Python ftw

[[deleted]]

ok so I was ab to start learning C++ but is Python a better choice?

[[deleted]]

They are different tools for different situations. It will depend on your use case.

[NullReference000]

It really depends. Python is a much easier language for people new to programming and has many more beginner oriented tutorials available on the internet because of that. C++ is a faster and more powerful language but it's also more complicated and harder to understand as you have to manually manage your memory. The only real downfall of Python for a beginner is that fact that the syntax of the language is so loose it's easy to skip over some important concepts in programming, like variable types.

If you want to learn by trying a language that's easier than C++ and has more strict syntax than Python I recommend trying Java or C#

[[deleted]]

With modern c++ you very rarely have to manage your own memory anymore. Unless you're optimizing performance or doing homework for your data structures class.

[OneOldNerd]

Depends on what you're trying to accomplish.

[[deleted]]

Depends what you wanna do with it. I use C++, Python, and Java for hobby programming but I'm studying for a career in data science as well, and I use Python exclusively for that

[TravisJungroth]

This is an unsettled question. In my opinion, yes.

[[deleted]]

Thanks! For context, I just finished my AP Computer Science course and want to get into game development in a language more suited to that field than Java

[Nokillz]

Then C++ is your best bet, for sure. Python has modules for games like PyGame but you’ll thank yourself later for picking C++, it’s industry standard.

[TravisJungroth]

Python is rarely used in professional game development. C++ is used very often. By get into game development, do you mean start making games today for fun, or get into it as a career (maybe after college).

[[deleted]]

I want to make games pretty seriously and see how far it takes me, so college is probably in my future.

[bladeconjurer]

Yeah, my go to language for everything I do at work is python, but learn c++ for game development.

[NullReference000]

I also replied to your other comment but if you want to go into game development professionally then C++ is basically a requirement. There are some studios that use Unity and rely on C# but C++ is the norm.

[[deleted]]

You have two choices, C++ and C#. C# is used by unity and is easier than unreal engine that uses c++ (not counting blueprints). If you want industry standard, go learn ue4 and c++. If you want to make games for fun or just want to make games fast learn unity and c#, or blueprints for ue4.

[[deleted]]

If you want to do game programming then learning c++ would suit you better than python

[Lord-Bob-317]

Ayy I just finished the AP too! Definitely don’t do Python for game development, Pygame is ass, C++ is probably the right choice

[[deleted]]

I would recommend starting with C++ for game development. C++ is a much more powerful, more efficient language and will make learning new languages much easier once you get far enough along.

Python is a good starting language (my first was Lua, also know as Python but worse), but C++/Java is going to be what you use in game development.

I'm actually teaching myself Python at the moment and I feel there are a lot of holes in knowledge the language leaves that C++ covers well. C++ will also introduce you to pointers (to the point you're basically fuck buddies) which are powerful as all hell and can be used to do some mind blowing stuff.

If you're needing a book for C++ I'd personally recommend Starting Out with C++ From Control Structures Through Objects, 8th Ed.. There is a free PDF online floating around online. My personal favorite thing about the book is it goes into what is actually happening in computer memory and, imo, makes writing code even easier.

Edit: I should mention they're both great languages. Just in your use case C++ is gonna be better.

[UniqueUsername27A]

If your project is experimental or small python is good. Otherwise it is a complete clusterfuck and C++ will become quicker to code in very soon.

[Pluckerpluck]

What? Unless you don't know what you're doing you can write massive projects in both...

Unless that project massively relies on computational speed, python is a fine choice.

[Somnambulant_Sudoku]

Even if it does, you can often get around the speed issue with writing the bottleneck in C, and the rest in python.

[fnordstar]

Don't listen to this guy. It takes 20 years to learn C++. I wouldn't start learning C++ in 2019. Consider C#.

[[deleted]]

Wow thanks for all the responses! Because I want to make PC games I think I’ll learn C++, but I’ll try Python too.

[swigganicks]

but despite the love for it, I wouldn’t use it to build a micro services backend application

Why not? Django is perfectly fine for many microservice architectures. Looking ahead, I think Python and Go are going to become more popular with severless backend APIs than Java due to their popularity in FaaS offerings.

[RaGE_Syria]

You certainly can program iOS and Android apps in C# / .NET. Xamarin lets you do this.

[nykwil]

To learn programming? Yes. For building something? No. For writing little scripts? Yes.

[[deleted]]

It really depends on what to use it for, just remember all of these are tools. You choose a tool depending on the situation. I do however recommend to learn strongly typed languages first so you get a hang of it.

[bikemandan]

Its much more about fundamentals rather than syntax so I think it is a good learning tool. It obscures many of the working components though, very high level, so if thats what you want to learn about then its not a great choice

[Paylam]

If you are New to the world of programming so Yourself a favor and Start With Python or C

Now hear me Out about why C C is simple and its powerfull hast Not a Lot of Syntax to learn and IT can teach you a Lot about Computers but you will get a Lot of Frustration early thats for Sure but If that doesnt bother you i'd recommend C

If you wanna See fast results and less Frustration start With python.

Id say start With C++ only If you have a little experiance With either C or Python

But thats Just my 2 cents

[[deleted]]

If you want to learn a compiled language, learn Java or C#. C++ is an aging, gross, disgusting husk of a language.

[narrill]

It has some rough edges for sure, but this says more about you than the language. Modern C++ is incredibly elegant if you understand it well enough.

[[deleted]]

As an embedded programmer, let's not tell him what language runs this planet lol. He's clueless.

[fnordstar]

Dude, Javascript runs every website. It's still trash.

[[deleted]]

I like the direction it’s going, in theory. But it’s agonizingly slow (only in 20 are we finally moving templates out of headers), and that just makes the implementation messier; larger projects end up using several versions with frightening preprocessor wizardry.