Home
>
Software
>
Start Developing Your Own Software

Start Developing Your Own Software

Learning how to program software seems like a daunting task fit only for the geeks and nerds who lock themselves away in dark rooms staring at their monitors for days on end as they pour over thick manuals written largely in zeros and ones. Fortunately the reality is that it's not as complicated to make basic applications as people may think. If it were, the majority of nerds wouldn't be doing it because the defining factor of our kind is an inherent laziness. Why do you think we like computers? The heaviest thing we have to lift is a monitor and that's done fairly irregularly and for a very short period of time.

There are many different opinions on how you should start programming. Some advocate the method of throwing yourself firmly into the deep end and if you don't drown then you're set for life. These people usually recommend getting stuck straight into C or C++. Others recommend a slightly easier starting point such as Java or C#, still quite involved but with a few more safety nets built in. Then there is the 'kiddy pool' school of thought that advocates such languages as Visual Basic. These languages are really easy to get started in. You drag a few elements onto a blank form and then write some code that reads largely like Standard English. All methods have their advantages, but I'm a fan of starting somewhere in the middle with Java. My reasons for this are that Java enforces a certain amount of design and forethought as well as correct programming procedures that are somewhat absent from Visual Basic.

I can't go into every single language in one article because it would take too long and the only experience I have with languages outside of the Microsoft stable is some familiarity with Java. Here are a few details about some languages.

Java Programming in Java is very similar to C/C++ development. It is object-oriented and well structured. There is wide usage of Java, and therefore there are a lot of libraries around that can be used in your Java program.

Pros: ? Java is platform independent, it can be run on everything. ? It's free, you can just download the SDK and go. ? It's easy to learn if you know C or C++. ? It provides automatic memory management. ? There are a large library of pre-built classes and many more available from around the net. ? It's quite safe. It's fairly hard (if not impossible) to damage your computer through programming in Java.

Cons: ? Speed. Java is quite slow, because it is essentially compiled at run-time by the system's virtual machine. ? It is difficult to compile into a stand-alone application. ? Memory pointers are not allowed. ? Some people dislike being forced into object oriented programming.

C C has been around for years and has a large following. Many different people around the globe use it. A few other programming languages have also been written in C.

Pros: ? Large usage base. Easy to find help, other programmers, libraries etc. ? Simple core language, with further functionality being added through the use of libraries. ? Very powerful. If your computer can do it, it can do it through C. ? Low-level unchecked access to computer memory using of pointers. ? One of the fasted running languages. ? C code can be used in C++ applications. ? Programs are compiled and stand alone, no need for interpreters (sometimes external libraries will need to be installed on the target PC).

Cons: ? Relatively difficult to learn. ? Very little safety net. If you choose (accidentally or otherwise) to make a program that will access memory incorrectly and horribly break your system, it won't stop you. It only pulls you up on compile errors. ? Non trivial programs could be hard to port. Programs have to be compiled for each specific platform. ? Not strictly object oriented. ? Code can get messy easily.

C++ C++ is a derivation of the C programming language. C code still works in C++ programs. It is an object-oriented language and very powerful.

Pros: ? As close to a universal programming language, as you're likely to get at the moment. It's used everywhere. ? Object oriented technology included, highly supported and recommended, but not forced upon you. ? Programs are stand alone, no need for interpreters (sometimes external libraries will need to be installed on the target PC). ? Easy to port to other platforms if standard C++ guidelines are adhered to. ? Many libraries available for added functionality.

Cons: ? Quite difficult to learn. You'll never really stop learning new things about it (which is also a pro, I guess). ? Non-trivial programs aren't easily ported if they use platform-specific libraries (e.g. DirectX etc.). ? Programs can be slightly larger and slower than those programmed in C.

Visual Basic Visual Basic is a very easy language to use. Its code is similar to Pseudo-code and many times the developer can simply type what they think should work and it does, which is cool.

Pros: ? Very easy to learn ? Quick to implement an application or algorithm ? Lots of in-built functionality ? Recently added complete OOP support with the .Net upgrade.

Cons: ? Not as flexible as other languages, you can't do as much. ? Runs slower than C/C++ ? Purely a Microsoft product and Windows based.

