Haskell and other programming languages

Discussion in 'Miscellaneous' started by 1998golfer, Sep 1, 2015.

  1. Hey all,
    I very much enjoy writing programs, writing code* in general.

    I currently know python, html/css, and PHP fluently**, but I was looking into other languages I could learn, ones that may.. impress, if you will, a potential employer. One I thought of was Ruby (Yes, I know not technically a language), but that didn't seem too appealing.
    Then I was looking in my weekly Quora email, and saw Haskell. I looked it up, and I think I'll learn that one now..

    One place I think I'll look for now, to start with the basics, is learnyouahaskell.com.

    Anyone have any other suggestions for learning Haskell? Or any other languages I should look into?

    Thanks,
    -Golfer

    *I like making web pages in PHP, not as much the frontent, graphic design part of it. I don't think creatively enough for that. I writing python, it's fairly straightforward and easy to use. Also easy to make into a standalone executable on windows (with py2exe, etc) and very easy to execute on a linux platform, since python is standard on most linux installations.

    **Fluently as in I can do everything I've tried, but if you told me to do something else then I'd look it up and be able to learn it pretty quickly. What I've been doing lately is trying to find random projects, and learning how to do it along the way, then I have that experience and knowledge built up for future projects.
    ForeverMaster0 and 607 like this.
  2. Can u teach me plz
  3. You just linked to a website that helps you learn coding and then ask to be helped? :confused:
    NewNameHere, 607, princebee and 2 others like this.
  4. You can already earn six figures by just knowing python fluently, just FYI.
  5. I remember seeing a chart that ordered them by most jobs and near the top were things like java, c++ etc. So if you are looking at something to impress a possible employer then those might be good. I don't know too much about which languages are best for web development so if that is your goal then I can't help you much. From an extremely brief look at haskell it looks kind of neat and very different from other languages. It actually seems pretty cool and I might try taking a look at it.

    I am sure either me or someone else would be interested in helping you. Do you know what language you are interested in?
    607 and jkjkjk182 like this.
  6. Being a beginning computer programming student myself, I know very little of programming languages. (I have only taken an intro to Python course, and am getting ready to learn C++ and VB in the Fall).

    One resource that I recommend above all the others is lynda.com (outside of a college education, though everyone has their reasons why they may not be able to go, which I understand).

    It isn't free, but it has, imo, one of the largest collections of video courses on how to do almost anything tech related. Whether it be programming languages, learning software (Photoshop, Autodesk, Unity, etc), graphics related courses, and tons more. It really is an all in one solution, and you can look at the videos it offers before paying, and can even watch a few of the lessons.

    It does not offer any courses on Haskell, that I saw, but I have never heard of Haskell before either.

    Also, when you complete a course, it does allow you to print of a certificate stating you completed it. Its not accredited by any institutions, so doesn't mean as much as a college or technical certification, but it is still something you could show a potential employer.
  7. From where are you getting that information? If that is true, watch out Python, here I come!
  8. Lol dont just i use python
  9. I am not really sure what you are trying to say there :confused:
    607 and jkjkjk182 like this.
  10. Everyone knows that ArnoldC is the best programming language.
    jkrmnj likes this.
  11. because of where i work

    our software is built entirely on python and the engineers make six figures easily. you don't even have to be an engineer, you could be QA or support and probably make that.
  12. And:

    I don't want to be "that guy" but considering this is about employment...

    Now, obviously I don't know what kind of employment you're aiming for but just in general; be very careful with stating that "you know something fluently" while in fact you meant to say that you don't actually go that deep but know where to look stuff up in case you come across something new. Because that is a very good way to leave a very bad impression. And that is a good way which can easily get your resume to end up in the trash (no offense, I'm strictly business right now).

