saves me the hassle of learning a new language completely! The only thing I find it confusing is learning the syntax (getting it confused with other syntax)! Because everything else seems to be nearly the same to an extent !

Each language has it's proficiency, meaning that each language is used for a certain thing ! In my case, it's merely the knowledge of knowing languages that provide me a huge horizon !

[Mercifies]

Learning multiple languages can be easy if the syntax is similar. For example, I find C# and Java much more similar than C# and C++. Although they come from the same family, they handle a lot of things differently as compared to C# and Java. If you are going to try to learn to code for Android, you will definitely need to get a good basis with XML and Java, as they are both used heavily when creating an android app. You can't use one without the other when it comes to android, so you better get used to both! I haven't tried coding for iOS but I have heard it may be easier. That being said, you're also going to end up paying more money to put an app up and the IDE is kind of expensive, where as Android Studio, Eclipse and NetBeans are free.