3 ms·
> This still doesn't successfully counter the statement that C is the best language to start with. I wasn't actually trying to refute that statement above; I w
by derleth 14y ago
> This still doesn't successfully counter the statement that C is the best language to start with.
I wasn't actually trying to refute that statement above; I was responding to the specific arguments used to support it.
Anyway, I agree with the other poster who replied to you: Pick a language with a REPL, as instant reinforcement of concepts is essential to ingraining them into the mind. Having a longer turnaround time means the lesson gets diluted by being interleaved with too much process (save the file, build the program, run it, look at the output, consider it, etc.).
- jlgreco 14y agoI don't understand how your comment is a refutation of the assertion that C will teach you more about the machine than other languages. Which language would you recommend using if you want to learn more about the machine?
- derleth 14y ago> I don't understand how your comment is a refutation of the assertion that C will teach you more about the machine than other languages. It completely hides some of the most important aspects of any modern hardware from you. The only thing it really exposes you to is manual memory management, and even then the view of memory C gives you is grossly simplified compared to how memory actually works on any modern hardware. > Which language would you recommend using if you want to learn more about the machine? Pick a machine and learn that machine's assembly language.
- jlgreco 14y agoHe specifically called out assembly as obviously better in this respect than C...