I’ve been working with a Javascript (+ TypeScript) + Java + SQL stack for the last 10 years.
For 2024 I’d like to learn a new programming language, just for fun. I don’t have any particular goals in mind, I just want to learn something new. If I can use it later professionally that’d be cool, but if not that’s okay too.
Requirements:
- Runs on linux
- Not interested in languages created by Google or Apple
- No “joke languages”, please
Thank you very much!
EDIT: I ended up ordering the paperback version of the Rust book. Maybe one day I’ll contribute to the Lemmy code base or something :P Thank you all for the replies!!!
I would suggest Nim, I had a blast learning it and making a small project. It is not a mainstream language, nor is it a joke language.
C
IMO Zig obsoletes C in the way that go and rust tried to do. Personally, I would advise anyone to not learn C; or even start a new project in C, for that matter.
Since you already know Java, you could jump straight to C++ with Bjarne’s book “Programming - Principles and Practice Using C++”: https://www.stroustrup.com/programming.html
You can then move to more modern C++ with his other book “A Tour of C++”: https://www.stroustrup.com/tour3.html
And then if you’re curious to know how software design is done in modern C++, even if you already know classical design patterns from your Java experience, you should get Klaus Iglberger’s book: https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/c-software-design/9781098113155/
In parallel also watch the “Back to Basics” video series by CppCon (see their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@CppCon , just type “back to basics” in that channel’s search bar).
Learning proper C++ should give you a much better understanding of the hardware while the syntax still remains elegant, and you get to add a new skill that’s in very high demand.
