Fall0ut

I have done some C++ in that past (last year, in 10th grade), but now I want to move onto the real stuff: Java.

The problem with this is I don't even know were to start. What programs do I get?

I am a 3D CG artist, so I would also like to know if I would be able to make games, or do real time renders in Java kind of like in Delphi.

Well really, can you just please tell me what I need to start off with?

Mjordan2nd

Heh. I think you're not giving enough credit to C++. It is still (I believe) the most widely used language in the programming industry. In fact, there was a post about which were the most used languages, C++ came 1st I think.

Basically, you'll need the JDK at the very least so you can compile your programs. You don't necessarily need an IDE, but if you want one, my reccomendation would be JCreator. If you prefer working without an IDE, then notepad or any other basic text-editor would do just fine.

I don't know much about 3D programming, but you certainly can make 3D programs in Java. There is an OpenGL implementation called JOGL which I've heard many people say good things about.

Don't really know what else you want to hear about.

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unsafe_pilot1

>I have done some C++ in that past (last year, in 10th grade), but now I want to move onto the real stuff: Java.

hey java shud be a walk in the park for u if u hav done c++ coz the basic syntax is all same.
But it does not take u anywhere unless u really u deep in java.
java is famous for platform independence.
Buy a book i would suggest go to www.amazon.com and get the herbert schildt "The Complete Reference".

>The problem with this is I don't even know were to start. What programs do I get?

your getting jittery that's all....
start by reading some tutorials.
"Java is Blessed"
It is has the largest content of tutorials for any programming language online.
Besides www.sun.java.com provides tutorials that are enough for a newbie like you.

>I am a 3D CG artist, so I would also like to know if I would be able to make games, or do real time renders in Java kind of like in Delphi.

i don't know wht 3d CG artist is but if game programming is any interest to you u shud start with console on java then move on to java 2D and then on java 3D.

So ....got to www.sun.java.com
download the java 1.5 SDK.
It's the latest and read the first tutorial about how to run ur first program coz newbies find it tough to set environment variables.

Ooble

If you're really interested in stuff like game development, I suggest sticking with C++. While Java is no doubt an excellent language (I haven't personally tried it, but I've used Microsoft's "copy", C#), because it runs through a virtual machine, it's unlikely you're going to get the speeds you'll get using a language that's compiled straight to machine code. While that's OK if you're making a 2D platformer, it's not fantastic for the next big RPG.

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Fall0ut

hmm well that's something new, always thought that java was best for everything.

what is 3D CG? Its 3D computer graphics. Like you know the stuff you see in games, movies, etc..

grumpy

Certainly Sun Microsystems (the owners of Java) would like everyone to believe that Java is the best for everything. The reality is that every programming language has its share of strengths and weaknesses compared with other languages. Despite marketting hype stating otherwise, Java does not offer an exception to that rule any more than C++ (or any other language) does.

If you are interested in game programming (particularly developing games that require heavy duty graphics and user interaction) C++ is a better choice than Java, for the reasons that Ooble mentioned. In practice, games (particularly high-end games) always push the limits of performance of state-of-the-art computing hardware (graphics cards, hard disks, motherboards, pushing data around on the back-plane, etc etc). It is possible to achieve that with C++, because C++ allows you to get close to the hardware. It is not possible to achieve that with Java because of the virtual machine, which always results in an overhead preventing you squeezing the last bit of performance from the machine. The trade-off there is portability: the techniques to squeeze performance from the machine are also specific to the type of hardware, operating system, and (often) to the compiler --- so they need to be changed when moving from (say) a PC to a Mac. Java's advantage is portability, but the trade-off is one of performance and reliance on the virtual machine (which varies between operating systems).

To complicate things even further: While there is some degree of overstating the performance advantages of C++ (it takes developer effort to extract the last bit of performance from the machine), there is also some degree of over-statement of the portability of Java (variabilities of behaviour of virtual machines mean that, for a lot of applications, the "write once, run everywhere" mantra is better expressed as the less optimistic "write once, debug everywhere").

metsfan

grumpy pretty much got it right

to add a few things, java has been recorded to be aproximately 10 times slower than c++! game and graphics programming requires maximizing your FPS as well as factoring in latency if you plan on making online games. ive written games in both java and c++ and the difference isnt comparable how much more you get out of c++. believe it or not, top games such as world of warcraft, and half life 2 are written in c++, not java. c++ is hardly dying and java is hardly "the real stuff". if anything, id say java is a learning language because it does so much for you, while c++ is the real stuff. java holds your hand way too much for me. there is much more freedom in c++. while this means much more side effects and possibly shooting yourself in the foot, the pros far outweigh the cons.

while you can program in open gl in java, open gl is made and designed for c++. java is great and arguably better for large and complex data structures and databases and things of that nature than c++, but c++ is still the main language for games. any game programming class you will take at any university is taught in c++ using open gl.

btw, do you have a website or something with your 3D graphics? i am currently in the market for graphic artists

Fall0ut

yeah, sure take a look. Here is some of my work













and my favorite I made is this one

Jessehk

Wow...I'm impressed :p

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Klipt

I've heard it's around 2-3 times slower than C++ if you compile with gcj (which is similar to Pascal, apparently). Of course, it's arguable whether that's still 'authentic' Java, but it's the same langauge.