Preparing for Physics: Choosing the Right Language to Learn

[Invyz]

I was wondering which language would be most beneficial to study if I plan to major in physics in college and would like a head start? I have a basic BASIC knowledge of java, and generally understand syntax, methods, etc.

 

[DavidSnider]

I would suggest learning a functional language like Standard ML, OCaml, F#, Haskell or Scheme.

Also, it helps to learn at least one low-level language like C so you know what goes on 'under the hood'.

 

[CFDFEAGURU]

I use C++ for all of my calculations/simulations. It is not too hard to learn and you can download it for free from Microsoft.

Thanks
Matt

 

[Invyz]

I would suggest learning a functional language like Standard ML, OCaml, F#, Haskell or Scheme.

C++ or C? Or isn't there a huge difference.

Also which out of those 5? That's a lot of choices.

 

[DavidSnider]

For a physicist I would probably go with OCaml or F#. OCaml for linux and F# for windows.

 

[story645]

It is not too hard to learn and you can download it for free from Microsoft.

Or use a basic compiler like mingw and not bother with visual studio madness.

Besides C/C++, there's still some scientific computing done in fortran. For upper level stuff, I've seen a lot of scientific computing libraries in python, and MATLAB is very commonly used in the science community. If you already know where you're going, try to find out what the department at your school commonly uses.

C++ or C? Or isn't there a huge difference

Yes, no, maybe. C++ is basically C with objects, so to code C++ well it's good to know the basics of C. (Generally, if you know C, you'll get all the other languages.)

 

[D H]

I would suggest learning a functional language like Standard ML, OCaml, F#, Haskell or Scheme..

C++ or C? Or isn't there a huge difference.

None of those languages is C or C++. C is a procedural language. C++ adds object-oriented concepts to C. Java similarly is a procedural language that supports object-oriented concepts.

Procedural and functional paradigms are quite different -- and that is precisely why it is a good idea to learn both paradigms.

Yes, no, maybe. C++ is basically C with objects, so to code C++ well it's good to know the basics of C. (Generally, if you know C, you'll get all the other languages.)

I disagree with that parenthetical remark. There are plenty of C plus-or-minus programmers who are writing things in what looks like C++ but do so from a solidly C-based mindset. Do object-oriented programming right and your mindset changes considerably. Learning C won't help much at all in learning a functional language such as Lisp or a logical language such as Prolog.

 

[story645]

Do object-oriented programming right and your mindset changes considerably. Learning C won't help much at all in learning a functional language such as Lisp or a logical language such as Prolog.

If he knows java well, he should know how to do object-oriented coding. C++ isn't all that great either because of how classes are implemented. Knowing C helps with the basics, (like control structure), but truthfully yeah I misspoke.
What I meant was C's a good base for all the C derivative languages ('cause the C stuff shows up in all of them) and is barebones enough to teach a lot of good stuff about the basics and optimization. You need all those before moving on to different paradigms, where yes one of each to figure out how it all works.