Which language should i use for next project?

Question

Hi, my parents asked me what if I could do a simple program for accounting.

The thing is, I can not decide which programming language to choose. I know Java quite well but don't like messing with GUI, so I'm leaning towards C#/C++/Delphi because there you can make the gui in no time. The only problem I have I don't know how I would print documents. Also eventualy I would release the code under the GNU license.

What I will need:

1. Printing generated documents
2. Easy to create gui
3. Windows only support (for now)

Answer 1

Stick with java. You'll figure out how to use swing or SWT faster than learning a new language.

Answer 2

In time you spend learning C#/C++/delphi (and stumbling on all the new gotchas in those various languages), you could have instead created a decent GUI in Java.

If you want a learn a new language for your own personal development, then do so. But if you want to get a project completed, go with what you know.

Answer 3

CBuilder is the fastest way my opinion. You don't need to learn Pascal syntax and GUI is drag-n-drop style

Answer 4

You wrote you know Java so it seems to be a natural choice. Swing isn't the best for creating GUI but it is not so bad... You may try for example NetBeans IDE to create GUI using drag'n'drop interface.

Answer 5

If you're leaning toward C# what about VB.NET? I've found it to be a little quicker with the GUI development than C++ for sure. If you don't like it, the effort won't be wasted because you can fall back on C# with the .NET constructs.

Crystal Reports doesn't do a bad job with documents, and has built-in PDF support. It integrates pretty well with the Visual Studio IDE and .NET.

But then again, Java is also perfectly fine, too.

I guess another question is why your parents want you to write one from scratch? There are fantastic accounting programs already available for free or at least under $100.

My 2 cents.

Answer 6

C# and the .NET Framework satisfies all your listed requirements. Printing is quite easy. If you're up for (and willing to invest the time in) learning a new language and framework(s), go with .NET. If you want to get something done quickly, then go with what you know.

It's a judgment call.

Answer 7

Considering you know Java and its a simple program, I would choose Java and quickly make a simple GUI.

Sun's tutorials can easily walk you through a layout that seems fit for account. A few JTextBox's to enter values and a submit button. Nothing that would take too long.

Also, Sun offers a Printing tutorial containing either single or multiple page documents, depending on what you are actually printing.

Hope this helps.

Answer 8

Depending on what your parents intend to use this for, I'd advise them to buy an accounting package and not rely on anything you'll write. Quick Books would be a fine choice.

As their son, I would not want my parents to jeopardize my financial future by using software that I'd write. Especially if I lacked background in both software development AND accounting.

If you're doing this just for the fun of working on a nice problem and learning accounting, Java will be a fine choice. I'd advise that you forget about UI and printing and start with understanding the accounting problem domain. Write some objects that model it well.

Take a look at Martin Fowler's "Analysis Patterns". It's a little dated now, but it has a nice chapter on double entry accounting and ledgers that you might find useful.

UPDATE: Yes the word "accounting" is unfortunate (and misleading). Your accountant parents should be smart enough to fill out a form and print it on their own.

But even that characterization is off-base, because "prefill" implies a source of persistent data that will have to be maintained. Will you do that? How will the data store be populated?

You don't understand the problem at all.

If they insist on asking for your help, I'd say that any language will do. You claim both Java and C#, but this question and others that you've been asking today suggest to me that you lack facility with either language. I'd suggest that you understand more serious study to master the necessary skills than just trolling for answers here. When you have a specific, answerable question bring it here. Otherwise, you need to upgrade your skills first.

Answer 9

Since you know Java, and you are doing something for family and not a real product to put in the market, I advice you to use Java and only Java and nothing else except Java, I will guide you for the technologies you will need:

1. Netbeans IDE, although eclipse is way better than NetBeans in my opinion, use netbeans for GUI development of swing, you will have a graphical interface, and drag and drop the same as visual studio, so creating the GUI will not be a difficult task.

2. Database: you may need a database to store data in it, I advice you to go with something similar to Oracle but free and I thing Postgress is the best choice its free, and it has a graphical client too, its named PGAdmin. everything is free and easy to use.

3. To connect to the database check for JDBC and you will be able to write simple SQL selects to read/write to the database, if you want something more advanced go with Hibernate.

4. Reporting: best solution would be Jasper reports and its graphical tool iText you will be able to design professional looking reports with it, and you can generate .pdf files too.

5. Finally if you want to generate excel or word files from your application or read them, may be to import data or export data you can go with a framework named Apache POI its very easy to use and you will find everything you need in it.

I think this list will help you to develop your application, and if you learn all of them be quite sure that you will find a Job as java developer everywhere.

Good luck with the development, and have fun ;-)

Regards.

Answer 10

I would definitely recommend wxWidgets with CodeBlocks. wxWidgets is an easy to use cross-platform C++ library and CodeBlocks is an easy to use cross platform IDE.

Answer 11

You might want to consider Microsoft Access for simple to medium complexity database work.

Isn't nearly as sophisticated or flexible or extendable as Java, but just might be enough for what you are trying to do.

Answer 12

My first instinct would be to go for C# as it is great for GUI development (and an interesting learning exercise as you're already familiar with Java) however when you say, "Windows only support (for now)", hey, I know .net is meant to be cross platform but it isn't really (MS have released 4 .nets in what 7 years? no one can keep up with all the new features). If that "for now" is meant seriously then stick to Java.