[Cialug] Cialug Beginnings

[William Christensen]

Learning C is good for you. If you love C, you can be happy as a C  
programmer or if you need to learn to work with objects C++. If you  
hate memory management, C# and Java will great you with open arms.  
Either way, when it comes to languages just know what ever language  
you learn will most likely become obsolete. Most programmers will  
learn several languages and thankfully the concepts transfer nicely.  
If you ask anyone what language should you learn in first, unless it's  
a biased group (lets say, asking a Python group what language they  
recommend) a flame war will break out and then never get a straight  
answer. However the general consensus is stay away from languages like  
Visual Basic.

Maybe we should just mention what NOT to suggest for a for a first  
language.

-Will

On Jul 20, 2011, at 3:47 PM, John Lengeling wrote:

> C is extensively used in Telecommunications/Networking industry,  
> followed by C++.
>
> Also all that you learn in C or C++ helps you when you start  
> learning any C  influenced languages like:
>
> Java, Perl, Python, PHP, JavaScript, Go  etc.
>
> From: cialug-bounces at cialug.org [mailto:cialug-bounces at cialug.org]  
> On Behalf Of Josh More
> Sent: Wednesday, July 20, 2011 1:54 PM
> To: Central Iowa Linux Users Group
> Subject: Re: [Cialug] Cialug Beginnings
>
> I disagree!  Flame flame flame!  ;)
>
>
> More seriously, if you are interested in kernel or embedded  
> development, C is fine.  There are other languages you'll want to  
> pick up later, but it's not a bad starting point.  Just understand  
> that it's very niche and you will experience career flexibility  
> limitation if you choose to focus there.
>
>
>
> Josh More | Senior Security Consultant - CISSP, GIAC-GSLC Gold, GIAC- 
> GCIH
> Alliance Technologies | www.AllianceTechnologies.net
> 400 Locust St., Suite 840 | Des Moines, IA 50309
> 515.245.7701 | 888.387.5670 x7701
>
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>
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> From: cialug-bounces at cialug.org [cialug-bounces at cialug.org] on  
> behalf of Matthew Nuzum [newz at bearfruit.org]
> Sent: Wednesday, July 20, 2011 13:37
> To: Central Iowa Linux Users Group
> Subject: Re: [Cialug] Cialug Beginnings
>
> C is becoming a niche skill these days. It implies only three  
> industries I know of: driver/kernel development, embedded  
> development (we're arguably in the post C world here too) and  
> algorithm/library/high performance computing world. At the least,  
> many have moved on to c++.
> I'm getting back to opinionated ground, but I don't usually  
> encourage people to start out with old technology. The stuff that's  
> bleeding edge today will be entering mainstream in 3-4 years and be  
> in demand.
> C as a language represents all that is archaic and old. At least use  
> something object oriented. C++, Java, C# and Go are examples.
> On Jul 20, 2011 11:38 AM, "Pawel" <pdarowski at gmail.com> wrote:
> > So a hiring manager would like to hear about some personal  
> projects? Perhaps
> > one good example of an overcome challenge? I guess it would paint  
> a decent
> > picture of the applicant's self-motivation and ability to seek  
> answers.
> >
> > Thanks for all your input. I'm beginning to see that the biggest  
> challenge
> > of development [in my eyes] is having a vision or finding that  
> interesting
> > problem that needs solving. Once it's found, the rest is research  
> and
> > determination.
> >
> > Two more quick question while I still have the floor! :) How  
> important are
> > certifications in the real world? And please, what is the "industry
> > standard" for C certificates? I'm having an impossible time  
> finding a C
> > cert... And my instructors don't really know of any.
> >
> >
> > See you around,
> >
> > Pawel Darowski
> > PDarowski at gmail.com
> >
> > On Wed, Jul 20, 2011 at 9:44 AM, Matthew Nuzum  
> <newz at bearfruit.org> wrote:
> >
> >> On Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 5:03 PM, Pawel <pdarowski at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>
> >>>
> >>> Since I cannot attend meetings for quite some time, perhaps the  
> IRC
> >>> channel would be a good place to start taking advantage of the  
> knowledge
> >>> that already exists in this group. My question is: how did some  
> of you start
> >>> your careers as Linux professionals? My goal is to use Linux in my
> >>> professional life from Day 1.
> >>>
> >>
> >> I too am usually unable to make it to the meetings. I do about  
> one per
> >> year. However I still feel reasonably involved with the group by
> >> participating on the list.
> >>
> >>
> >>>
> >>> Any tips, stories, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
> >>> Thank you,
> >>>
> >>
> >> The common thread among the people I've met through this group is  
> that
> >> we're tinkerers. Find some fascinating problem or challenge and  
> dig into it.
> >> Back in "the day" the most interesting linux problem was figuring  
> out how to
> >> get it to actually install. This one has been pretty soundly  
> dealt with now
> >> though. :-)
> >>
> >> (in my case I owned only about 5 working floppies and lived off  
> campus at
> >> ISU (near towers) and had to ride my bike to Durham to download 5  
> slackware
> >> disks, then ride back home to complete the next phase of the  
> install -
> >> which, btw, is slower than a 14.4k modem)
> >>
> >> Some people are financially motivated - they want to run PHP or  
> Ruby or a
> >> server and make websites for money. A huge number of people I've  
> dealt with
> >> are into Games and want to make their own. You'll not find a more  
> diverse
> >> set of development tools than is available in Linux (check out  
> PyGame). Yet
> >> others are into robotics or hardware hacking which is yet again  
> very well
> >> suited for Linux. A few people use Linux to hook up to their TV  
> to record
> >> and watch TV shows.
> >>
> >> By the way, this kind of activity looks great to potential  
> employers. They
> >> really like to see people who are problem solves and are self- 
> motivated to
> >> learn new skills and explore new ways of doing things.
> >>
> >> I will say that there are three trends to keep in mind as you're  
> looking
> >> for interesting challenges:
> >>
> >> 1. We're in an increasingly heterogeneous environment - windows,  
> mac os,
> >> linux, ipads and more all need to talk to each other
> >> 2. The web is either the most important application deployment  
> platform
> >> now, or is right up there (this ties into the prev point)
> >> 3. Mobile is huge (and the number one mobile platform in the  
> world runs
> >> Linux)
> >>
> >> (You asked for opinions...)
> >>
> >> --
> >> Matthew Nuzum
> >> newz2000 on freenode, skype, linkedin and twitter
> >>
> >> ♫ You're never fully dressed without a smile! ♫
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Cialug mailing list
> >> Cialug at cialug.org
> >> http://cialug.org/mailman/listinfo/cialug
> >>
> >>
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