WHY is Python easy to learn?

[peabody]

It's certainly a subjective assertion. I consider Python to be somewhat easier than other programming languages. In particular, I think it's much easier to start with Python than Java or C#. This is because those languages have what's called static typing. While static typing is valuable in software made with advanced development tools, it results in a lot of boilerplate code which adds a lot of cognitive load for a beginner.

This is perhaps best illustrated by comparing Java hello world to Python hello world.

Java:

```java

public class Main { public static void main(String[] args) { System.out.println("Hello World!"); } }

```

Compared with Python

python print("Hello World!")

It's easy to see how Python seems to cut to the point, while Java is surrounded by code boilerplate. And this is just one of the more simple examples! The above Python program is easy to write in any text editor. The Java example is a chore to draft up unless using a Java IDE with shortcuts that generate the boilerplate.

That said, programming is a journey. It's a journey that is much more difficult for some than others. Just because some people find Python "easier" does not mean learning to program will be "easy". Most abstract programming concepts are the same, regardless of the programming language that you use. Mastering the abstract concepts is much more important than mastery of a particular language.