When people say "First language doesnt matter".... I started with python and kinda regret it...
Posted by lolb00bz_69@reddit | learnprogramming | View on Reddit | 23 comments
I spent about 2 months of python using angela wu's course, it was a great course and I did make progress, but had stuff come up IRL and left it there.
Im considering picking it back up, but kind of want to start with another language, ive heard for example, learning C+ will make picking up python easier, and that Java is probably the most sought after language in terms of job requirements etc.
Whats peoples thoughts on this? should i just keep grinding at python again?
burntjamb@reddit
If you get good at python, other languages will be easier to pick up later. A lot of the same concepts apply. All depends on your goals when it comes to what you want to do for a job. Best advice is to gain mastery of one language before jumping around.
mooncadet1995@reddit
I use Python basically every day at work, either hands on or via scripts that I have made. Couldn’t recommend a language more for most people besides maybe SQL.
chaotic_thought@reddit
Nowdays, Python is better to start with than starting with C(++).
If you want to start directly with a "compiled" language I would personally recommend Java over C++. In professional work, I prefer using C++, but for *teaching* I would pick Java. The environments are easier to set up (e.g. Eclipse) and the way the language works is much more teaching/learning friendly than using C++. In the words of Bjarne Stroustrup, creator of C++, C++ is "expert friendly".
Now, it's not necessarily beginner "hostile", but unfortunately, to make a C++ course beginner friendly is not an easy task. Most people that teach this language make at least a few minor mistakes in teaching it, for example. It is not an easy language to learn or to teach, so I do not blame them per se.
zdxqvr@reddit
If you want a solid foundation, take the time to learn C, but it's not very exciting. If you want to do a lot quickly, stick with python. My suggestion is to take the time to learn C, but everyone has different goals and it's not really necessary nowadays.
lolb00bz_69@reddit (OP)
Ill look at c thanks, python was super numbers heavy but definitely something id like to come back to in the future
dmazzoni@reddit
Unfortunately you'll probably find C to be even more numbers-heavy.
At its heart everything a computer does is just manipulating numbers.
As an example: how does a computer draw on the screen?
Well, there's a range of memory addresses that correspond to the screen. If you have a 1280 x 1024 display then there are 1280x1024 numbers all in a big array. The number represents what color goes in that pixel. To make the screen black, set all of the values to 0. To draw a shape, you have to mathematically figure out which pixels belong to that shape and set their numbers to the color you want.
It's all numbers.
zdxqvr@reddit
No worries! I'm kind of curious what you mean my "numbers heavy", that's not my first thought when someone talks about python.
lolb00bz_69@reddit (OP)
There was a bunch of stuff like calculating leap years and stuff involving grids/numbers but im fairly stupid so maybe its not actually numbers heavy haha
jlanawalt@reddit
A lot of CS courses are full of this kind of thing. Most of your challenging problems will be more about understanding the problem domain and how to break it down and identify the solution algorithm than about the language syntax. Switching languages doesn’t escape this. Switching courses/instructors might.
zdxqvr@reddit
Oh I get ya haha, well there is no way to totally escape math. Maybe you'd be more interested in doing web design with HTML and CSS. Maybe look I to JavaScript and front end web development.
ambidextrousalpaca@reddit
If you were unable to finish a Python course I would have very serious doubts as to your ability to finish a C++ one.
zdxqvr@reddit
This is a fair criticism, but I'd recommend learning C, not CPP. C is actually a fairly simple language at its core.
Rikai_@reddit
My only criticism would be how there's so many versions of the same function, usually related to strings because the original one was unsafe, so now there's another one with a similar one, but that's unsafe too, so have another one! And so on, it really gets annoying having to look up which is the right one to use...
zdxqvr@reddit
Ya, I would agree, for actually writing systems level code I'd probably choose CPP or something like zig or rust. But I feel like running into these issues is why you would want to learn C first. Until you see the problems it's hard to appreciate abstractions in other languages.
Rikai_@reddit
Yeah, I just don't want beginners to get overwhelmed, but I also don't want them not to care about safety either
zdxqvr@reddit
Ya, I get it, first languages are tricky. I believe the best way to learn is to make mistakes, and C allows you to make all the mistakes haha, and it's fairly simple. That's why I like it.
lolb00bz_69@reddit (OP)
I wasnt unable to, i just had stuff come up irl that took up my time. Overall i found the course really interesting and well put out,i actually had fun going through it and pulling hair out over some issues, which is why im considering coming back
ReiOokami@reddit
Start with C. Harvard does in CS50 and there’s a reason why.
lolb00bz_69@reddit (OP)
Awesome thanks. Whats the difference between C, C+ and C++? So confusing, same with java and javascript
ReiOokami@reddit
That can easily be researched in Google or gpt. A lot for this comment. But I’d recommend just taking the CS50 course to learn. It’s free online.
pushqo@reddit
the time that took you to learn your first programming language will not be the same as the second one as you understand how it works , I suggest you dive into algorithms if it's possible and then pick any language you want
because now you just need to learn the concepts of the language not the concepts of programming , how to think , how to solve problems ect ...
the point is It doesn't matter what programming language you start with , what matters is your ability to understand what's behind it
JacobStyle@reddit
Just read the Wikipedia articles and learnxinyminutes.com overviews of the languages you're considering and then pick one. Most general programming languages are about 80% the same, so once you get really good at one of them, you can pick up another without too much trouble. C++, Java, and Python are all fine choices. You can't really go wrong unless you pick malbolge or something.
Willful_Murder@reddit
Learning the fundamentals is important and not tied into any language.
Python is great for beginners because it abstracts a lot of stuff which allows you to focus on fundamentals over other aspects.
However, I believe that learning a language like Java or C++ is better despite this. The learning curve is steeper but ultimately more rewarding because of it.
The people that I have met that started with python seem to struggle moving down to "lower" languages but picking up python after learning C++ or Java is easy. Obviously this is anecdotal.
Python is a self driving car Java is an automatic C++ is a manual
Either way you'll get to your destination, so it's up to you where you are going and how you get there.