Programming for Mechanical Engineers

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the best programming languages for mechanical engineers, particularly those specializing in mechatronics, focusing on embedded systems and mechanical design. Participants explore various language options and their relevance to engineering applications.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that mechanical engineers should focus on Fortran and C for "raw" engineering programming.
  • Another participant argues that learning C is beneficial as it provides insight into how systems operate at a fundamental level, while noting that Fortran is considered a legacy language.
  • There is a viewpoint that emphasizes the importance of programming skills over the number of languages learned, suggesting that good programming skills are not necessarily tied to specific languages.
  • A later reply questions whether C is superior to C++ for embedded systems, indicating a need for further clarification on the comparison between these languages.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing opinions on the most suitable programming languages for mechanical engineers, with no consensus reached on which language is definitively the best for embedded systems.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not fully explored the assumptions behind their language preferences, and the discussion lacks a detailed analysis of specific applications or contexts where each language might excel.

ZenOne
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I'm currently doing Mech Eng in Canada and I plan on choosing Mechatronics as my speciality, however, I was wondering which language would be best for embedded systems and mechanical designs.

I've heard so many conflicting reports: some tell me mechanical engineers should stick to fortran, MATLAB or java; some say C++ is the most important; others mention plain old C.

Bottom line: I'm motivated to learn the most useful one for my needs. I want to be able to both design (mechanically) and if necessary be able to embed the controlling system.

Thanks in advance.
 
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For "raw" engineering programming, I would focus on Fortran and C.
 
Learning C is good because it acquaints you with how things really work under the hood. Fortran is a legacy language. In general, don't waste your time learning a lot of programming languages. Good programming skills have little to do with learning languages.
 
Thank you for the replies.

Is C better than C++ in regards to embedded systems?
 

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