I've been coding mods in GSC for Call of Duty since I was about 12 years old, which has given me a good grasp of programming concepts, especially since GSC is similar to C++. I don't really play games anymore, but I still enjoy working on small projects in my free time. I've also dabbled in AutoIt, which was pretty straightforward but felt limited in scope.
I'm now looking to explore a more powerful language that still feels accessible for casual projects. Ideally, I want something that builds on the concepts of C++ but also has user-friendly GUI options like AutoIt. My projects will be Windows-based, and I'd like to find something with straightforward instructions to help me compile my work easily.
3 Answers
You might want to give C# a shot with Windows Forms or WPF in Visual Studio. It’s super beginner-friendly and perfect for building Windows apps with a nice GUI. Plus, it shares some concepts with C++ and AutoIt, which should make your transition smoother. Great for those hobby projects too!
I also recommend C#. You can kickstart your journey here: [Microsoft's C# Learning Path](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/paths/get-started-c-sharp-part-1/). It's a fantastic resource for beginners!
If you're self-studying, I’d suggest starting with Java (not JavaScript) before moving to C#. There are tons of beginner resources for Java which can make grasping the fundamentals easier. Plus, once you know Java, transitioning to C# is pretty seamless since they are quite similar. C# is popular in game development, but it’s versatile enough for general Windows applications too. It’s really about building a solid foundation first!
I doubt I’ll be focusing on games, so do you think C# is still a good choice for general Windows applications, or is investing time in Java a better option?
Thanks for the suggestion! I plan on checking it out this weekend! I've already found some helpful YouTube videos on the basics for both.