visual basic - got me to start programming c++ - umm, made me learn gdb, code formatting and good editor c - best thing for low level stuff pascal - easy, pa

visual basic - got me to start programming c++ - umm, made me learn gdb, code formatting and good editor c - best thing for low level stuff pascal - easy, painless ocaml - rewired my brain for thinking functional common lisp - rewired my brain once again, fun to write java - this is what c++ should be python - fun! gets things done ruby - blocks are fun bash - cant imagine linux without it