From: MRH <mauriceroman@...>
Date: 2008-05-29T21:44:53+09:00
Subject: Re: Should I Learn Ruby as a First Language?

> This is exactly why we chose C as the first language for electronic
> engineering and information systems engineering students. Previously the
> course had been given in Algol 68 (!), then Pascal, but it was decided
> that C would be a much better foundation, and useful in the real world
> too.
>
> C is very hard to learn. Almost everybody comes unstuck on pointers and
> memory allocation. But this trains your mind, and once you've learnt C,
> you realise what other languages are protecting you from, and how they
> work internally (since most are written in C, like Ruby).
>
> Recently some ex-students of mine contacted me via a social networking
> site to thank me, saying that C had been very valuable to them in their
> careers.
>
> If the OP wants a good foundation in programming, C will provide it. But
> Ruby would be gentler. :-)

Hi Dave,

Thank you for your post. As I have mentioned, I believe I will study C
and those texts so as to become acquainted with the lower level
concepts.

Best,

Maurice