learning java in college

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college
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+2 Q:

learning java in college

Should I learn Java while I am in a college?

I took c Programming and data structures using c the last two quarters. I am thinking of taking "intro to java for c programmers" this summer. The university that I am transferring to has options of transferring with or without java and it is not required for graduation. I was wondering if a 6 or 8 weeks summer course in java will be hard or maybe take java after graduation and take other courses instead. I know this is a very general question but I want you to answer the question from your experience 'what you did when you where in college etc..'

edit: I only need one course in java to start developing in java "intermediate level" and I could do it in the summer thats why I am confused will I be better of learning object oriented design using c++ and take java in my free time or take object oriented design using java

+5 A:

Should I learn Java while I am in a college?

Yes

Start learning Java if you already know C is very easy. Later you realize how different are they in reality.

Doing so ( or C# for instance ) will help you to understand OO programming which is essential.

OscarRyz 2010-06-23 22:59:08

I was thinking of learning object oriented designe using c++ and take java courses after graduation by myself.

user1 2010-06-23 23:01:43

C++ is an extremely poor tool with which to grok OO programming. Java/C# clear away a lot of the junk and let you actually think in OO--later, when you go back to C++ you can teach all the C++ programmers what actual OO is.

Bill K 2010-06-23 23:05:46

+2 A:

Yes!

Also learn one functional language (e.g. Haskell), definitely take a c++ class as well, and one scripting language as well (Python or Ruby, for example).

JRL 2010-06-23 23:00:32

but I don't have time to take all those classes before graduation, I only can do two programming languages simultaneously

user1 2010-06-23 23:04:17

I learn data structures using `Lisp` ( a functional language ). It was the first programming language I learn in college, unfortunately I didn't have the perspective of its relevance and by the end of univ, I had forgotten everything I learned. I wish I had all those code samples now. The funny thing, is that I didn't use `for`'s or `while`'s when I learn C the next semester; I can't figure out today how I did it, but I managed to program in C using only recursion :)

OscarRyz 2010-06-23 23:08:22

@user1: You can learn languages in your free time :)

Felix Kling 2010-06-23 23:11:51

Yeah I had a guy in class that must've also started out with Lisp trying to code in C and it was the most obfuscated code I ever seen! Didn't even realize what he was trying to do at first LOL!

daveangel 2010-06-23 23:40:34

+1 A:

According to the TIOBE index C and Java are pretty much neck and neck as far as popularity in programming languages.
Java will teach you Object Oriented, which is different and will help you get a new perspective (C++ would also do the same).
A Functional language will also teach a different perspective.
If you have time look at AOP (Aspect Oriented Programming) for yet another slice in a different direction.
The idea is to understand which tools are good at doing which tasks.

Romain Hippeau 2010-06-23 23:01:59

What language you learn is nearly irrelevant. It's more about the type of language you learn and learning to think like a developer. For example, C is a structured programming language. Java is an object oriented programming language. Knowing both structured and object oriented is crucial. I would highly recommend learning java or some other object oriented language prior to looking for a job. I don't think it's important whether you take it immediately or at the university you are transferring to, but if your current college has a course designed for C programmers, that may be easier than taking generic java course.

lampej 2010-06-23 23:02:53

I only need one course in java to start developing in java and I could do it in the summer thats why I am confused will I be better of learning object oriented design using c++ and take java in my free time or take object oriented design using java

user1 2010-06-23 23:28:18

My college sounds similar. They used C++ for data structures and intro programming and Java for Object Oriented design. Anyways, after doing data structures in C++ learning Java is a joke IMO. I read "Head First Java" to learn Java during the summer and easily got an A in the required Java course. Oh and if you are going to be a programmer better get used to learning new languages quickly. I had to quickly learn Objective-C for upper division iPhone programming course!

daveangel 2010-06-23 23:45:14

+2 A:

Well, Back when was in college...oh wait, I still am in college and I did take a Java programming class and I found it extremely valuable.

If you have only taken c classes then you haven't done any object oriented programming and that's exactly what Java is. This next fall I will be a senior and my advice looking back would be:

Take c/c++ classes to learn to code (you've done that)
Take a Java or C# class to learn O.O. programming.
Take a Python or Perl class to learn scripting.
Learn basic web development, in or out of the classroom. Anytime you go looking for a job they are going to ask for web development skills.

So YES! take the java class, and good luck to you fellow soon-to-be professional geek!

CMikeB1 2010-06-23 23:10:30

how many different programming languages did you take? just curious

user1 2010-06-23 23:25:28

I learned to program with c++, then took a Java class and a Python class. I also took a "programming languages" class that was a survey of several languages (lisp, haskell, prolog, etc...). Of all those, I would say Java was the most helpful as it helped me get a job in research with the university right after I finished the class.

CMikeB1 2010-06-23 23:41:56

ansaurus

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learning java in college

Yes!

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