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Is javascript the most versatile programming language when it comes to building a wide variety of things? (lemmy.world)
submitted 2 weeks ago by to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world
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Heyy, I'm learning programming and trying to choose a focus, I saw you can make web/backend w node, desktop (bloatware but discord uses it so if it works it works), games (not AAA and not optimized for performance but it shouldn't matter for indie too much) Is there anything that compares? I wanna focus on one thing instead of spreading myself over a ton of languages, I do feel js is interesting for this, but I'm just starting out, so looking to hear some thoughts of people more familiar with programming.

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[–] 13 points 2 weeks ago* (10 children)

Most modern games are written in C++. If you need speed using a high-level language, there is only C++ (or maybe optimized C#).

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  • [–] 5 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

    Most modern games are built on engines written in C++ but game development is usually done in languages like C# on top of those engines, no? Unless you're doing engine development you probably won't be touching C++

    I could be wrong since I'm in software and not games but that seems to be the way

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  • [–] 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

    If you're building a game from start to finish in a game engine written in c++, you'll probably end up having to touch some c++ eventually. Better to learn that, than only ever learning a scripting language.

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  • [–] 0 points 1 week ago

    It depends on the engine. Unity is based on C# so it isn't as performant as Unreal Engine 4 and 5, which use C. Unreal Engine uses UnrealScript, which is an intermediary language based on Java, which is similar to C#. The Source/id/Quake engine also uses C.

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  • [–] [S] 1 point 2 weeks ago (5 children)

    Mhmm, but to start out i feel its best to focus in one programming language only, if under those parameters python/c (whatever c variant) are better than javascript, while it might be better in theory to use the right tool for the job, that takes way more time than doing everything with a less optimal more generalized tool (i think)

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  • [–] 12 points 2 weeks ago*

    If focusing on one language, learn one that is good because you’ll have to work in other languages eventually and a well structured language will make that a lot easier than a less well structured one.

    I’m not a swe but I learned fundamentals in C++ (probably wouldn’t recommend that), work frequently in PowerShell, have played in C# a bit, and I’ve worked in Python a bit as well. Python seems like a really good place to start, today.

    Another note - front end and back end isn’t usually the same skill set even if it is the same language.

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  • [–] 5 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

    Do you want do make web sites: TypeScript. Do you want anything else: Python.

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  • [–] [S] 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 child)

    As a newbie the quick visual feedback of building stuff on web is nice to have, but maybe I should do python instead with some kind of ui thing? I do want to end up working in tech I'd say asap but its not the "starving and i mean money right now" asap, but like, not wasting unnecessary time.

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  • [–] 0 points 1 week ago

    optimized C#

    No. C# runs inside of the .NET common language runtime, which is Microsoft's version of the Java Virtual Machine. It's basically the layer that handles garbage collection and all the other conveniences people expect from modern languages. Because of the overhead associated with all that, C# will never have performance comparable to C or C++.

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