Should I Study Java or C#?

Should I study Java or C#?

Java is a more mainstream language.

Mainly because everyone has seen Java errors on their screen at one point or another.

C# is considered more expressive, profanity aside when it does not compile.

C#, also called C pound or C dot net, has a different purpose than Java. It is a more basic language and closer to machine language, but with the dot-net framework.

Java is a better choice for distributed computing. Java is superior when it comes to interacting with other programs and embedded programs.

There are other languages that still use the Java Virtual Machine because it is so good.

That is one argument in favor of Java -- learning it and the JVM gives you a good groundwork for the other languages that rely on Java and the JVM.

C# is better for numeric computing.

Both are good at text processing. And Java gets used for a lot of scientific computing, though it is not ideal for that purpose.

You can use either language for a desktop graphical user interface.

But Java is routinely used for GUI.

Java is considered more likely to lead you to shoot yourself in the foot.

Java has more open source code that you can draw upon, saving you the hassle of writing your own code. And it has more open source tools.

C# is more efficient.

C# has a larger vocabulary, making it harder to learn. C# is a high level language, and the syntax and strict typing can be challenging for beginners.

I heard C# is more terse.

Java is a good starter language, and it is what you should learn first since it is almost the first thing people learn excepting HTML.

You act as if it is just the start.

Programmers need to learn several languages and frameworks to have the most job opportunities and a variety of skill sets to handle any project. Java gets you in the door, and then you can learn some version of C later.