Should I learn Java or .Net?

[thalberg]

I have to make this choice soon.  Any programmers here with an opinion on the matter?  I'm very interested in your reasons behind whatever you choose.

[morningstar]

It depends on what you would prefer to be designing. Assuming you actually want to use it for work that is.

[rhapsody4]

It does depend on what you would use it for. However, I would favour Java as it was designed to work cross-platform on any computer system, where as the .net framework is quite Microsoft specific. If you are a beginner, then Java seems like the logical step to take. What do you want to use it for?

[thalberg]

I want to use it to get a job.  I'm in school to become a software developer.  My goal is to be employable.  It's just hard to make the decision never having programmed before. This is my first time.

[rhapsody4]

IMHO, if you are just starting, then I would definitely recommend Java above .net for the following reasons:
1. Java is cross-platform and is more widely used.
2. Java currently has more applications than. net (and probably always will do). For example, it is often the language of choice for embedded code within websites, on mobile phone platforms and a whole number of other activities.
3. It is not specifically Microsoft developed.

In my opinion, to become employable, Java is a far better bet also. This is because there are far more companies who would be using this. Most companies would typically look for a language such as C++, Java, Python etc., knowing that most other things can be built upon this knowledge. As with a foreign language, it is the first language that is the most difficult and then it is far easier to add more and more to your repertoire. Java would be more widely respected (IMHO) and if you did happen to need .net skills, then I would not imagine it would be too difficult to pick up the necessary knowledge to do this, having got the initial building blocks of learning with Java.

(Just to let you know, my background is in C++, and I have familiarity with Java, PHP and Python also. I have never really used .net before, but I'm not sure I've ever seen a job description that specifically asks for .net above anything else).

Hope this helps. I would suggest that you talked to your teachers rather than on a piano forum, though! Good luck.

[morningstar]

Microsoft is the only company that uses .Net anyway isn't it? So unless you REALLY want to work for Microsoft and take the heat over the next Windows...

[thalberg]

Okay thank you all for the advice!  I really appreciate it.

[iheartpiano]

I'm not familar with .net but I enjoyed taking Java, although it got pretty intense towards the end.  For me it did.  My school won't even let you take Java until you've taken C first, then you can go on to learn OOP languages such as C++ and Java.

I agree that you should take Java over .net, and once you learn a programming language you'll find it easy to learn another.  I enjoy programming, but the saying is true - if you don't use it, you lose it so keep up on it.  Or maybe I'm the only dummy that retains almost nothing after learning how to do something. 

[quantum]

Actually I agree with taking Java too.  It can be used cross platform. 

I enjoy programming, but the saying is true - if you don't use it, you lose it so keep up on it. 

There is truth to this.  I learned Lingo for Mac Director.  Never used it since I took the course, and memory is getting fuzzy.