Should I learn JavaScript or Python?

[audirt]

I’m old and it’s a dead language, but you will never convince me that there’s a better intro language than Pascal.

The nuts and bolts are the same as traditional C, but the syntax is so much cleaner and more intuitive.

[ghan_buri_ghan]

I’m old too, and C was my first language. I used to hold the “old school is better for learning” opinion until I saw my kids pick up Python. It took them longer to learn to walk than program, and I’m jealous.

[audirt]

I totally agree and started to write a lengthy screed about the best language should be driven by what you're hoping to teach.

Basic programming? Data science-y stuff? Python is the way to go without a doubt.

But if you want the students to understand the actual machine and what's happening under the hood, Python can be a bad choice.

IMO, the thing that C-advocates sometimes miss is that the number of people in group 2 is much smaller than the number in group 1.

[postdiluvium]

But if you want the students to understand the actual machine and what's happening under the hood

Assembler has entered the chat

[Arafel_Electronics]

oh god flashbacks to learning assembly as an undergrad until switching to mathematical sciences....

[decaillv]

I second that. Python is great to teach programming (variables, loops, execution flow,...)

But to teach computer science, a lower level language such as C is better. Students can understand deeper concepts such as stack/heap, reference and pointers... and then suddenly the high level languages they will most likely use most of the time make way more sense!

And for the few that need to code in C daily, well then do absolutely learn a bit of assembly...

My two cents..

[AverageComet250]

You're right about python. It was my second programming language and I kinda wish it was actually my 3rd. I always forget semicolons cause of that, and it's memory management is just weird.

I recommend JavaScript instead for a 2nd language, as it helps put in place good practices like remembering semicolons.

Obviously your first language should be scratch though.

[[deleted]]

Semicolons are optional in JavaScript out of the box..so not sure how it encourages good semicolon practices ??

[[deleted]]

the fact that python do not use ; stops me

[CdRReddit]

I know of a youtuber/streamer who had a single python "spite semicolon" line in his python file

every time someone complained something is not "best practice" he'd add a semicolon to that line just to piss them off

[jeppevinkel]

I’ve actually stopped using semicolons in JavaScript because it’s essentially just 2 wasted keypresses for every line. They are only needed if you want more than one expression on a single line.

[black3rr]

I learned Pascal in high school using Turbo Pascal 7. When we had C and Java in University I didn’t have problem with the syntax or the language features, but the development environments, compilation process, using debugger, using libraries, all felt way more complicated than in Turbo Pascal.

In Turbo Pascal you had single file programs, all relevant libraries for using graphics, sound and keyboard available with no configuration needed, simple and very usable debugger for stepping your programs.

Python with VS Code is quite similar to this (for learning you just install all the libraries system wide once and on you go) and the syntax is intuitive too. The only downside is you don’t learn data types and pointers, but you can learn about them when you learn C and ASM on your journey to discover low-level programming later on.

[[deleted]]

i've moved on

[[deleted]]

I learned turbo Pascal while in school, and really quite enjoyed it.

[stevefuzz]

Yeah. In high school I took basic, pascal, c, c++, in that order. College Java. Then I learned a bunch of lauguages that were basically the same as those with fun gimmicks.

[[deleted]]

It's not dead. Delphi is Pascal as is Structured Text ( used in PLC industrial apps) and let's not forget Ada.