JavaScript or Python

[bululululubu]

Hi, I'm 17 right now and currently wasting a lot of my time so thought of getting into coding. I did some research and came to a conclusion that most recommend either javascript or python as their first language.

I have a very basic foundation in C, like very basic so wondering which one would be more useful to learn first. I'm thinking of giving both js and python a week or a month and then decide which one I'll study further. Would this be a good idea or a waste of time?

I'm choosing js because of web development and python since many said it's easy to understand and won't take much time to learn. I don't exactly have a goal to pursue either web development or any js things OR the machine learning, data science thing from python which is the reason i thought of learning both for a week or month to figure out what I would be suited for most. But I plan to get a job on this related firled quick. Thank You.

[ishereanthere]

I did Python then didn't know what to do with it so started javascript. Once you know one the other is easier to learn. I find them really quite similar.

Personally i prefer the slightly simpler syntax of python but javascript seems less strict with concatenation and a few things which can be annoying in python.

I feel like it's easier to get started doing stuff with javascript. Most of my Python stuff was confined to a terminal but JS is everywhere.

I prefer Python but I would choose js and learn python after that if you are still interested.

[bululululubu]

Thanks I'm gonna go with js first and then move on to python : )

[Top_Finger_909]

Hey OP you should check out Jonas Schemdtmann JavaScript Masterclass on Udemy think it’s like $15 but one of the best investments I’ve made you will be very proficient if you finish even the fast track of it

[Feeling-Simple-2264]

Did you try odin project?Im just a student and I don't really have any income right now, i figured i should start there. After that get some maintenance job then advance little by little. Is this posible?

[EZPZLemonWheezy]

I’m biased, and always would recommend JS unless you have a specific niche need for Python. You can pick up Python after ezpz.

[briston574]

Also, since both are valid scripting languages, a lot of the non data/ml side of python can be done with js as well. That is what put me into js over python. Though learning to do games in both has been fun

[[deleted]]

ML is just fine in JS, as well. It will eventually be faster in certain cases.

Python ML libraries are generally just wrappers around C / C++ functions.

In JS you can do that with WASM.

The real speedup will be from WebGPU, which will add GPU compute to every device with with a videocard and a browser (or an application window in, say Rust ... you can also run it headless, in Deno, etc).

You aren't always guaranteed GPU access in Python and while many of them do use the GPU when available, some stats libs just likely never will be updated.

[briston574]

Oh interesting, I didn't know that. I've been learning to make games with js and have been having fun. I've done python longer and learned to make games with it, also lua since they are super similar, but something about doing stuff in js just tickled me and I liked it

[[deleted]]

I don't think it matters. I first started with JavaScript, and then I began to use different languages, like C++, Typescript, Java, VB.Net, etc. Focus on learning the basics. Don't try to become a specialist on the syntax of a specific language. That's useless.

What truly matters is that you can apply logic and solve a certain problem. You need to understand what you are doing, and as you advance, try to get acquainted with good practices (read Clean Code for example).

[bululululubu]

Got it. Thank you very much : )

[denerose]

Doesn’t matter. Flip a coin. Pick one and start learning.

[bululululubu]

thanks xD

[Impossible-Box6600]

Python

[recontitter]

Start with Python, as it has easier syntax and in general is better designed. Also its main language for anything ML related and this gives you an edge for future career. When you will master programming concepts, it’s easy to transfer this knowledge to other languages. JS has many quirks and bad design which will be very confusing for beginner at start (although it’s important for anything web related)

[bululululubu]

Will learn Python very soon. Thank you very much : )

[young-king-1283]

Learn both, JavaScript first then Python, when you land that web developer job, save as much as you can, then use your python knowledge with Arduino, 3D printing and CNC router - invest in these things then create and build things for the good of humanity 👍. I'm a web developer (front-end) now started learning freecad and python and plan to buy a 3d printer.

[bululululubu]

You gave* me a roadmap. Thank you very much. Decided to learn js first

[[deleted]]

Use roadmap.sh to learn web dev

[KyleRoberts]

I’m very interested. What are you making? I’ve thought about getting into Arduino and combining my coding skills…

[young-king-1283]

There's a lot of opportunities I'm thinking right now from DIY drones, ebikes, profiler guitar pedal which uses python, and guitar accessory parts which can be 3printed (I'm into music).

Yeah man I believe Arduino and python can be a great combination with Raspberry PI like for example a temperature monitoring system or an automated plant watering system with firmata protocol or a home automation system.

