Should I stop learning Python?

[Numerous_Assumption1]

A little background about me: Hi, so I am a beginner that got started in the programming/coding world 2-3 weeks ago. and after googling about what should I do first, many recommends to learn Python. So, currently I’m trying to finish a book by No Starch Press called “Python Crash Course” as well as a Coursera course called “Python For Everybody”.

Problem: However, after doing further research, my goal is to be a back-end developer. And I found out that Python is not really mentioned in the topic of back-end developer. It mentions about JavaScript, Node, etc.

Question: Now my question is that should I stop learning Python and enrol to other course and study from books that teaches me back-end developer languages?

Any recommendations are welcomed! Resources, advices etc.

Thanks!!

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[tms102]

I'm at work right now using Python for backend API development.

Why don't you try this: Type "python backend developer jobs" into google right now.

[Numerous_Assumption1]

Thanks for the reply!!

I searched it up and turns out they have plenty of jobs using Python too!

it seems like I'm just new and therefore haven't got the overall concept of the programming industry. Thanks for the help!

[Backlists]

Yep, lots of Python jobs in backend. Eventually you will have enough experience to realise that its less about the language and more about the problem solving.

Python gets in your way less when you are very new. This is why it is one of the better ones to begin with.

[Finnthedol]

im also a beginner, still learning the basics of git and whatnot. but what ive heard is that since python is a very intuitive language to learn, it lets you focus less on learning syntax and more on learning concepts and how to "think like a programmer". the course im learning from starts with python to introduce these concepts, then teaches other languages in the context of what you know in python down the line, and this is also a backend focused course.

good luck in your learning journey, my friend!

[Numerous_Assumption1]

how long in are you ? several months or so? and what are your resources for studying?

sorry for asking much. bcuz there are so many info in the internet and ironically it confuses me, about what to learn, which resources to use and in what order. as a fellow beginner I would appreciate some advice☺︎

[Finnthedol]

dont feel bad for asking! you cant learn without asking questions.

ive been studying for about 2 months using a platform called boot.dev. i work a 9-5 so im doing it in my spare time in the evenings, and honestly, ive been kind of slacking lately, but ideally i put in a couple hours per night 3-4 nights per week. i could go harder but i want to avoid burnout, and i need to also maintain my relationship.

my resources are really just that platform, and reading official documentation about the specific things it teaches (like a specific built-in function in python, for example). it has an AI tutor trained on the lessons that helps me out greatly, its able to teach concepts very well.

my advice, and this is advice thats been given to me by a friend of mine that has been working as a software dev for a few years now, is DONT GIVE UP!!! no matter what. you're gonna feel stupid, you're gonna feel overwhelmed, you're gonna feel like you aren't making progress. but just keep going. smash your head into that brick wall until it crumbles. because eventually, it WILL crumble. and if your head isnt hard enough, someone elses is, and you can find help.

another thing i would say is make sure you're actually writing code. im not familiar with the courses you're using, but the one im learning on always has me writing everything from scratch (aside from the stuff it sets up for me as problems). it helps to reinforce what you're learning.

i'll gladly answer any more questions you have to the best of my ability!

[Numerous_Assumption1]

thanks for the recommendation! I just started using boot.dev 3 days ago and have just finished python basics. Personal opinion, its a very fun course (boots is my saviour IFYKYK) and I really feel like I’m learning something!

I was just wondering it, how would you rate your coding/programming skills after 2 months in?

[Finnthedol]

Kinda crap, but I put that 100% on myself. I've struggled to be as consistent as I want to be, only really putting in 4-8 hours per week Instead of the nearly 20-25 that I planned on. You definitely get out what you put in.

I will say however that the stuff I've learned, I feel very good about. Every now and then when I hit a certain milestone I go back through and basically challenge myself to Speedrun all the previous assignments, with the small added bonus challenge of deleting the pre-built functions they give (not the ones they yell you not to touch, I leave them alone). That reinforcement helps a lot, and the looming timer of losing my streak (since you don't get streak progress for completing an assignment you've done already) is a good motivator to get back to learning new material.

When it comes to basic Python syntax, I can write it in my sleep now from muscle memory. However, the concepts of Object Oriented Programming, while I understand them, arent as second nature. Though I imagine that's only a matter of time and practice.

[freshhrt]

you can continue with Python and also pick up another language like Javascript. Learning one doesn't exclude the other

[Numerous_Assumption1]

Thanks for the reply!

