Selecting a programming language depends on the task at hand. It is possible to accomplish most programming tasks with most programming languages. Some programming languages are better suited for general file manipulations, whilst others are more suitable for text filtering and processing, and others are better at systems tasks or mathematical operations. Every programming language has its plus points. Good programmers will have a good command of a few languages, enabling them to select the language best suited to the particular programming challenge presented to them.
There are many programming languages and all vary in complexity. Below are a few of the most popular, along with advantages and disadvantages of each:
C
C is a structured programming language created in the 1970's. It was designed to be small and simple, suited towards systems programming and operating system design.
Advantages: Excellent for writing small fast programs. Easily interfaced with assembly language.
Disadvantages: Doesn't easily lends itself towards object-oriented programming design. Learning the syntax can be tricky.
C++
C++ is an object-oriented successor to C. Object-oriented programs are the next logical step after structured programming. Object-orientated programs are built out of objects. Objects are small packages of reusable functions and code. There are many publicly and commercially available libraries of objects available that should make programming a lot simpler. You just pull together the objects you need like building blocks - or at least that's the theory.
Advantages: Far better than traditional C for the organisation of large programs. Supports the object-oriented approach of program design very well indeed.
Disadvantages: A vast and complex language with difficult syntax. Not as quick as C in many applications.
Visual Basic
Based on the orignal BASIC programming language. Visual Basic, by Microsoft, allows for rapid development of GUI based programs and is considered to have good database support.
Advantages: Not difficult to learn compared to other programming languages. Almost Instant compiling makes for extremely fast and easy development. Lots of bolt-ons available.
Disadvantages: Applications developed tend to very large and need several large runtime DLL's in order to run. Whilst easy to develop simple window based programs, it is not easy to write complex graphical application.
Java
Java was designed by Sun Microsystems and was designed to be a portable incarnation of C++" and was designed with embedded applications in mind.
Advantages: The binaries produced are portable to other platforms. Applications can be run within web pages. Very robust - virtually no resource leeks.
Disadvantages: A virtual machine is used to run the Java programs which makes Java applications slower than true compiled applications. As it's a high level language, low level system interaction is very difficult.