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This topic has 12 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 6 months ago by The Duke.

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June 15, 2017 at 6:35 am #9139
Graham Millichap
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@columbo1977
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Hi there

I am needing to do some upskilling as it has been a while since I have done anything slightly coding wise for years. There may be a job with a friend at some point soon doing reporting suites.

I am going to be looking again at SQL and I have also been told it would be good to know C#. I bought a book years ago, Microsoft Visual C# 2008. What I was wondering for those of you that know C# is will this book still do the job or should I be looking at getting something else to learn the language.

If this one isn’t much cop now what would you suggest.

Cheers

Graham
June 15, 2017 at 7:05 am #9141
Ed P
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@edps
Forumite Points: 39
If you can learn from videos this M$ course is highly recommended.

Microsoft puts out a whole lot of free stuff. Google on “c# microsoft tutorials”

You should of course be downloading the latest free C# tools. downloads

I’m honestly not sure that I would recommend learning C# to anyone as managed code comes with some huge downsides. It depends what you expect to get out of your upskilling. As I see SQL obn your list you may be better looking at Python or even C++.
June 15, 2017 at 7:35 am #9142
Graham Millichap
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@columbo1977
Forumite Points: 0
The kind of post is building reporting suites for the insurance sector. It’s using SQL. Although my friend was told C# would be useful to learn as its object orientated and makes it easier to learn other languages once you have this down.
June 15, 2017 at 8:07 am #9143
Ed P
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@edps
Forumite Points: 39
C# is ‘safe’ as it produces managed code, and yes it is object oriented but so are many other languages such as C++. The big downside to C# is that it ties you to the Microsoft environment. C++ does not but is slightly harder to learn.

Python runs on anything, but is on its own when it comes to database and web manipulation. Like Java (more insecure) Python does not force object orientation but can be structured in this way.

If you are going for a specific job then C# is the way to go. Just bear in the back of your mind that managed code is secure but makes some tasks hard/impossible.
August 21, 2017 at 5:53 pm #11102
Graham Millichap
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@columbo1977
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So if I was going to learn C++ now what would be a good book/site?
August 22, 2017 at 7:20 am #11115
Ed P
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@edps
Forumite Points: 39
Of all your options C++ is the hardest. I think I’d start with the free Microsoft resources and see if is a language you are comfortable in learning. (Google on Microsoft learning C++) Visual Studio is free and as you will see that alone is a major step as learning your way around the IDE takes some time.

You earlier said that a friend may have a job dealing with reporting suites. I assume these are things like amalgamating/sieving various reports to produce a consolidated report. I find Python has the largest array of tools for such quick and dirty work. Google on ‘Python web scraping’ and ‘Python Beautifulsoup’ for some examples. Python also has the biggest suite of AI/Machine Leartning tools. but you should not even look at the latter topics until you have the Python basics. (see this Quora article
August 22, 2017 at 10:53 am #11118
The Duke
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@sgb101
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Of you have an iPad there is loads of good programming courses on iTunes U. About the only thing I liked about the iPad, so underrated, God knows why Apple didn’t push that.

Some nice Ivey league courses on there. I done the c++ 101 a few years ago. I find it far easier to learn as i do, than follow a book.

Maths, like programming and electronics, it’s nice to have books for reference, but boring for me to learn from. I think reading maths at uni killed the fun of learning from reading for me.
August 22, 2017 at 11:19 am #11119
Ed P
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@edps
Forumite Points: 39
+1 for learning by doing. Some of these languages and libraries are now so complex that I find the only way is to crack-on with a project (the Raspberry Pi forces my hand on that), then when I get stuck Google around until I can fix it. – most of the time my question has already been asked!
August 22, 2017 at 1:26 pm #11122
The Duke
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@sgb101
Forumite Points: 5
Like most lessons in life, they are only learnt from making a mistake. The fixing of that mistake will stay with you.
August 22, 2017 at 1:29 pm #11124
RSB
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@bdthree
Forumite Points: 5,185
@sgb101 “Learn by doing” Which reminds me. Did you ever build any websites on the domains you bought?

Americans: Over Sexed, Over Payed and Over here, Wat Wat!
August 22, 2017 at 1:37 pm #11125
The Duke
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@sgb101
Forumite Points: 5
On a couple yes, I use one as my book mark page if you remember. I do still have a couple of domains and possible plans. But still remember some html/css, but now I’d likly not go that route given websites have move on so much, something like square space is a far better option for an amateur.

However as we know life happens while your planning.

Actually one of my domains, may be ripe for a site as we have a mining museum/cafe/cycle hire (it’s in flux).

Though at the moment, I have no time for anything, life is really moving beyond any plans. Couldn’t even get away this summer ?
August 22, 2017 at 1:49 pm #11126
RSB
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@bdthree
Forumite Points: 5,185
I understand. Websites are very demanding and time consuming, making plans for them is a project in it’s self. To me it’s not as appealing as it once was but one has to do or the cats do not get there dinner. ?

Americans: Over Sexed, Over Payed and Over here, Wat Wat!
August 22, 2017 at 1:59 pm #11127
The Duke
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@sgb101
Forumite Points: 5
I could just eat some dinner. I never eat lunch either.
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