Is Delphi and Pascal the same language? Also, what is the difference between Pascal and Turbo Pascal? ThanX!

Delphi is built on the Pascal language, but is a Windows based programming tool with a GUI much like Visual Basic. It makes Windows programming very simple.

As for Turbo Pascal, it is a specific Pascal compiler, while Pascal is just the language.

Is Pascal a good begining language to learn?

No.

I completely disagree, and perhaps I can substantiate my argument with a little more evidence than unknown_lamer.

The first programming I did was with BASIC, and that was a great deal of fun. It allowed me to develop the skills of logic and working through problems that allowed me to be a reasonable programmer later on, while presenting me with a very simple syntax and keyword set.

I then learnt Pascal, which taught me how to end statements with semi-colons and also taught me block programming procedures that I didn't really have to think much about in BASIC.

Both BASIC and Pascal were, as far as I'm concerned essential building blocks for learning C, and my experience with them allowed me to start using C comfortably much quicker.

So, while Pascal may not be an *ideal* beginning language to learn, it's not exactly the worst choice that you can make.

Isnt the most easiest and funnest first language Perl ( I did a bit of it some time ago and it was so easy I still remember it ). There is I think a Linux Pascal gpc or sommit.

The've released Kylix for Linux , is that any good ?

-Vlad

Perl is not a programming language. It is more of a scripting language. The problem with perl is in error detection. The interpreter/compiler(????) doesnt help a lot in identifying errors which is quite important for an amateur.

Further Pascal really need not be the intermediate between Basic and C (Though it is not a bad choice, ofcourse), and as an independent starters language, it wont be ideal.

Perl is a programming language. REPEAT AFTER ME: PERL IS A PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE. It might look like line noise, but it is a programming language! The video game I was playing 10 minutes ago (frozen-bubble.org) was written in perl...

And now for the reason's why Pascal is not a good language (for anything really). Quite simply: it sucks. End of story. The syntax is hard to remeber and difficult to use. The difference between functions and procedures is an example, but the bigger one is having to put all of your variables in one place. I think there is a reason I don't remember any pascal but picked up right where I left off on a largeish C++ program after not reading or writing a line of C++ for 4 months...

If you want a learning language, Learn Scheme (www.schemers.org). Scheme is easy, simple, and elegant. Scheme can be used for a lot of interesting things too...(the C++ program I'm working on is an IRC bot that can be controlled with Scheme scripts. EvilBot should be in #tpu whenever I'm around). Scheme has really simple syntax rules, and can be picked up in a few hours.

Well, I have used Pascal for a while. Used Turbo Pascal a while back, but now I use Delphi for such things. I still haven't found the evil thing about it. The syntax is easier to remember than that of C++, the code is easy to structure (though that depends on the programmer, naturally).

Now, I know unknown_lamer is only on this site to give negative comments on things the rest of us likes (not claiming everyone likes Pascal), so I won't really comment more on his post. Instead, I'll say that in my opinion, Pascal is a good way to start if you wish to learn programming. Delphi is especially useful if you wish to easily design your GUI for Windows (or X11 if you're using Kylix). The compiler is also quite effective, so for applications it's good. Wouldn't recommend it for writing big games, though. :)

Bah. Pascal isn't a very nice language. Pascal is probably rolling around in his grave because they named it after him.

In reply to unknown_lamer's post I'd just like to say that Pascal syntax is no more difficult to remember than C (or Perl!), so if you had trouble remembering it please don't use your inabilities as a tool for bashing it. As for defining all your variables in one place, didn't C force you to do that for a long time? At least until the introduction of C++, when C++ improvements made their way into most C compilers?

"Quite simply: it sucks." <--- This is an incredibly poor argument IMHO, and even though I don't actually use Pascal anymore, I felt that need to reply to you and at least put up some defence for a language that a lot of people obviously use and like, or Delphi wouldn't be as popular as it is today.

Oh, and BTW, unknown_lamer, WINDOZR RULEZ and LINUX SUXORZ @SS ....

I must agree with Sphinx... Pascal and C are really quite similar, and I can't say I've found Pascal syntax any more silly than say... Lisp...

You have to define all of your variables in C89 (not C99) before you make an "action" statements (e.g. call a function). But that is only at the beggining of a function. There was never a global VARS section that you have to but all of your variables you wanted to access from the main function in. Yes, C and Pascal are quite similar, but C is much easier when you want to do larger stuff. And I guess that different people like different syntaxes...I love Lisp because it is so regular, but most people just get lost in the parenthesis.

Exactly, and some people love Pascal, so don't go bashing what you don't understand.

*claps eagerly*

Well spoken, almighty Gian :)

I started programming (well I'd hardly call HTML serious programming) with HTML, then moved ono Javascript. My first serious language was Java. I spent around six months trying to learn out of two small teach yourself and made easy books. I got nowhere, then I bought myself a decent length book, (about six or seven hundred pages). I would say I had my basic Java skills within a week.

What has this got to do with Pascal. Its simple, I don't think that any language is extremley hard to learn, its how you learn it that matters. If you've got a tutor/teacher . . great ... how many have them though? Especially nice ones. If your gonna learn from a book, get a good book. Buy of Amazon or another online store so you've got a good selection, and email the reviewers before you buy so you get the best book.

Hope this is of some help. :)

Are "Thinking in C++", "Thinking in Java", and "Thinking in Python" good books? I downloaded them,but I havent gotten the first chapter of TiC++ read yet...

Have you learnt HTML yet?

Um, HTML has nothing at all to do with programming. HTML is a set of tags defined in SGML (or XML with xhtml) used for logical document formatting. Learning HTML will not help anyone at all with programming.

I know damn well what HTML is Lamer, but I HTML is simple, and quick. Then you can start adding scripts in, and then moving onto full blown languages. It gives a more gradual introduction into programming IMHO. And he doesn't have to do as I say, its only what I did, and it worked for me.

Oh, yeah, I know HTML. (Well, I know how to use, I cant say Iv memorized ALL the tags...) And I know how to use a little bit of JavaScript, not much though... Im mainly focusing on Pascal and C++ right now.

FatalDragon: I don't know what you're planning on writing when it comes to software, but if you're writing visual applications for Windows or XWindows, then Delphi/Kylix is definately easier to use.

Your main concern will be if you want your program to be hard to crack (I don't think it's what you want, just saying).. The way RAD systems like Delphi/Kylix are constructed, there will be some easily identifiable text in your executable files. This can be circumvented, but if you want to do it correctly, you could just as well use C/C++ for the job.

These are ofcourse just how I've found it to be, not the "one truth", and I know there are loads who'll disagree with me, so I have to put this here, in order to (hopefully) avoid another pointless argument.

Hey Unknown Lamer.... Take a look at this site
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/aix-faq/part4/section-42.html


Here is proof that Perl is a scripting language. Also do a search in Google to prove urself wrong.

"scripting language" and "programming language" are not mutually exclusive.

A programming language is something that gives a sequence of instructions for the computer to execute in a particular set order, so a scripting language is indeed a programming language.

But, I was under the assumption that a scripting language was one that complements another major language to allow the superior lang. to work better. as, JavaScript is to HTML .

Have I got anything wrong. Plz correct me , if yes.

You haven't gotten anything wrong. Had you said that a "scripting language" isn't a "programming language" in that post, then you _would_ have gotten something wrong.

thanks