Python or C++

[dethklok02895]

So I've actually been using blender lately having lots of fun I've made buildings landscapes and a few characters that were ahhh blocky.

But I was wondering should I start learning python or C++.

I'm actually used C++ in the past (like 2 or 3 years ago) to make a few fun little trivia games and other little things.

Python I've used or have tried to use in the past (try like 4 or 5 years ago) and it was pretty depressing on my part.

I've been wanting to get back into programming for:
1. game oriented things
2. The basic need to know programming to help myself out in cases where something doesn't work right.
3. Writing scripts to make my life easier

[MisterDood]

Based on my very limited knowledge of python, C++ is definitely powerful, but python is really easy and doesn't have to be compiled. My outlook on programming is the more you know, the better, but I think it depends on how serious you want to be about programming.

C++ If you want to learn serious programming concepts (overloading, constructors, pointers, etc)

Python if you want something fast but effective. Not sure if it uses serious programming concepts liek C++ based languages.

[dethklok02895]

Well actually I'm looking to get pretty serious about programming actually. I'm tired of only remembering enough to make a trivia game. And since i do know c++ already maybe I should just use that instead

[elija]

I would say to go with what you know for your main language, but do try to learn at least the basics of a few more languages as each one can make you think differently about a problem. And that can only be good for your overall skills.

Also, learn to program rather than merely learning a language. A for loop is a for loop, a while is a while and an if is an if and so on. Get a good grasp of the concepts and how they are written down will become less relevant. Having said that, it is worth having a deep knowledge of your primary language(s)

[three18ti]

So I've actually been using blender lately having lots of fun I've made buildings landscapes and a few characters that were ahhh blocky.

But I was wondering should I start learning python or C++.

I'm actually used C++ in the past (like 2 or 3 years ago) to make a few fun little trivia games and other little things.

Python I've used or have tried to use in the past (try like 4 or 5 years ago) and it was pretty depressing on my part.

I've been wanting to get back into programming for:
1. game oriented things
2. The basic need to know programming to help myself out in cases where something doesn't work right.
3. Writing scripts to make my life easier

Perl.
While I would recommend C/C++ for game programming, nothing beats Perl for utility scripts. I will concede that Perl, Ruby, and Python are all very similar, it is my most humble opinion that Perl is:
--easiest to learn out of all three
--the most flexible in accepting different styles. (this also can be a detriment as it makes it really easy to write bad code... look at PHP).
--the most flexible for handling different types of jobs, from web serving via CGI/mod_perl scripts, to SNMP monitoring, to general automation and system administration.

[dethklok02895]

I guess looking into Perl couldn't hurt too much. Although using what I'm use to would probably be the best option but it is as if I'm starting from scratch anyways. So looking into more is not a bad idea

[escozzia]

It mostly depends on what you want to do, in my opinion:
C/C++ is awesome for programming all sorts of applications, especially since this is, well, Linux
Python integrates very nicely with C, meaning you can use the two together, so you might want to get into C/C++ and beef it up with Python later
Perl is great for utility scripts and can really make your life easier

Maybe you're already great at Bash, but if you're not, it's always a good idea to improve your shelling abilities too. I also agree with elija: what really matters is slipping into the right mentality, otherwise you'll be great at solving the book's problems but awful at solving your own.

[three18ti]

Perl integrates with C/C++ very nicely as well. (The Perl interpreter (i.e. Perl itself) is built in C after all). Extensions for Perl are also built in C.

That being said, C and C++ are very different animals. e.g.: Most C code is valid syntax and a C++ compiler will compile it, C++ is not valid C syntax and a C compiler will not compile C++ code.

Anyway, I agree it's nice to know bash/sed/awk but you can achieve the same results with as much ease in Perl. Again, I think Perl is easier to understand.

Let me reiterate, if you are looking to do game programming, you can't go wrong with C/C++. Many companies are now using Java, but (hopefully) that won't last long; Java is a good line item to put on your resume.

Honestly, there is always a right tool for the job, different applications require different tools. You -can- change a tire with a hammer, but wouldn't you rather use a wrench?