[simpits-tech] Programming languages

[Matt Bailey]

Well I think I'm going to give programming another try this summer. Just 
wondering what languages you guys recommend.

I have a wee bit of programming experience with Python, very little bit with 
Visual Basic (several years ago) but never learned enough to do much useful. 
At the moment I am leaning towards Python, it seems like a nice logical 
laguage and also I like the idea of not having to compile anything (not a 
prerequisite, but nice). Basically I'm looking at eventually programming 
little apps to talk between X-Plane (either by using its data output feature, 
which uses UDP, or hooking into the new plug-in system, not sure the 
specifics on getting into that yet) and an interface card like phidgets or a 
generic microcontroller. Also thinking about possibly controlling hardware 
via the parallel port and/or serial port, although I suspect if I can get the 
hang of microcontroller stuff I won't be using these much.

To start with I'd probably just do simple on/off lights and hopefully working 
instruments (probably via RC servos). I'm only really interested in 
controlling stuff at this point, as opposed to interfacing custom controls.

What I have right now: tons of stuff. I'm using Linux, it comes with gcc, 
Python, perl, etc etc the standard array of programming goodies I suppose. I 
can also develop on Windows if need be.

	-Matt Bailey