[AnotherUnixGeek]

The knowledge of a handful of programming languages could come to be a lifesaver to many a programmer

If you know how to code, you're going to pick up enough of any compiled or interpreted language to become productive in it pretty quickly. Languages are just part of the details. But C will always be my first love.

[COBOL2Java]

But C will always be my first love.

C is such an elegant language. Unfortunately I'm in management now and don't get to do as much programming as in the past. I mostly find myself writing VBA apps to pull metrics out of our databases for the boys & girls on the top floor...

[SeekAndFind]

RE: If you know how to code, you’re going to pick up enough of any compiled or interpreted language to become productive in it pretty quickly.

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I can appreciate the sentiment. However, if a company is heavily using a language in its applications ( e.g. C# ), or tools like Visual Studio, no matter how good a programmer you are in another language ( e.g. PASCAL or ADA), they are not going to consider you at all.

They want somebody who can do the job NOW. There is no time for on the job learning at all.

One of our best software developers in C#, ASP.NET and SQL Server just left the company. I just received 5 resumes from Tech recruiting firms to replace him... all of them have the same experience and skillsets.

And get this -— ALL of them have INDIAN names. Go figure.