Choosing your first programming language can be a daunting task for anyone who wants to start a career in application development. There are so many options, each with its own advantages and disadvantages, that it can be hard to know where to begin. In this article, we will help you narrow down your choices by considering some key factors that can influence your decision.
The first thing you should ask yourself is what kind of applications do you want to create and why. Do you have a specific project in mind, or do you want to explore different domains and technologies? Are you more interested in web development, mobile development, data science, game development, or something else? Depending on your goals and interests, some languages may be more suitable than others. For example, if you want to build websites, you might want to learn HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, which are the core languages of the web. If you want to develop mobile apps, you might want to learn Java or Kotlin for Android, or Swift or Objective-C for iOS. If you want to analyze data and create visualizations, you might want to learn Python or R, which have many libraries and frameworks for data science.
When choosing a programming language for a career it is important to base it on your strengths and area of interests. If your strength is in data analysis and working with large datasets, then languages with rich backend data structures like Java, and Python will be more suitable but if your interest is more on web-based front end applications, then languages like HTML, CSS, Javascript will be good to start with as a junior developer. but Hands-on development on small proof-of-concept projects will give more confidence and clarity.
Software languages is an evolving field that incorporates techniques to represent logic in an efficient and consistent manner. All languages will have some common constructs for doing this - ways to define variables, conditional statements (if then else), looping blocks, etc. The language that gains prominence depends on the ecosystem, libraries and tools available for the specific goal or objectives for that layer in the application stack. I have based my primary focus on JavaScript for the front end development and Java for the middle tier and backend. And Python for Machine Learning and Deep Learning work based on the trends in the ecosystem. When starting with a programming language it is always best to create a foundation with OOP.
I think you also need to explore a higher level question - are you interested in a goal around a specific project (like web development, game development, etc.) or are you more interested in a career in IT/Digital/Engineering in general. If it's the latter then you may be as well choosing something more foundational for the theory of language (Lisp languages are a good place to start). By way of example, when I was at university, I was told that we would not be taught any languages during our degree course. We would be taught the theory of computation and language and then we would learn how to learn languages and have to do it in our own time. Then, for specific projects we would be able to learn a language for that specific need.
Choose a project to build first, then use the programming language best suited for that task. In the age of ChatGPT, specific languages matter even less than in the past. A proficient programmer should be able to pick up any language, so the first language you start with matters less than the next language you learn. I'd recommend starting with an interpreted language, as it will provide the fastest iteration speed when learning how to program (no compilation tax!). The top interpreted languages are: Python, JavaScript, and Ruby. If you're building data applications, go Python. If you're building web applications go JavaScript or Ruby. If you're building something else? Ask ChatGPT.
It is important to have your goals and interests in mind when starting. To learn how to program, for simplicity use Python. However, I you want to be a generalist, I would rather recommend Python. Alternatively, in the specific case that you want to go directly to Data Science: use Python. Nevertheless, if you are only interested in web backend development: go for Python. Finally, to develop frontend apps, use Javascri... wait... nah... learn how to program first with Python and then go for JS.
The next thing you should consider is how you learn best and what resources are available to you. Do you prefer to follow a structured curriculum or to learn by doing projects? Do you like to read books, watch videos, take online courses, or join communities and forums? Depending on your learning style and resources, some languages may be easier to learn than others. For example, if you like to learn by doing projects, you might want to choose a language that has a lot of tutorials, examples, and documentation online, such as Python, Ruby, or JavaScript. If you like to read books, you might want to choose a language that has a clear and concise syntax, such as C#, Java, or Go.
One thing to keep in mind is that some languages are documented better than others. This is immensely helpful when you’re just beginning. For instance, and this is admittedly a bit biased, Microsoft’s documentation on C# and dotnet is extremely thorough and well done with tons of examples. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what language you start with since it’s much easier to learn a second language than a first, but take a browse through the official documentation and see which one resonates well with you and your learning style. The official language documentation will be where you spend a lot of time (unless it is too sparse). So make sure it works for you.
Everyone chooses their own preferred learning method. I usually write pet projects and watch tutorials. I read books and study projects of other developers on GitHub.
Not everybody's learning styles are the same. Some people learn by reading, others by watching videos, and others by doing. Here are the three main languages most suited to start learning programming by learning style: 1. If you learn by reading: Use Python 2. If you learn by watching videos: Use Python 3. If you learn by doing: Use Python. Alternatively, people who best learn using other methods are strongly encouraged to use Python
I like to learn by doing projects, I choose a language that has a lot of tutorials, examples, and documentation online, such as Java, C#, C++ or Python. These languages boast extensive online resources. Java is versatile and widely used in various applications, C# is especially well-suited for game development with Unity, C++ is powerful for systems programming and game engines like Unreal. At the same time, Python is known for its readability and is extensively used in web development, data science, and automation, providing a diverse range of project possibilities. Embracing these languages aligns with your learning style, fostering a dynamic and project-centric approach to skill development.
