Just finished getting a degree? Too bad, you're screwed!

[Julian]

haha yeah I love ruby. We had to re-write one of our ruby codes in java, and what I did in about 30 lines of ruby translated to roughly 140 in java lol. ruby is just so elegant, but the only problem is the compilation time which is slightly worse than java

I know right :D I just took a C class (for no real reason besides filling up my schedule to get full time financial aid) and every single program was just like, why can't I do this in ruby

There was one program we had to write on the final exam, take an input, and output the input in caps. I wrote some stupid long program messing with ascii numbers. Then in the bottom I wrote, "if you were using ruby, you could have just done: puts gets.upcase" -_-

@Above posters: I believe Python is used a bit more than Ruby, I know Google uses it. Both languages are kind of similar on the surface. Like, if you go from Java or C to Python or Ruby, they both offer kind of basically the same thing. Only real big difference at that level that I can think of is the use of whitespace in python. I don't really know too much python, so I can't comment on the differences deeper into the language.

But really, if you know how to program in one language, it's not hard to pick up another.

[Roranora]

I feel for you guys after reading this thread.. I know I should consider myself pretty fortunate; I just graduated this May with a mediocre GPA and no internships, and I was able to find a job. The offers certainly weren't abundant, and I feel like I searched rather diligently. Having an engineering degree may have made the search easier than many of these other degrees, though.

[Zhais]

I work primarily in C#/VB.net, so I'm not jaded by the lack of functionality in the C++ stl

python was interesting for me. One of my projects was to write an interpreter for a custom language, and I randomly decided that I would do it in python to force myself to learn it. Was definitely alright, wouldn't say it made life easier or harder. Method definition syntax takes a bit of getting used to...

[five]

Yeah I'm kind of curious about what all the hype is about for Ruby. I kind of have mixed feelings about programming. I taught myself some C++ that I actually really enjoyed learning, but I took a class that used Java that I absolutely hated everything about the language. I'm curious as to how applicable Python is? I really like the language but don't know too many people who use it.

yep, basically what julian said. python looks really nice, easy to read. It is used widely by the big companies now like google.(if you ever plan to work at google you better learn c++ and python lol). also, instead of static syntax like in java, everything is dynamic in python. like ruby, python has a lot of shortcuts for things that take multiple lines in java. in addition in python you can declare multiple classes in one file unlike java.

agreed, java is really annoying, but sadly it's what the primary language taught nowadays is. I guess because it's been around for so long, and professors are too lazy to try to learn one of the newer languages that are sooo much more elegeant. however, java still wins in compilation time.

[Purrrfect]

So for those talking about going back to school, assuming you have some kind of daytime job just to get some money in, how do you work school out? I only have an associates and would like to get at least the next 2 years, but every school around here only offers 3rd/4th year classes right about the time I'm busy monday through friday... What is the secret? Financial aid loans to pay rent/school and just do some kind of retail/food service evening work? I'd really like to not leave a job, but... rock/hard place

[Bluefrostie]

So for those talking about going back to school, assuming you have some kind of daytime job just to get some money in, how do you work school out? I only have an associates and would like to get at least the next 2 years, but every school around here only offers 3rd/4th year classes right about the time I'm busy monday through friday... What is the secret? Financial aid loans to pay rent/school and just do some kind of retail/food service evening work? I'd really like to not leave a job, but... rock/hard place

I go to school Mondays and Wednesdays, which leaves me free for the 5 other days of the week.

Does your school offer weekend classes?

[Acturus]

So for those talking about going back to school, assuming you have some kind of daytime job just to get some money in, how do you work school out? I only have an associates and would like to get at least the next 2 years, but every school around here only offers 3rd/4th year classes right about the time I'm busy monday through friday... What is the secret? Financial aid loans to pay rent/school and just do some kind of retail/food service evening work? I'd really like to not leave a job, but... rock/hard place

I'm getting my masters through a local Webster campus. The classes offered are all evening classes to accomodate working professionals.

Granted I have a full time job already, but many large universities are able to accomodate people trying to take classes on nights and weekends, regardless of degree level.

The question is whether or not you have access to a school that will accomodate your schedule. If you don't have an actual campus, that's where the online community of classes might be beneficial.