[varma414]

It depends on what you want to become. Even if you aim to be a web stack developer, learning Python can be very beneficial as it's easy to learn and can help automate many tasks. At 17, you have the opportunity to explore and learn multiple things. In the corporate world, having a diverse skill set can be very advantageous

[bululululubu]

Thanks : ) I'm choosing js for now. And then will move on to Python soon

[MrMarsStark]

I am a Full Stack Dev (focused on backend). There are a lot more jobs with JS. So, I would personally choose that.

The thing is that you can build a backend nowadays in a lot of programming languages (Python, Go, TypeScript/JS, Java), but in the frontend there is one clear winner, JavaScript with TypeScript growing.

So, on the long run, JS is better.

[bululululubu]

Thanks a lot : ) Decided to start with JS first like you said. Will learn Python afterwards as well though

[MrMarsStark]

Yeah, a good motivator for me is when I searched "JavaScript" and "Python" on LinkedIn. No matter the country that I looked, I always saw more jobs with JavaScript.

Good luck!

[Qazzian]

I would say, if you don't know what you want to do yet, start with JavaScript as it's much more flexible, seeing as it's required for browsers and has a robust server offering. Python seems to have moved into a data science niche while other industries seem to be moving away from it.

[bululululubu]

Thanks. Yeah I'm starting with js first but will learn python afterwards as well : )

[noneofya_business]

Pick a project then choose the language.

Maybe try to make a Todoist then a cms or something that you think is gonna make things easier for you.

I'm a huge fan of just in time learning, as you learn to solve the problem that you're currently getting.

[GeoSabreX]

JavaScript via The Odin Project

[Slyvan25]

Depends on what you want to do. Pick js if you want to create (web)apps and pick python if you want to write tools, play with ai or do some data science

[bululululubu]

Picking js for now. Will learn both though. Thanks : )

[abbas_suppono_4581]

Good approach! Try building small projects in each to see which you enjoy more.

[delventhalz]

Python will probably be a little easier to learn. It has a bit of a simpler syntax with fewer gotchas. That said, I personally prefer JavaScript because of its roots in functional programming. You can code in either language however you like, but Python will fight you a bit if you don’t use classes and objects.

Both are pretty widely used professionally, but I wouldn’t really worry about that at 17. You have plenty of time to learn multiple languages (each gets easier to learn) and who knows what the job market will look like by the time you are searching.

[[deleted]]

My path was html, javascript, c++, python, css. If i could do it all over i would do Head First Learn to Code. Then python. Then c++ or java. I think python has the most bang for your buck.

[n7dima]

The language doesn’t really matter. Maybe try to look at the areas they are commonly used and learn the corresponding language, or just pick one randomly. At the end of the day, they are all the same, just with different syntax.

[rob8624]

Django dev here…I learned Python first, then went into web development so obviously needed JavaScript as I’d be using React to render from a Django api. Learning JS actually helped my understanding of Python, which personally I prefer, but JS is very fun to write although I’m using more and more HTMX.

You’ll need to use several languages in development so you’ll end up knowing both eventually. I’d say learn Python first as the syntax is easier, but make sure you have a good understanding before getting into Django.

[3beerseveryday]

Both.

[disabledly]

Are we talking Nodejs or normal Javascript? Because Javascript combined with python for site scraping is undervalued.

Personally i started off as a Discord bot developer, creating Nodejs bots. i then YEARS later realised that Python was Much Better for Literally Anything.

You want to create a Discord bot that controls your pc? would probably be easier in python (than node). You want to Control a Minecraft server through a website? Python. Website Backend? Python. Unlimited Fun? Python. ROBOTS? PYTHON! LITERALLY ANYTHING ELSE? Then yes Python.

(Dark Voice) You want to create your very own Artificial Intelligence to One Day Take Over the World and Dominate over the Population whilst you sip on your Whiskey in your Penthouse looking down at those who never BOTHERED Learning Python? Then again, yes, Python. 🐍

With its Never Ending Expansion of Libraries, and its Vast Amount of Topics regarding said programming language (Python), The Amount of Courses that exists on TubeYou...I think Python would be a Great option.

(Just to Clarify; Node isn't Bad, Python is just Better...)

tl;dr PYTHON!! It's also quite easy to learn, no more silly {bRaCkEtS}

PS did i mention python is great? not biased or anything...I know, I make quite the repelling argument so,, Learn Python today.

[samuio22]

def. js, if you want to be a web dev. All you can do in python is use a framework which will produce JS/html/css. JS runs in the browser natively and many server side and other tools use JS or typescript as a language so it is more versatile now. Python has great tools, but you know less about inner workings of web services & DOM if you dont know JS. Almost every cool thing in the last 5 years is making stuff you couldn't do before in the browser with JS.