...for something to do...please......must resist boredom....

I know PHP, VB, and MySQL fairly well...if that helps...

...and witty responses are very helpful.

Well, just so you know, I did PHP, but found it restricting very quickly.

In what way?
What do you use now?

I've always been a C programmer, but I just used PHP for a while... I'm downloading the Java SDK now, with the intention of learning Java.

I looked at Java once, but i sort of felt an aversion to it...its seems so slow and doesn't seem to give much control (on the net assuming the user isn't going to give full rights)

but i am thinking about learing it, its definately useful for some things and a friend of mine has visual cafe for a college course he's taking

im rambling now

I don't mean Applets, I mean in the form of JSP, and "thick" java applications.

I too have found the java interpretation of OOP a little "Over-zelous"... to say the least...

But anyway, it's just for a change.

You'll be pleased with java gian, syntax is nearly identical. The only exception I can think of is that you must use 'new' to create a new object (including arrays)

like this

MyClass example = new MyClass(constructor, stuff);

-or-

int array[] = new int[50];

i have no idea about firmware java, but what does jsp have over say, just for an example, not that im a fan of it or anything, PHP? or is it just eaisier for you to learn

PHP, as I said I found limiting, mostly syntax wise... it's good for knocking up a quick web app, but as your programs become bigger, it becomes messy and more evil.

I like try-catch blocks, can you do that in C++?

funny, i've always thought the same thing about C/C++ type languages
although, i must admit, ive never spent much time on c, mostly out of apathy

C and C++ should not be considered the same type of language. In C it is usually true that the larger your project becomes the more confusing it becomes, but this is easily avoided in C++ and other OO languages.

ah yes, encapsulation, reuse and all them words that allways come at the beginning of books on oops

You do know that java is entrely object oriented don't you gian? You don't sound like you like it much

i don't like it much because all my experiences with it have been....lugubrious....im not sure thats a word, but if it were, it would mean slow

Thank you for both helping me resist boredom AND keeping me from sleep long enough to get me sick which will probably be quickly followed by a painful death. It's 2am and im going.

CodeRed, you can do try/catch in C++ afaik, but I've never used it.

The platform independence and simplicity of socket communications and threads in Java (applications mainly) really attracted me....

I guess the suggestion here was learn Java. :)

- taubz

What I was referring to is that I think the people who wrote the Java spec went a bit overboard with their interpretation of "object oriented". I don't have a problem with it, I just find it.... interestingly funny...

While I agree that PHP can get quite messy and scary, there are OOP options with PHP... just... er... they are equally messy and scary o_0.

That is why real people [Let's be gender inclusive here!] program in Perl for their web apps :p

LOL, nice edit...

Though what about the people who do not program in Perl... are they imaginary?

I don't program in perl... PHP and C++ :)
guess I'm not a real "people"