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General Discussion

Tom Simkins
Tom Simkins
2,486 Points
Posted by Tom Simkins
Tom Simkins
2,486 Points

Will learning ruby help me learn java?

Do you think that learning ruby which is supposed to be allot easier but similar to java will help me in my java skills or is it best to just stick to java while its my first language?

2 Answers

Ricky Catron
Ricky Catron
13,023 Points
Ricky Catron
Ricky Catron
13,023 Points

Both are programming languages so both will teach you fundamental programming concepts. They may be easier to understand in Ruby though. Early on the concepts are very similar and only the syntax is different so Ruby will help in the begininng but as you advance you will start to see a lot of differences.

If you want to learn Java work with Java. If you want to learn programming play around with both. Every language can teach you but it depends on what you want to learn.

Can I ask why you want to learn Java?

Tom Simkins
Tom Simkins
2,486 Points
Tom Simkins
Tom Simkins
2,486 Points

Because its widely used you can use it on any platform its open source and its a language that is usually required in open source careers it is also used to make android apps and is a language you proberbly need to know to be advanced at programming I'm just finding it tricky abd wonderd if learning some ruby would help me witg java and make more confident and motivated at programming

Ricky Catron
Ricky Catron
13,023 Points
Ricky Catron
Ricky Catron
13,023 Points

Fantastic reasons! Ruby could help teach you programming but Java is a whole other kettle of fish. People love to hate Java it is extreamly verbose. My advice is focus on Java and keep fighting. It is a tricky language and you will hit your head on a desk a lot (daily) but for all the reasons you said it is a fantastic language which can accomplish a lot. The only thing that will advance your confidence and skill with java is practicing it (coffee doesn't hurt either).

Tom Simkins
Tom Simkins
2,486 Points
Tom Simkins
Tom Simkins
2,486 Points

I'll keep going with java its just being a pain in the neck and it doesn't really seem a pleasure to use what sort of things could I do or make to make things easier ?

Ricky Catron
Ricky Catron
13,023 Points
Ricky Catron
Ricky Catron
13,023 Points

Learning to use your IDE helps alot. I'm assuming your using Eclipse. Learning the ins and outs of that should make you more productive. The best way to learn is find a personal project so you can see your imporvment and learn to love the code. Using it often will help you find the parts you love and use the most. Lastly in my experiance it isn't a pleasure to use I prefer python. Find a project you love and build it that will bring in the pleasure and its true of any language. If you can find a friend who is learning Java too they can help you and will double the pleasure you get from the langauge.

Tom Simkins
Tom Simkins
2,486 Points
Tom Simkins
Tom Simkins
2,486 Points

Thankyou I'm using android studio at the moment and if I go into making computer applications which I hope isn't too different I will use intellij the thing is my ideas for projects are usually too far fetched for what I can achieve I don't feel very confident that I could do much java programming solo

Ricky Catron
Ricky Catron
13,023 Points
Ricky Catron
Ricky Catron
13,023 Points

It is always hard to build confidence in programming just find a project and finish it! Then find a harder one that scares you and finish it! The farther you push yourself the farther you will go. One day you will look back and see how far you have come.

There are tons of ideas out there to build. Maybe copy an app and figure out how they coded it without looking at their solution. But most importantly create if that means copying a app take it 1 step furthur add to it! Add a feature. Get involved in the community. Help out on the forums. The more you put into it the more you will get out. Dive in head first.

Practice is key, theory helps alot but the only way to be a good coder is to code. Good luck!

Ricardo Hill-Henry
Ricardo Hill-Henry
38,442 Points
Ricardo Hill-Henry
Ricardo Hill-Henry
38,442 Points

Learning Ruby will not help you learn Java. They're two different languages, and aren't very similar at all. Learning one language will help you understand fundamental concepts to programming that can transfer over when using any language. Those concepts will make things seem familiar, therefore be easier, when going through different languages. Each language has it's own very different libraries, and rules. The only circumstance where I'd justify saying one language can help you learn another is if one is a subset of the other (such as C & Obj-C).