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What does he want to make? This should be the primary deciding factor every time "what language should I learn" comes up. Java is particularly suitable for writ
by RodgerTheGreat 15y ago
What does he want to make? This should be the primary deciding factor every time "what language should I learn" comes up. Java is particularly suitable for writing simple GUI applications and mobile apps. (Android or J2ME) Ruby seems to be more useful than Java if you're interested in writing web applications. Both are fine if he just wants to write command-line apps, but Java's speed will pay off if those command-line apps are doing serious number crunching.
Have him give Processing (http://processing.org/ http://processing.org/) a spin- Processing is 99% Java, but you can start writing loops, conditionals and functions without learning what a class is. It's very easy to work your way up from Processing to full-on Java.
- jasondrowley 15y agoSee, I don't know what he wants to build. He's still figuring that out. I recommended Ruby because I think he's going to end up working on web apps and the like. I also think he's inclined to get involved with the startup scene, where I know Ruby is very popular (esp. among those shops which aren't going the "pure" HTML5 route of HTML, JS, CSS, etc.)