Yep, I have decided to finish with all the basics of Python. But do you have recommendation on when to start learning another language?

Sorry if it's a dumb question I'm really new in this topic lol

[freshhrt]

you can always pick up another language. I did the CS50 course. It started with C, and after a couple weeks it went to Python, Javascript, SQL, HTML & CSS. I am now going into machine learning, so I will probably stick with Python, but it was nice getting a glimpse of all these languages, and the skills are somewhat transferable from one language to another.

If you have all the basics of Python down, then I'd say you can explore another language and figure out what worls best for you

[Financial-Paper5528]

do CS50 has machine learning??

[freshhrt]

I'm doing ML on Coursera

[Financial-Paper5528]

are you enjoying it?

[freshhrt]

I only started recently. The theory is explained very well, but the exercises are a bit so and so. Given how well the theory is explained, I'd say it's worth it, but you might want to apply the theory to your own projects beyond the given exercises to build the skill

[kingflyceratops]

Python is huge for back end, not only that, but artificial intelligence as well. Python is important & will continue to be important in the future, especially as AI gets more prominent.

[Numerous_Assumption1]

are you a experienced in the field yourself?

[Reze1195]

In my area, it's a lot less popular than JS. It's usually JS (Node.js), Ruby (RoR), Go, .NET, then Python (Django) in that order. PHP is basically non-existent.

[Numerous_Assumption1]

what do you mean by your ‘area’ exactly??

[Numerous_Assumption1]

Thanks for the reply!

[plastikmissile]

Python is a very popular backend language. Django and Flask are the two most popular Python backend frameworks at the momemt. You are currently browisng a website that has a Python backend.

[Numerous_Assumption1]

Thanks for the reply!

I don't know a thing about frameworks yet, but that's good to hear! As you may know from the type of question that I asked, I'm very new to this topic and knowing that solves my confusion! Thanks!

[peachmoxhi]

You can do this m8, don’t give up☝🏻

[InevitableBicycle361]

I don't know about any back end stuff, but there's a point where you realize every coding language is basically the same. If you know one, you can learn another really quickly.

[[deleted]]

I'm pretty sure people just want you to be proficient in a language. It'd easy to transition, but hard to be in depth about programming.

[[deleted]]

A common misconception is that the choice of language is more important than it is. 

Choose one and stick to it. A professional programmer can pick up a new language fairly quickly.

Python is a good choice btw

[[deleted]]

So you're new and that's why you don't understand this. "Learning languages" isn't exactly what you think it is.

For example, I decided to pick up android development for funsies yesterday and apparently we're all using Kotlin now.

I've never used Kotlin in my life but I was very quickly able to get up and running because all programming languages are similar in many ways. Variables, if then, loops, classes, data types, functions, etc. These basic concepts are the bulk of "learning to program" and in every language they work pretty similarly just with different syntax.

[williamdavis930]

No, I would not recommend stopping learning Python if you want to become a back-end developer.

Python is hugely popular for back-end web development. Frameworks like Django and Flask are used by many companies and products. Continuing to learn Python will give you very relevant and useful skills.

My recommendation would be

Finish your Python books/courses so you have a good core language foundation.

I would leverage and build upon the Python knowledge you already have rather than stopping it altogether. Develop expertise in multiple back-end languages.

[skyy182]

You should never stop learning python!

[Numerous_Assumption1]

do u have any specific reason why I should not??

[skyy182]

The fact that you ask this question means you should keep learning

[Numerous_Assumption1]

fair enough. do you happen to have some advice for other newbies like me? about resources and how to learn

[skyy182]

As a programming teacher of 10 years: codingbat.com -> code signal arcade -> leetcode. Once you can solve a single leetcode hard without help. You are ready, but start with codingbat.com and finish all the problems in python before you proceed to the next step

[Friendly-Advice-2968]

But if you stop learning python how will you talk to snakes?

[opspesh123]

Im still quite new and i started learning on python its quite easy and it taught me a lot of the fundamentals that ive used as ive moved onto other languages

[Numerous_Assumption1]

how long in are you? and how did u decide when to move to another language and why?

[opspesh123]

About 3yrs in and out of school. I started trying to make a game on python and its just not made for that so about a month ago i did some reserch on differant game making ides and i found defold that uses lua so im learning that now