For the I.T. geeks of Warpath: Which programming languages are dead?

So about ten years ago, I decided to go back to school and get my degree in Information Technology/programming. During my years at college, I was exposed to several programming languages: HTML (which I had learned on my own,) JavaScript, C#, and Java (which I had a hard time with.)

My present I.T. position is with a non-profit agency (so pay is low) and I haven't had to do any programming in awhile. When I had first gotten hired, my boss wanted me to learn this old, antiquated database programming language called "Clipper". It was the hardest thing for me to learn, because the code seemed like "spaghetti code" (programmers will know what I mean by that.) After a few years, we decided to go with an outside vendor for our software, so my I.T. duties relegated back to supporting the vendor software and other miscellaneous computer stuff.

So now, my girlfriend and I are talking marriage and I will probably move to where she lives, which has more job opportunities than where I am currently living. I would like to get back into programming, but I'm not sure which programming languages are being used the most. I am more willing to go back and refresh my memory with languages that I already sort of know, rather than to have to learn a brand new programming language. I enjoy more web-based programming than anything else, which means I'd probably at least need to learn ASP or AJAX if I were to land a job with that.

But, for any of you guys who might be in the know, which programming languages are hot right now? Which ones are pretty much useless nowadays?

I used to be an expert in BASIC, QBASIC, also used Visual BASIC and Pascal fairly proficiently and dabbled in Fortran, COBOL and C+. I wrote some really useful BASIC programs and made games with some impressive (at that time) graphics. Made a field goal kicking game with graphics better than the original Madden, as well as a golf game.


That was a long, LONG time ago, back in the DOS days. Bet they're all dead now.

I'm guessing Java and HTML are the "hot" ones now. I'm not into programming really anymore. Also, could open source systems like Linux and all of its children be considered programming?

I used to be an expert in BASIC, QBASIC, also used Visual BASIC and Pascal fairly proficiently and dabbled in Fortran, COBOL and C+. I wrote some really useful BASIC programs and made games with some impressive (at that time) graphics. Made a field goal kicking game with graphics better than the original Madden, as well as a golf game.


That was a long, LONG time ago, back in the DOS days. Bet they're all dead now.

I'm guessing Java and HTML are the "hot" ones now. I'm not into programming really anymore. Also, could open source systems like Linux and all of its children be considered programming?


Well, if you're building a Linux distro, yeah it would be considered programming, but I would think that Linux is more or less something from the non-profits who are funded by different grants and agencies....especially since the large majority of its operating systems and programs are free.

I have been going back and doing some javascripting...I had forgotten a lot of it, but it's fairly simple to do javascripting....AJAX programming goes along with javascript. Java was tough for me to learn for some reason. I guess I never got the "class" concept down, but if I ever became and expert with java, I'd probably have several programming jobs to choose from.

With HTML, I feel like just about anybody could learn that. I picked up on HTML even before I ever considered getting into "computers".

There's always a need for .NET and PeopleSoft developers.

AJAX really isn't a language more than an approach.

The money is in security and db administration though.

Well, if you're building a Linux distro, yeah it would be considered programming, but I would think that Linux is more or less something from the non-profits who are funded by different grants and agencies....especially since the large majority of its operating systems and programs are free.

I have been going back and doing some javascripting...I had forgotten a lot of it, but it's fairly simple to do javascripting....AJAX programming goes along with javascript. Java was tough for me to learn for some reason. I guess I never got the "class" concept down, but if I ever became and expert with java, I'd probably have several programming jobs to choose from.

With HTML, I feel like just about anybody could learn that. I picked up on HTML even before I ever considered getting into "computers".

Learning OOP is going to be a key.

Learning OOP is going to be a key.


Can I teach myself Peoplesoft at home? I really don't feel like taking a class for it (not even sure if they have a class at the local college.)

I know I need to go back and dive back into Java....I just wished it had came a little easier for me when I was taking the class back in college.

Sharepoint is big right now

Sharepoint is big right now

Yeah...sharepoint is a current good one. Not sure about it's longevity though.

Personally I wouldn't worry about the individual languages, I would pay more attention to the most successful tools. Pay more attention to which applications are most frequently used by the most successfull tools and learn the most popular language used within those. Job opportunities will always be there and you will always have plenty of work.

I personally do not depend on a specific programing language to be successfull, but I keep myself current on what languages and tools are out there. Overall keeping up with trends keeps me employed and abreast. If I do have to make an adjustment to market demands I can.

Long story short...learn them all and continue learning.

So true.. have to stay up on what's out there to survive