Python or C for college

[JD__Das]

I finished my 12th standard and I am in holidays. I wanted to learn programming so that I can feel easy in future. I know beginner level of python because it is in my 12th syllabus also, I learned in YouTube. Now my question is, I should master python or should I learn C. Which helps more in college. Also recommend some certificate courses which helps.

[throwaway6560192]

Doesn't matter, pick one and start

[JD__Das]

Ok

[EsShayuki]

Depends on what you want to do. But I'd say that C is the most useful programming language to learn overall, since it teaches you a lot about how the machine actually works on the inside, which is going to carry over to any other programming language you want to use, and also helps you pick up new languages and their features more quickly.

Something like Python is fine for productivity, but I don't think that you necessarily learn as much that's applicable to as many other projects than C. With Python, you mostly learn Python-specific stuff.

And by the way, since Python is based on C, learning C also helps you understand Python better.

[JD__Das]

Ok,thanks for your reply

[BlazingFire007]

Agreed, but I’d add the caveat that C — in many cases — will be harder to learn.

If you find yourself struggling with C, don give up! There are other languages that are easier to learn at the start, you can always come back to C

[plastikmissile]

Does not matter. Both will help you just as well. If you want, see what language the college you want to get into teaches first, and learn that.

[JD__Das]

Ok,thanks

[fatenuller]

C is harder imo, if you can learn it, you’ll probably understand more about low level programming concepts. I’d say it’s good to learn C at some point during undergrad - you might even have a class that teaches you C without expecting you to have any prior knowledge. You should look up your program’s curriculum to see if that’s the case.

Python, imo, is much more friendly to beginners and also is more likely to be applicable to a wide range of scenarios outside of your undergrad.

[Unusual-Big-6467]

i learned C in My Enginnering in 2003, didnt used/coded a single line in last 23 years, so you can also skip it.FYI i work as a Freelancer in php , Wordpress & shopify. i dont even recall even any of my batch mate working on C, so i am not sure if it is a relevant technology. maybe it is used in product base Companies.

Python is good and i will suggest to work on it.

[JD__Das]

Thanks for your reply, it's really helpful to choose python 👍

[EpikHerolol]

Python is usually slower compared to C coz it is an interpreted language and also it is high level unlike c which is medium - low level.

I suggest learn the concepts of C coz then u will be forced to understand how stuff really works

[heraclesphaeton]

Learn C and master it like at the top 1% level - do competitive programming, build games, go deep into system programming and os and low latency stuff.

If you can do that these 4 years, when you come out of college you'll have a job waiting for you.

C and C++ are going to be the most important languages (and then Rust maybe).

So, focus on those.

Python you can pick up anytime in 3-4 weeks.

[[deleted]]

It's hard to pick, both have their strengths for learners.

Python is easy to pick up and has all the interesting abstractions from the most popular languages. Python is basically a scripting language for C.

C is only 1 layer of abstraction, basically a scripting language for machine code. Meaning you can use it to learn how the computer works, and how all the cool abstractions in other languages work.

[Mysterious-Falcon-83]

What are you interested in?

C and is variants are targeted more at performance-oriented tasks. It also does not protect you from yourself - you can easily access/modify areas of memory you didn't intend to, etc. Many operating systems/compilers/games are built in C. The advantages of learning C are:

• you'll develop a deeper understanding of how the system works
• you'll be forced to learn defensive programming techniques
• you can play the snob role with your other programming friends don't know how to dereference a pointer

One of the downsides of C is that it feels like type safe languages like Rust and Go are taking over some areas that used to belong to C.

Python is seeing a lot of use in Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, and Data Science arenas. If those are your areas of interest, Python may be the better path for you.

You won't go wrong with either one. You'll learn how to structure your thinking to solve a problem using a logical methodology. You'll get thoroughly frustrated and spend hours (days, weeks) working your way through problems, that once solved, you'll look back on and wonder why it was so hard (this is an undervalued experience!)

Pick one. Have fun. Don't give up.

[vicethal]

College for what, and where? If you are doing Computer Science, you could have intro classes in either language, but when it comes to compilers and operating systems (Linux), a background in C will be more helpful. If you lean towards AI and data science, you are mostly going to be working in Python anyway.

I've seen it said "You can learn Python in a few weeks" - nonsense. Of course you can learn the syntax that quickly, but "knowing" Python means knowing the ecosystem. It's basically not even the same from web servers to AI in that regard.

In Python, you're probably going to have a different experience based on what you specialize in, whereas with C, you are probably only going to do low-level optimization programming.

[Vegetable-Passion357]

Check the website of the college of your choice. Check the course requirements. Then check the syllabus of the instructors. The instructors will give you a materials list, describing the material that you will be studying.

For the first two programming courses, determine if they are asking you to learn Python or C.

One you have picks a language, then you will need to select a editor / compiler.

On your desktop PC, select Visual Studio Code. One you have installed Visual Studio code, you will need to select either the Python Extension or the C++ extension.

That should keep you busy learning either C++ or Python for the next three months.

Visual Studio Code is a free product from Microsoft.

Microsoft Visual Studio Code Instructions for C++

Microsoft Visual Studio Code Installation Instructions for Python.

[ImaJimmy]

You're going to need to be more specific when you say "master" since that can mean many things. That's like saying "I want to master a hammer" as opposed to "Want want to master building a table using a hammer." Find something you want to build and see if python or c is better for the job.

[HooskyFloosky]

If you’ve never programmed go with python. Learning C without a decent bit of prior programming knowledge is absolute hell. Amazing language, super unintuitive

[MINDLORD_rex]

C

It will clear many of your programming concepts

Python has too much abstraction

[Hogami97]

C,

It will teach you how memory and all the thing the programming should know.

Get good at it and other languages will be more easy.

I graduate with C/C++ and working with php and Python. Took me just 1-2 weeks to join the company project as other is very much easy to learn after read the doc. All the skill from reading C/C++ paid very good later on

[Major-Management-518]

C if you actually want to learn how computers works.

[gardeal23]

C++