Developing Secret Powers: Absorbing a New Language
We have all been there, a new programming language comes out that is meant to be the “next best thing” in web or application development (sometimes both) and so we set about to learning the new structure and styles and idiosyncrasies this language brings. Here are a few tips to speed up this process:
- Syntax hardly changes - Whether it be C, C++, PHP, Java, Javascript or even *shudder* Visual BASIC the general format of languages stays the same e.g. you will always get iteration and conditional statements. These are always the best way to start. Once you can control a programs flow the rest is just semantics.
- Objects, Classes and the Old School. Procedural is going out of fashion (or so I keep getting told) so you should get used to finding out how to set up objects and classes in any new language (if it has those features). Of course you will always get the odd procedural language that pops up so be prepared to say things like “this would be so much easier with objects”
- Practice by Importing - One of the things you can do is to import a piece of code you have written in one language over to another. This will help you understand the new language more and give you a nice piece of working code.