Some languages are considered more beginner-friendly than others. Python is often recommended for its clean syntax and readability. JavaScript is also beginner-friendly and is essential for web development.
The last thing you should think about is how your choice of language can affect your career prospects and demand in the market. Do you want to work for a specific company or industry, or do you want to have more flexibility and options? Do you want to specialize in a niche or be a generalist? Depending on your career prospects and demand, some languages may be more valuable than others. For example, if you want to work for a large and established company, you might want to learn a language that is widely used and standardized, such as Java, C#, or C++. If you want to work for a startup or a cutting-edge industry, you might want to learn a language that is more innovative and trendy, such as Python, Ruby, or JavaScript.
Choosing your first programming language is not an easy decision, but it is not a permanent one either. You can always learn more languages as you progress in your career and expand your skills. The most important thing is to choose a language that fits your goals, interests, learning style, resources, career prospects, and demand, and that you enjoy using and learning.
You can also research job openings in your area if you plan to work offline. Sometimes, if you choose the “wrong” language, you may simply not find a job offline, and as practice shows, some then relearn other languages. Don't chase trends, sometimes it's just hype
When choosing a programming language for your career, it's super important to think about the job you want and what languages are in demand. You should aim for a language that big companies or new industries use, as this can help you get a job and earn money. It's all about finding a language that fits the job you want, is valuable in the market, and that you enjoy working with
My 2 cents. Choosing to learn a language solely because it's currently in high demand isn't the best decision. Instead of following trends, I suggest embracing lifelong learning and striving for language independence. This entails prioritizing a language that equips you with the skills to learn quickly, efficiently find information and examples, and critically evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of different languages. The rationale behind this advice is that each language comes with its own ecosystem of libraries, frameworks, and other components that need to be understood and navigated to effectively utilize it for your next project or career.
To be brutally honest you seldom get a chance to choose a programming language to start with. Most companies will assign you to a project that uses a language and then you have to learn that. What is important is to decide which language to transition to. Every language has different features and syntax based on whether it is object oriented, strongly typed etc. Choose a language that looks to be very relevant with the times (this can be deciphered from the no of job opportunities related to that language). Then transition towards it if you aren't already working on it. Also, once you can pick a programming language it becomes easier to pick others.
Opting for a career at a large and established company, it's prudent to focus on learning a language that is widely used and standardized. Java, C#, and C++ emerge as excellent choices in this context, given their prevalence in corporate environments and broad industry adoption. The stability and versatility of these languages make them valuable assets for positions in well-established companies where standardized technologies are often preferred. While this initial choice sets a solid foundation, it's essential to remain adaptable and open to learning additional languages as career paths evolve, ensuring continued relevance and growth in the dynamic field of programming.
You can choose your first language according to your aims and goals: 1. if you want just to learn programming - choose something that is easy to learn and understand (Go, Python, AWK) 2. if you want to make attractive looking web-sites - choose JavaScript or anything from the same family + CSS + HTML 3. if you want to make games - learn Unity or smth like this one 4. if you want to create or support OS - learn C++ or C so on..
In addition to language selection and career considerations, a key piece of advice is to maintain a commitment to continuous learning and project engagement, particularly in emerging fields like NLP and AI. Embracing diverse projects beyond language proficiency fosters a well-rounded skill set and adaptability. Remaining open to exploring various programming languages broadens one's problem-solving toolkit and enhances versatility. The evolving nature of technology necessitates a proactive approach to skill acquisition, ensuring relevance and sustained growth throughout one's programming journey.
Consider the community support around a language. Robust communities offer valuable assistance, share insights, and contribute to your growth. Also, evaluate the language's scalability—its relevance and usage in both small projects and large systems. Additionally, explore the ecosystem of tools and frameworks associated with the language. A rich ecosystem can streamline development and provide versatile solutions. Lastly, stay adaptable. The tech landscape evolves, and being open to exploring new languages or paradigms can enhance your versatility in the ever-changing field of programming.
When thinking about careers, consider tooling and ecosystem as well. Understanding repos (i.e. how pull/merge requests work etc), task management (ADO or Jira backlogs), development ceremonies (such as agile / SCRUM etc) environment management (some level of AWS/GCP/Azure awareness for cloud apps, desktop OS or mobile OS for local runtimes etc). Additionally consider languages like SQL, batch etc - these things all piece together into working solutions for your clients.
My first language was BASIC because that's what popped up on the computer when you booted it up. My second was assembly and third Pascal because that is what my university course taught me. People have more choice nowadays. I suggest a language like C++ or Rust where you have to consider memory allocation. Automatic garbage collection is brilliant but learning to code in a language that does not do it makes you consider how things are stored in memory and makes you a better programmer. (Rust does GC but has to be properly written for it to work, so similar mindset in terms of considering storage). Of course, this advice is only if you want to be a programmer.