    Like I said; I hate to be 'that' guy but in this case I think its best if you heard from me than your possible upcoming employer. And the only reason I respond is because your comment hit a little nerve here because I've experienced such situations from the other side of the table so to speak. When I was hiring two people to help me out with a project which was too big for me to do alone, yet also too important for me to rely on 'overseas programmers' (hiring people using the Net).

    When I look to hire someone and he tells me that he's fluent in something then he had better back up his words. Because if he can't then they become a liability for me. Why? Well, you say you're fluent but in fact you're not; you meant it in a different way. So the next thing you might tell me is that you have (for example) 4 years worth of coding experience. So how am I supposed to pick this up knowing what I already learned? Do those 4 years actually mean that you spend 4 years in total doing programming jobs? Or is this also something I need to pick up "differently" and in fact you did (now I'm exaggerating, I know): half a year of actual coding and the other 3.5 years were spend on hobby projects? Now; that last part obviously also accounts for gaining experience, but that's not the point I'm trying to make here.

    If you're looking for a job then its usually best to be transparent in what you actually do and don't know and whatever you do: don't try to make something trivial look better than it is. Because if people confront you with it and you fail their test then I don't think you'll be hired. I actually turned down a few guys because of situations like this.

    Now, obviously a lot depends on the kind of job you're looking for and of course I'm also not claiming that making things look a little better than they might be will always work against you. But there is a huge difference in claiming you're fluent with something or simple stating that you're well adversed.

    In the end it all depends on the employer, of course, but... yah in all honesty: if I get a resume which says that someone is fluent in Java and when I meet the guy and ask about, say, abstract classes only to be told that he has to look them up because he never actually used them in his projects before... yeah, that wouldn't exactly leave a good impression on me.

    SO... I'm not trying to be uberly negative here, don't take my message the wrong way, but please be careful with this...
    jhtk01, 607, ScrObot and 2 others like this.
  13. Way to trample the flowers over here Shel.

    Also, if you are trying to learn some beginning programming, Khan Academy has a free Coding Course (I believe you need to create an account first though) This website is also useful if you need help with any of the Maths and most sciences.
  14. Thank you for that, I was trying to clarify what I meant. As this is not for an employment thing, I didn't care to be all that specific and back myself up, but I completely understand what you are saying there, and agree. I don't think I'd ever go up to any potential employer and tell them that I'm fluent in anything but English.

    As a question to you, how would you describe programming experience, knowledge, etc to a potential employer? Other than just I know xyz language.

    I appreciate your post, and your time in writing your post.

    Indeed, I've used udemy courses as resources for PHP, but couldn't find anything on Haskell over there. That's why I'm seeing if any of you know of any specific resources for Haskell.
    ShelLuser, jhtk01 and 607 like this.
  15. Arduino IDE and Energia are fun
  16. You should have a portfolio of things you've coded or worked on in a collaboration with other coders. Do sample apps until you actually work on something in a production environment. That way you can actually show someone some of your code.
  17. What type of websites can you make?
  18. I am not fluent in English. You should see what I try and write sometimes :p. But at least now I know someone who can help me write papers to have it #GrammaticallyCorrect.

    Other than Java, C++, I do not see mention of BASIC, nor Fortran.
    All depends on what you wish to do with it. If you are really good with languages, there is need with CNC hobbyists for good open source software to control 'homebuilt' CNC machines.

    And thinking outside of the box a little bit, although linux is not a language, there is tons you can do with it.

    Other outside the box ideas, is to pick up an arduino (uses a 'function' of c++ which gets translated and compiled). There are a lot of fun projects you can do with these programmable boards.

    Good luck!
  19. If I am not mistaken, those are low-level languages? Doesn't most programming now happen in higher level languages, since the performance difference is not an issue anymore, with computers having more RAM and CPU power than they really need? (For the average consumer, I am not talking about business/enterprise applications or gamers, who sometimes need all the power/RAM they can get :p)

    Edit: What I am trying to say is, aren't higher level languages in higher demand today, so wouldn't it be more beneficial to learn them?