Ask HN: Ruby, Python, or JavaScript for teenager?

If you were going to recommend a language to a teenager about to turn 18, that wants to try to learn something on their own, what would it be and why?

Maybe Processing because it is about making things rather than writing programs and it's community is not caught up in computer science; instead it is built around creativity.

But in general, I would not focus on which language is better but which language can be used to improve something that they already do. For a writer, Emacs Lisp might be a good choice. For a photographer, Lua and Darktable might be a good choice. For a graphic artist, Python and Gimp or Inkscape. It's not programming language that matters so much as programming practice.

There are also languages like Snap that are beginner friendly.

BTW, if it's on their own, then it might make sense if the 18 year old chooses. It's ok if they change their mind.

Good luck.

Is there any reason you're only asking about those three languages? I'd say cater to the teenager's interests.

Do they like PC games? Maybe look into C# scripting for Unity. Lua is used for scripting/modding in tons of games. Minecraft I believe is one of the big ones.

Do they like mobile apps? Java, Swift, Xamarin, NativeScript all come to mind.

JavaScript, Python, and Ruby are all wonderful, but I'm just wondering if there's a reason to limit it to those three. I'd say whatever technologies fall in line with the kids interests are best.

Not Javascript since he's going to end up hitting a lot of confusion if he's a curious cat. Ruby or Python.

Python, because it's the rare combination of "wildly popular" and "keeps you out of trouble". Ruby has always had a one-framework-town kind of feel to it, with Rails being the one thing people automatically associate with the language. Javascript has the popularity, on the other hand, but it's a minefield in so many ways. The browser is not fun to work with for anything serious, and code written in node bitrots very easily.

So, it's Python. Python has footholds in a variety of places. It's not the most expressive in some respects, but the built in types are more than sufficient to power any student code.

A possible alternate is Go. Go doubles down on keeping you out of trouble by pressing so much code into a uniform style. This may excite some students and frustrate others depending on which threads of thought they're trying to follow.