Is it better to learn JavaScript or Python as a first language?

#1

Post by Pbyte » Tue, Mar 27, 2012, 5:43 PM UTC

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Re: Is it better to learn JavaScript or Python as a first language?

#2

Post by debacle » Tue, Mar 27, 2012, 5:48 PM UTC

JavaScript will be more friendly to you, and will open the doors to more applied languages, including Python.

If you learn Python first, you might have trouble learning other languages.

Ideally, in the end it wont matter - a programmer can program in any language, but for starters I would say start with JavaScript.

Re: Is it better to learn JavaScript or Python as a first language?

#3

Post by gb4lyfe » Tue, Mar 27, 2012, 5:53 PM UTC

python

Re: Is it better to learn JavaScript or Python as a first language?

#4

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Mar 27, 2012, 6:00 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Is it better to learn JavaScript or Python as a first language?

#5

Post by PKeeble » Tue, Mar 27, 2012, 6:02 PM UTC

You wont go wrong with either. Javascript is good for in web pages verses python being the server side to produce dynamic pages. You'll find you probably use both in a web project anyway.

Learn one, then learn the other - start where you want to.

Re: Is it better to learn JavaScript or Python as a first language?

#6

Post by europa » Tue, Mar 27, 2012, 6:09 PM UTC

I think Both. You almost always need a back-end for the javascripts apps you make. That back-end can be Python.

Re: Is it better to learn JavaScript or Python as a first language?

#7

Post by EzGraphs » Tue, Mar 27, 2012, 6:12 PM UTC

In general, python is a more "regular" language with less unusual cases - so it tends to show up a bit more often in traditional programming 101 courses. It also promotes readability by making indentation a part of the language syntax.

That said, Javascript is readily available (a runtime in your browser), so no additional installation steps are necessarily required to start. Javascript also follows C syntax patterns which also appear in a number of other languages whereas python is a bit unusual in the way it distinguishes code blocks (using indentation).

Either will work, I think that python is a bit more straightforward for your first few programs.

Re: Is it better to learn JavaScript or Python as a first language?

#8

Post by gabrtv » Tue, Mar 27, 2012, 6:32 PM UTC

You'll ultimately want to learn both, but start with Python.

Python is the definition of a general-purpose, beginner-friendly language that can also be used for more advanced stuff. That's part of what makes Python such a good CS101 language.

JavaScript is primarily a client-side language focused on interacting with web browsers and the DOM. This is starting to change with the advent of Node.js, but I would _not_ recommend jumping straight into Node style evented-IO if it's your first language.

Re: Is it better to learn JavaScript or Python as a first language?

#9

Post by nextparadigms » Tue, Mar 27, 2012, 6:37 PM UTC

If you start with Python, try these tutorials out:

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEA1FEF17E1E5C0DA&...

Also this book:

http://learnpythonthehardway.org/book/

Javascript:

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL46F0A159EC02DF82&...

Re: Is it better to learn JavaScript or Python as a first language?

#10

Post by possibilistic » Tue, Mar 27, 2012, 6:59 PM UTC

debacle wrote: post #2

JavaScript will be more friendly to you, and will open the doors to more applied languages, including Python. If you learn Python first, you might have trouble learning other languages. Ideally, in the end it wont matter - a programmer can program in any language, but for starters I would say start with JavaScript.

Why would learning Python make it difficult to learn other languages? Just curious.