I'm a beginner, learning C++. Is this the best all round programming language to learn, or should I be doing C# or Java?

C++ is a good place to start, although familiarising yorself with C would be useful too. I haven't looked into C#. Java is very C like, and if you know C/C++ Java will be easier to learn.

It's like learning to read:
first you learn the alphabet,
then you learn to read kiddies books, and write very short things,
then you read novels and write essays.

In short C++ is as good a place to start as anywhere. I learnt VB first, then C++ (a little) then C, Java, Prolog all together.

If you're being taught C++ then go with that.

I started learning PASCAL and COBOL before moving on to Visual Basic and I have to admit that learning C++ and JAVA was quite difficult to learn coming from a VB background.

Visual Basic is a good place to start to learn the fundamentals of object orientated programming and the like.

In an ideal world I'm told that learning parts of C would be your first step to C++ and then on to Java if you want to go down that route.

At the end of the day just go with what you are comfortable with, particulary now with the .net capabilities.

yeah, VB and C/Java use their commands in different orders, which can be confusing. I like how easy VB seems, but C is powerful. I agree tho king, wherever is comfy is best.

The "best all round programming language to learn" might be the worse to use for your specific problem/objective. What are your objectives, what do you want to do? Learning with no/unclear objectives in sight is pretty pointless. When you ask the question that you have you will you get answers with bias and subjectivity.

Check this out:
https://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=threadview&id=25842

I would learn elements of C before delving into C++. Java has a similar structure to C and is the cross platform kiddy at the moment, that said C and it's offspring have been around for a long time. VB is easy to learn but it's structure is loose, bad habits are easy to pick up and it's platform specific.

There is no doubt that C++ is the best all around language.... if you plan on doing things like game programming. For regular 2D applications, Visual Basic is the best to use (after all, Windows the operating system was built in Visual Basic). There is a big debate on which is better for game programming: Java or C++. Right now C++ is winning. A lot of old programmers use C to program their games, but that is because they are too lazy to learn C++. C++ is definitely better for programming games than is C. C++ has object oriented programming that C just doesn't have. This makes it ideal for video game programming. It is true, however, that Java is 90 percent C++ and C++ is 90 percent Java. I recommend learning C++. And it is necessarily good to learn some elements of C before going into C++ like Matt said. C is inferior and so are the ways that it declares variables and handles other operations. Skipping C and going to C++ is the best course of action. You will just learn so much better and won't have to deal with the fuzzy C syntax that isn't present in C++. I recommend picking up a book such as "Using C++" by Que Corp. It is quite a good book. While you are at it, take some college courses and you will get really good. But... the ultimate decision is up to you. All I can do is give you some advice. Good luck in your programming endeavors. If you need any help or something, email me. Thanks!

If you want a good language to start try
freepascal.

www.freepascal.org

you can use compile your programs in
dos, freebsd,linux, netbsd, os/2, win32 and netware