Where you start is largely up to you and what you want to get out of your programming. If you want to make it a career you're going to want to be familiar with the more 'industrial' programming languages such as C and C++. There are still a lot of people out there experienced with these languages but you'll be in a more specialized field. You'd have trouble throwing a punch in a crowded room without starting a scuffle with someone who could get a program going in Visual Basic. Start with a language that is suited to your skill level and when you've learnt a bit of that you'll find it easier to move on to other languages. I've found personally and within my group of peers at university that now that we all have a certain amount of programming knowledge, it really doesn't take much effort to get stuck into another language and code a program there. Most of our assignments are done through improvisation as we learn the specifics of a language necessary to implement the assignment. You may not get a program as cohesive and well written as you would like compared with if you had a better idea of what you are actually doing, but it usually works.

Don't let me kid you into believing that you can develop software with the utmost ease. You'll be sitting there staring at just three lines of code for two hours wondering why it doesn't work before you realize that your capitalization is wrong. However, it is a very rewarding feeling when you do get to the end of a program and it all works beautifully (at least until the user base get their hands on it and break it). So if you're even somewhat interested get in there and have a go. The worst that can happen is that you'll rewrite your boot sector.

M6.Net Web Helpers http://www.m6.net

Daniel Punch is a writer working at M6.Net: 'The web-hosting company for humans.' M6.Net is working hard to help humanity experience the power and freedom to develop their own part of the Internet, to share their information and connect with anyone, anywhere, anytime.

cleaning help near Mundelein ..

In The News:

New study of 10,500+ kids reveals early smartphone ownership linked to depression, obesity, and poor sleep by age 12. Earlier phones mean higher risks.

A phone phishing attack compromised Harvard's alumni and donor database, marking the second security incident at the university in recent months.

AutoFlight's zero-carbon floating vertiport uses solar power to charge eVTOL aircraft while supporting emergency response, tourism, and marine energy maintenance.

A new phone return scam targets recent buyers with fake carrier calls. Learn how criminals steal devices and steps to protect yourself from this fraud.

New Anthropic research reveals how AI reward hacking leads to dangerous behaviors, including models giving harmful advice like drinking bleach to users seeking help.

The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.

Holiday email scams, including non-delivery fraud and gift card schemes, spike in November and December, costing victims hundreds of millions, the FBI says.

Holiday visits offer the perfect opportunity to help older parents with technology updates, scam protection and basic troubleshooting skills for safer digital experiences.

Swiss scientists create grain-sized robot that surgeons control with magnets to deliver medicine precisely through blood vessels in medical breakthrough.

Researchers exploited WhatsApp's API vulnerability to scrape 3.5 billion phone numbers. Learn how this massive data breach happened and protect yourself.

Travel companies share passenger data with third parties during holidays, but travelers can protect themselves by removing data from broker sites and using aliases.

Xpeng's humanoid robot moves so realistically that crowds believed it was fake, marking a major advancement in robotics technology ahead of 2026 commercial launch.

Researchers discover phishing scam using invisible characters to evade email security, with protection tips including password managers and two-factor authentication.

iPhone and Android users can reduce battery drain and data usage by restricting Background App Refresh to Wi-Fi connections instead of mobile networks.

Scammers nearly stole an Apple account by exploiting the support system with authentic-looking tickets and phone calls, users can protect themselves with safety steps.

FoloToy restored sales of its AI teddy bear Kumma after a weeklong suspension following safety group findings of risky and inappropriate responses to children.

Threat intelligence firm Synthient uncovers one of the largest password exposures ever, prompting immediate security recommendations.

Viral video shared by Elon Musk shows Tesla's Optimus humanoid robots performing tasks from cooking to construction, garnering over 58.5 million views on social media.

Chinese hackers used Anthropic's Claude AI to launch autonomous cyberattacks on 30 organizations worldwide, marking a major shift in cybersecurity threats.

Apple's new Sleep Score feature gives you a rating for your nightly rest quality. Learn how to set it up on your Apple Watch and iPhone today.

Essential phone settings to enable before losing your device, including Find My network, location services and security features for iPhone and Android.

The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.

Cybersecurity research shows weak passwords remain a major threat, with simple patterns and number sequences putting millions of accounts at risk.

New Android malware BankBot YNRK silences phones, steals banking data and drains crypto wallets automatically. Learn how this advanced threat works.

FDA approves first human trial for Paradromics' brain-computer interface that could restore speech for paralyzed patients through neural technology.