Python or C++ for ChemE Major: Which is Most Useful?

[Null_]

I'm a chemE major, entering my sophomore year. I have used python in physics classes, but that was minimal experience.

I want to begin learning a language this summer; I have no other prior experience. My main interest is cryptography, but I don't think this will amount to anything other than a hobby. I'm not interested in games or apps.

I am thinking of learning Python because I have experience with it and because it's a simple language. However, many of my comp sci friends bash on it and tell me to learn C or C++.

Which language would be the most useful? I want to be able to use it to accomplish something (maybe in a future job), but I am not going to be a computer programmer.

 

[phinds]

C++ without a doubt

 

[Null_]

It won't be overwhelming? I dabbled with it for a few hours about a month ago and don't even remember now how to print "hello world." I'll probably try to spend an hour a day working with whatever language I choose.

 

[jhae2.718]

Both are great languages. I started with Python, but C++ will have you at a lower level. It's probably harder to move from Python to C++.

At my uni. most engineering students have to learn C++.

I'd give the C++ tutorial on this site a shot.

Once you learn how to programming, learning a new language is essentially a matter of learning syntax. The choice of language depends on the task at hand.

 

[Null_]

Okay, thanks. I'll give C++ a go for a month and see how far I get.

I find what you say about learning syntax to be inspirational. I suppose it would be better to just jump in the deep end and learn how to swim with C++ than wear those little floaties in the kiddie pool with Python. :)

 

[jhae2.718]

I wouldn’t consign Python to the kiddie end of the pool. Python is a great language, and I use it daily. It's extremely powerful and great for rapid development.

Python and C++ are different beasts. C++ is compiled, Python is interpreted. They are both versatile. C++ is good for when you need to operate at a lower level, but it can be a kludge. Python and plain C are elegant, but if code execution is a factor Python may be too slow, and C requires time spent of memory management and the like.

Whitespace is significant in Python, which puts a lot of programmers off, but it's really not a big issue as you should be indenting your code anyway. Both C++ and Python come with large libraries.

 

[Null_]

Interesting. Thanks for the insight. I hear many jokes about "import [...]" with Python which is why I made the statement. However, I think I'll stick with the original recommendation and learn C++ first, then Python later if I find the need for it.

 

[Hurkyl]

Given the opening poster's motives, I have great difficulty imagining how C++ would have any benefit over Python.


Even for general programming, python is a strong language. As a person who writes high performance code, I would even write most of a finished product in python if it worked on all of my target platforms. Writing an entire program in C++ is premature optimization.

 

[jhae2.718]

MIT OCW has a good introductory programming course using Python: http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electric...o-computer-science-and-programming-fall-2008/

 

[Null_]

Now I'm just confused. I suppose I'll wait just a little longer until I decide. The MIT OCW looks nice as I would have a guide to follow. Hmmm..decisions, decisions...

 

[jtbell]

Welcome to the programming-language wars.

Just pick one or the other (flip a coin if necessary), and start learning. While the rest of us are arguing over which one you should learn, you can go a long way with either one.

 

[DrummingAtom]

I just started programming a couple months ago and dabbled with C++ and Python. I really don't see how anyone can learn C++ as a first language. Python is going much faster in my learning experience, mainly because I don't have to worry about syntax as much.

I plan on only focusing on Python until I feel proficient enough to explore other languages. With that said, is there any program that converts or translates Python code into C++?

 

[Hurkyl]

I just started programming a couple months ago and dabbled with C++ and Python. I really don't see how anyone can learn C++ as a first language. Python is going much faster in my learning experience, mainly because I don't have to worry about syntax as much.

I plan on only focusing on Python until I feel proficient enough to explore other languages. With that said, is there any program that converts or translates Python code into C++?

There is Cython.

I haven't used it -- I'm more familiar with the paradigm of rewriting parts of your python program in C/C++ in a fashion that can be invoked from python, e.g. using the ctypes module. But that's mainly because it's the method I'm familiar with, so I can't offer an evaluation of the alternatives.

 

[Null_]

Okay, I'm giving python a go.

I've run into a slight annoyance (error on my part probably):

Python 3.2 (r32:88445, Feb 20 2011, 21:29:02) [MSC v.1500 32 bit (Intel)] on win32
Type "copyright", "credits" or "license()" for more information.
>>> a,b=0,1
>>> while b<100:
a,b=b,b+a
print (b)


1
2
3
5
8
13
21
34
55
89
144
>>>

As you can see, my small program does print; however, when I try to run the program (after saving), I get an invalid syntax error popup message, and the 2 in Python 3.2 is highlighted in a peachy red color. What is the cause of this?

 

[micromass]

Why not learn Lisp? Most beautiful language in existence...

 

[Grep]

Okay, I'm giving python a go.

I've run into a slight annoyance (error on my part probably):



As you can see, my small program does print; however, when I try to run the program (after saving), I get an invalid syntax error popup message, and the 2 in Python 3.2 is highlighted in a peachy red color. What is the cause of this?

Does it look something like this in the file?

a,b=0,1
while b<100:
    a,b=b,b+a
    print b

 

[jhae2.718]

Cython is an option; I'm only vaguely familiar with it, but the Python wrapper for libfreenect uses it.

Null_, can you post the exact code you try to save and get the syntax error on?

 

[Null_]

I did indent as you did, but I found the problem.
In physics class, we had been using VIDLE with VPython, so I was expecting IDLE to work the same way. I just downloaded VIDLE and it works fine now. Is there any disadvantage to vidle? I really like being able to click and edit the code.

 

[jhae2.718]

Vidle is less common, so I'd recommend writing code that works under the standard Python interreter if you want to share code. For personal use, whatever floats your boat.

I personally write my code in gedit and run it from python in bash.

 

[lufthanza]

You should definitely learn python first. The important part of programming is to learn algorithms and paradigms. The only major thing you'll learn from C++ development that you won't learn from python is RAII and pointers. You do not need the raw performance of C++ for what you are learning, and you will proceed quicker and learn faster with python.

 

[Winzer]

Honestly, it would be to your advantage to learn both. Python is such a functional language and c++ is used all over the place. The cool thing is that you can use them both together.