Ask HN: Do you honestly still use your first programming language?
What was/were your first programming languages, the ones that got you into coding and are you still using them? If so, are you using them at a professional capacity? If not, what made you change paths?
19 comments
My first language was C.
Later I got into higher level languages. Where I'm at C jobs are rare.
I'd like to get back to lower level programming (with C or Rust or similar), but I don't see a path to reach there. I'm thinking I should maybe start with contributing to the Linux kernel (which I have done before).
Later I got into higher level languages. Where I'm at C jobs are rare.
I'd like to get back to lower level programming (with C or Rust or similar), but I don't see a path to reach there. I'm thinking I should maybe start with contributing to the Linux kernel (which I have done before).
I started learning Java 20 years ago. I still use it for corporate work. Not my preference but lots of companies use it and I'm pretty good with it so why not.
Lisp. 50+ years. Still use it.
BASIC, so no.
Ah, the late nights hacking on a 386 in QBasic. Life would have gone down a different path without that dusty clicking and blinking thing. I guess we're getting old. Now the damned things are trying to write their own code.
Same here. I switched to Turbo Pascal before I finished high school then it was Fortran and then much later C followed by almost everything else.
Same! TI BASIC, then AppleSoft.
I suppose one would say that my first "real" programming language was C, or maybe C++. In either case, no, I don't really use either very much if at all these days. Most of the code I write these days is Java, Groovy, or maybe Python or R.
That said, I still try to keep up with C++ a little bit, figuring I'll need to fall back to that for some "close to the hardware" stuff or something performance critical one-of-these-days.
That said, I still try to keep up with C++ a little bit, figuring I'll need to fall back to that for some "close to the hardware" stuff or something performance critical one-of-these-days.
Yes,if you count Bash as a language, if not, Python, so yes, again.
Of my first 5 programming languages—in rough order, BASIC in various dialects, DOS command line, Logo, Pascal, and C—I still occasionally use C and the DOS command line (though only interactively in the latter case, and only when something is preventing me from using powershell for the purpose.)
Mostly Python, JS, and C# these days.
Mostly Python, JS, and C# these days.
Arguably, the first language I was marginally competent with was PHP (I think 3? Maybe 4?). I don't _really_ write it anymore, but occasionally find myself supporting it for some clients, which might involve changing 3-5 lines every few weeks. Or not. I've easily gone years without seeing a line of PHP code.
The first languages I ever touched would've been flavors of BASIC and FORTH. Definitely haven't touched those since my teens, and probably not since the turn of the millennium.
I studied for and took a different (albeit programming-adjacent) career, picked up Ruby on the side because it was a _delight_ to play with, and then came back to programming with that front and center.
The first languages I ever touched would've been flavors of BASIC and FORTH. Definitely haven't touched those since my teens, and probably not since the turn of the millennium.
I studied for and took a different (albeit programming-adjacent) career, picked up Ruby on the side because it was a _delight_ to play with, and then came back to programming with that front and center.
Not much demand for 8080 Assembler anymore.
There are probably niche roles where it still comes up.
I spent a while last year writing toy compilers, and even a simple text-based game for CP/M using Z80 assembler. (Later porting to the ZX Spectrum). Maybe not so useful, but still kinda fun.
I spent a while last year writing toy compilers, and even a simple text-based game for CP/M using Z80 assembler. (Later porting to the ZX Spectrum). Maybe not so useful, but still kinda fun.
Fortran? Hell no!
Nope, I stopped using my ti-83 calculator in 1998.
I learned various built in ROM Basic systems, which I really wouldn't count, since there were no disks to save programs to, etc.
I learned Turbo Pascal soon after it came out. I still program in Pascal to this day.
Things that have changed in the mean while:
I learned Turbo Pascal soon after it came out. I still program in Pascal to this day.
Things that have changed in the mean while:
Windows became a thing, Delphi, Lazarus happened
Networking, the interenet
Strings can now store a gigabyte of text, not just 255 characters
For X in Y is now a thing
Generics
Threading (though I did write my own for use with DOS back in 1987)no i hate and abhor php i would rather get kicked by a donkey in the face.
but it taught me if else switch case, basics like that, not bad.
what made me change paths is it is tough to work with php and mysql given the amount of vulnerabilities back then.
but it taught me if else switch case, basics like that, not bad.
what made me change paths is it is tough to work with php and mysql given the amount of vulnerabilities back then.
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