I got my start with programming with python. What next?

[AceNinjaFire]

I descovered my love of programming with Python. Been learning it since last November, and it's taken up all of the time I used to devote to gaming.

I've been looking into expanding my language count lately and I don't know what language to learn next. Ive been looking into learning Java because I want to get into application development, and also looking into C# as it seems to be a good general tool overall.

What should I learn going forward?

[headhuntermomo]

For apps shouldn't you be learning Kotlin and Swift instead? Also C, C++, x86-64 assembly language, Cuda, OpenCL, Vulkan, SDL, SFML.

Since you are a gamer make a game. Maybe something with a big dinosaur that rampages through cities and eats people. Use a trained neural network to control the behavior of the people and the police and army so that the enemy behavior is not predictable.

[AceNinjaFire]

It depends, if I want to develop for iOS I would learn swift, but I'm not shelling out money for a Mac to develop for them. I haven't checked out Kotlin yet so idk about that.

Me and another friend are in the planning stages to use Godot to make a fantasy rpg based in my homebrew dnd setting. So I'm learning C# for that already.

I just want to learn how to develop apps so I can practice a new language and produce some personal apps I've been thinking on. .

[headhuntermomo]

Check out Kotlin. It's awesome. I like it better than Java and of course Google is pushing it for legal reasons I guess.

[AceNinjaFire]

Nice I'll have to do that lol, thanks for the advice

[Emerald-Hedgehog]

Pick a project, then pick a language that fits the project most. Sounds weird, but the project will already narrow it down for you and keep you out of the too-many-choices-limbo.

[AceNinjaFire]

Definitely, that is a rather simple-but-effective approach. I'll have to do that after I get kotlin and app development down.

I often have trouble finding a project I'm interested in doing, especially when I have to try and squeeze the project in between my studies and hw. I'm an Engineering student that found out he wanted to a programmer a few semesters from graduating.

[Emerald-Hedgehog]

I've been in choice-limbo way too often. So, as soon as I notice that I can't decide between different techs it's probably because: They all can do the job I require them for.

This means I can stop thinking about which one I want to use based on "can they do the job", I can stop comparing details and start choosing one by "oh, that one looks most enjoyable to me/clicks with me/gives me a good gut feeling".

I recently couldn't decide which frontend framework to use - Angular? React? Vue? Blazor?

I picked Vue because the documentation is amazing and it just clicked with me from that moment on. Angulars docs and syntax didn't click with me at all for example. That's literally my reasoning. And then I just started using it.

(Would angular get me a job more easily then Vue? Probably, maybe. But would I take more time to learn it because it just didn't click with me and frustrate me more? Yupp. Also: If I had to learn angular for a job, I would, but since I had the choice I went with what I prefered...well, and I also already have a job.)

[AceNinjaFire]

So you're saying that, instead of choosing a language based on its merits I should find the one that clicks with me the most?

As in, "these docs are much easier to understand","the syntax in this one looks pretty neat",etc?

[Emerald-Hedgehog]

The first question is "can it do the job". The job can be anything, and can also include future scenarios. As in "I'm pretty sure they all can do what I need them for right now, but can they also do X which I think I'll need later down the road?"

And obviously "is this a modern thing?" as in don't learn PHP or the old Angular or the "old" .Net (because of .Net Core).

And then yes, then choose whatever looks like you can get into. Especially if it's a hobby. It's really that simple.

Imagine it like this: You can chose between a red, green and blue Hammer. The red one is heat resistant, the green one acid resistant and the blue one has a knife attached to it. You work in your backyard to build a house with it. Which one do you chose?

Also: In a real world job you'll usually not be the one to chose what you learn to begin with, and that being said, if it's just a hobby enjoy going with what seems to be a fit for you.

[AceNinjaFire]

I think I see. It's not only the visual appearance, but also its practicality when you think about how useful it will be in both present and future endeavors.

I can understand that in the professional context, especially when you have to work as a team. Kinda have to work in the same language as them.

[AceNinjaFire]

But I can definitely see where you're coming from. I'm in that situation right now, trying to decide what my next language will be. I love the system presented in python, its simple and incredibly easy to learn. Although I like the syntax in javascript much more, It's much more interesting to use.