/prog/'s opinion about some languages

Hey /prog/,

I'm new in this board, so sorry for being a retard.
I'm starting CS at university. After some pseudo-code, we started with Java and Microsoft .NET (Visual Basic...lol)

I had learned some Python, PHP and C++ beforehand by myself, but I'd like to hear your opinion about all the languages I've mentioned, and what languages are worth learning nowadays.

Thanks.
(I know this can lead to a trollfest, so I'm just asking for YOUR opinion)

>>1
Java: Would not use for anything other than the applet functionality. I do not like this language.
Microsoft .NET: .NET-based languages are good* for many quick deployment problem domains and they're only becoming better as time goes on.
*Visual Basic: Hate the syntax. The fact that it's .NET does not save it from making me angry.
Python: It's a decent scripting language, though it's still recovering from a lot of early bad decisions. Definitely worth learning.
PHP: Terrible language design (syntax, deprecation policies, progression) and terrible language parsers. You can do a lot of things with it, but the costs, imo, are simply too great to justify the benefit. Seek alternatives.
C++: I don't think learning C++ means what you think it means. I use this language a lot (have for a few years now) and I'm still not even close to being able to say that I've learned C++. It's a powerful language, but it gives you plenty of rope to hang you and your buddies with.

Languages worth learning that you haven't been introduced to? Lua. You'll probably want some Ruby, because it looks like it's starting to gain some ENTERPRISE traction, though not enough to concern yourself over.

I definitely recommend a functional language because it will broaden your horizons and you might even like it. Scheme, some Lisp dialect, Haskell, whatever.

If you want money, all the fucking geezers that know COBOL are gone, you can get some real niche work with COBOL. But be warned: COBOL is not your friend.

D might be worth looking at for practical purposes.

If you're interested in PHP, chances are that you've wanted to do some web design. Learn CSS and HTML, they're less fun than PHP, but they're no less important. Especially in WEB 2.0.

I was gonna post more, but whatever, I'm done. Sorry.