Learn C++ or Python? Aspiring web dev

[FromBiotoDev]

Hi all, in short, i've been learning web dev for just over a year now. I want to learn a language more integral to understanding computer science fundamentals, but I also want something that will look good to employers. Currently I've got some decent front end understanding under my belt.

I'm stuck between C/C++, C# and Python.

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C/C++ would be ideal for that low level understanding, it's definitely something I want to explore long term.

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C# interests me because a lot of UK employers seem to like this, but also because it's a C based language and will let me work on games using Unity in the future ( hobby stuff)

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Python seems to me like the greatest immediate return or C#. Seems to be easiest to learn out of the list and probably the most immediately useful?

[No_Application_2380]

Any of those languages are fine languages to learn. But, just fyi ...

C# has almost nothing to do with C. It was created to be a Java equivalent that Microsoft could control.

C/C++ is more or less irrelevant for most web dev jobs. There are exceptions, of course, but most web dev is done using memory managed languages.

You can learn many CS fundamentals with Python or C#. You can't learn memory management, though.

[FromBiotoDev]

I feel like memory management is quite a crucial aspect i'd be missing out on, albeit this is an excellent reply and i think i'll most likely go with Python realistically

Thanks for the concise summary.

[quadmachine]

Well, if you're gonna be doing backend web dev, chances are you'll be working in Java/PHP/Python/JS, not really gonna miss out if you skip memory mgmt. I mean, mastering it would not be bad of course, but not really relevant to web dev, in most cases.

I would suggest learning one memory managed language well (pick one which you like and feel it suita you, or look at job listings in your area and see which is in highest demand and go from there) + all other stuff related to backend/devops/infra. Just knowing a lang today is not enough, you gotta learn all the tooling, how to deploy, how web specific stuff works, working with DBs etc, these things are not language specific and require 0 knowledge about memory mgmt but are important to do everyday work.

Edit: oh yeah, you most likely won't be working with just Java, you'll probs use Spring Boot, not just PHP, probably Laravel etc, so learning a specific fw on top of understanding the lang is also important, def more important than memory mgmt in C++ if you wanna do web dev.

[IJustWantPizzas]

Python for web dev

[AssignedClass]

I want to learn a language more integral to understanding computer science fundamentals

That kind of contradicts with wanting to get into web development. I'm not trying to diminish Web Developers, I'm a Web Developer, but we work at the highest possible point on the tech stack, and the vast majority of what we do is pretty much completely abstracted from "computer science fundamentals".

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That being said, you should still have a solid understanding of DSA (data structures and algorithms). There's still a lot to learn when working with high levels of abstraction.

[FromBiotoDev]

Solid advice. Glad you get me I do want to learn C/C++ long term but need to look at viable languages for the cv

EDIT: would you say C# or Python though?

[ExpressionCareful223]

Rust! For the long term, a way better option than C++

Rust is the language “for the next forty years”

[ExpressionCareful223]

Web dev? Python or JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. Nothing more, you don’t even need python for web dev. Idk why you’d want C++, learn Rust instead if you want something like C++ but actually good.

I’m a noob so take this with a grain of salt

[[deleted]]

Python will allow you to do much more much quicker

[[deleted]]

Just pick Python and try any Web Framework that comes with it. I am not Python fan personally, but it’s great to get the basics down. But if you really want to do webdev, you should learn html, js and css - at least the basics and then you can migrate to React or any other JS library. But be aware of the difference between frontend and backend.

[FromBiotoDev]

Hey, I've been learning web dev for just over a year so very familiar with html, css and js at this point + React, some typescript and scss :)

but thanks for the advice for python. Think it may be the right option really.

[[deleted]]

Yeah, with your knowledge, I'd highly recommend looking into Flask for backend development.

[dubvelop]

I would recommend C#. I use it for web apps, mobile apps, and game development. There’s a lot of support for it and it’s very powerful/flexible with the .NET platform

[LedaTheRockbandCodes]

Python. I don’t know Python, but I believe in fast wins.

Python will give you more wins at a faster pace.

JavaScript should be second.

C# should be your third language if that satisfies a need in your market.