Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!ncis.llnl.gov!helios.ee.lbl.gov!pasteur!ucbvax!hplabs!nsc!voder!kev
From: kev@voder.UUCP (Kevin Hoskins)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Into which computer language should I invest time and money?
Keywords: Turbo Basic Pascal C Assembler Quick Basic C Macro Assembler
Message-ID: <4007@voder.UUCP>
Date: 25 Jan 89 15:10:21 GMT
Organization: National Semiconductor, Santa Clara
Lines: 38

I would like to take advantage of the Net's wealth of experience with the 
following request. I want to begin writing programs for myself, to start 
with, for use on my XT clone. I am not sure which language to use. Therefore,
I would like to know what the users of the following languages 

     Microsoft's QuickBasic
                 QuickC

                 Macro Assembler

     Borland's   Turbo Basic
                 Turbo C
                 Turbo Pascal

                 Turbo Assembler

     A shareware product  A86/D86

think concerning ease of code generation, programming environment, performance
(which, I guess could include size and speed of compiled/assembled code), and 
any other items or features that you consider important. 

I know that C seems to be quite popular now, but why is this so. It all boils
down to "why should I choose one language over another?".  

With respect to the three assemblers mentioned, again why would I choose one
over the other?

I will attempt to compile and post the responses that I receive from those who
REPLY THROUGH EMAIL. You can post to the NET if you want, I am a regular
reader. 

Also, if anyone could sight magazine reviews and articles or books that 
objectively compare C, Pascal, and Basic, these to would be most helpful.

Thank you very much,

Kevin Hoskins