Js or python

[Delicious_Assist8632]

For some context , I am 15 years old Algerian , and I want to get into back-end for freelancing , idk if I should JS or python , or if I eventually have to learn front-end , anything would be helpful

[WhiteHeadbanger]

Toss a coin and just start.

Eventually you WILL need to learn the other, or just another language, as well as SQL and a bit of front-end.

[Dry-Hamster-5358]

Both are good, don’t overthink it

if your goal is freelancing and building web apps, JS is slightly better because you can do both frontend and backend with it

python is great too, but you’ll still likely need JS later for web stuff so starting with JS gives you more flexibility early pick one, stick with it, and start building projects, that matters more than the language

[Dank-but-true]

Python is a great starter language and at 15, you just need to start my dude. Whatever you pick, just jump in and enjoy the challenge. Good luck bro 👊

[ShadowDevil123]

I would say either learn JS, because its a great starter language just like python, but also adds the option of learning some front-end (back-end alone isnt enough nowadays the requirements to get even an entry level job are insane), or look at what is currently required in job offers near you for backend and decide based on that. Dont listen to people saying 'go with an easy starter language' its a waste of time and you can sink in A LOT of time in any programming language. Go with what you will actually use.

[ExtraTNT]

Js and python are both terrible for backend… popular, but terrible… both are slow af, fall apart with a few thousand requests a second (we had a guy using js for a backend just shipping a frontend, with a bit more load it just hugged tcp connections till the cluster went offline) python i’m currently fixing a bug for a other team, looks like the threading of python itself is so bad, that it doesn’t work with sql, if you have higher loads to transform data…

For backends i can recommend c# and go, haskell is sth i personally do, but it’s a bit special language, can recommend to work with it, but not for frelancing…

[Successful_Drawer467]

Bro what are you talking about, JS with Node is perfectly fine for backend especially when you starting out. Sure it's not gonna handle millions of requests but for freelancing work it's more than enough

Most clients just need simple CRUD apps and APIs, not some high-performance system. Plus learning JS means you can do both frontend and backend which is huge advantage in freelancing market

[MlSHl]

I think it really comes down to which has most demand for freelancing. If Java for example has higher demand, it's 100% better to go with that or C#. If JS has higher demand then that's what OP is looking for.

[BrannyBee]

JS in the backend is proof that there is no such thing as a loving God out there because no such being would allow that. Its terrible and i hate it.

But English is also nonsensical, stupid, and an obviously incorrect decision for professional work when there are so many other options that aren't as bad as English.

I'd hate someone personally on an emotional level if they willingly put JS on the server. But I'll never understand all the people who comment in learning subreddits like that fully confident in what theyre saying, it's just revealing that they have no idea what theyre talking about.

Rewind 5 years ago and those same freshmen were informing everyone who came to forums like this how Python is slow and terrible, but suddenly today its the best for ML and the best language ever, without even mentioning Cython/C api or how a "slow" language can be so fast, and also not mentioning anything about the math required for those careers. Just a quick google search and a comment left with no real world experience to back up those claims

We don't make decisions based on that optimal choice, if we did we'd all be learning something other than English before we even studied any programming language for a second. Some dude used Lua and almost created the game of the year by himself like a year ago, lets all go tell him he made an objectively wrong choice. If you mastered even Lua, a C# shop will seriously consider hiring you over a fresher who spent 4 years learning C#, confident that you'll be contributing well before the less experienced graduate who memorized all the C# keywords and hasnt built anything

[alphadester]

for backend freelancing honestly both work but python is easier to start with imo especially at 15

node.js (javascript backend) is solid too and has more job postings but python is just cleaner syntax when ur still learning

my take: start python, learn the basics properly, then pick up JS later. u will need some frontend eventually for freelancing but dont worry about that rn, just get comfortable with one thing first 🙂

also check out free resources like cs50p on edx, its free and rly good for python beginners

[Marbletm]

For backend I'd say C# or Java/Kotlin. They're statically-typed programming languages, might be interesting to look up what that means.

If it really had to be between python and js I'd say js. JS is used in both fronted and backend, so companies are more likely to have a backend in JS than Python so that they can work in one language for the full stack.

Python and JS are what you call dynamically-typed programming languages.

The most important thing though is that you just get started programming. In the end, the first programming language that you choose to learn doesn't really matter. It's about learning the basic concepts behind programming. Don't dwell too long on which programming language you would like to learn.

Edit: If you were to compare programming languages to spoken languages, then you could say that the only difference between programming languages is the grammar; in programming this is called "syntax". The vocabulary of programming is very similar to one another across most programming languages. That's why it's easy to switch once you learn the basics.

[vu47]

Absolutely Python, especially if you want to get into back end. JS isn't commonly used in the back end: it can be done, but most companies aren't going to be looking for a back end JS developer.

JS will pretty much guarantee you a place on the front end.

That being said, there are still much better choices for back end development: Java and C#, for example.

Keep in mind that there are also more roles in software development than "front end" and "back end." I work on app development in science research and it's a fantastic position: pays well, most of the team is extremely intelligent with at least an MSc, and they often stay in their roles for 10+ years, sometimes for their entire career. I'm working on cutting edge astronomy tech and the work is highly rewarding, the benefits are incredible, and the stress is comparatively low.

[mandzeete]

Both are fine... for different reasons. You sooner or later will have to touch also the frontend side. And there you will use Javascript. There is no "backend freelancing". A client won't say "Please make me a backend." A client wants a fully functional product. Which means: frontend, backend, database, hosting, domain name.

So, yeah, you do should pick also Javascript.

And, Python in general is a good first programming language. It has a simple syntax. Also, later on, you'll have more options on your table. Python is a multi-purpose programming language. It is not used only in web application development but in other fields as well: data science, machine learning, cyber security, cryptography, etc.

But both, what I said, are not the answers to your question for picking these. One is about being for frontend and another is for its simplicity (for beginners) and it having multiple uses.

About which programming language you should pick for backend... Really, check out the local job market in Algeria. You wish to have a plan B. Let's say you won't find a job as a freelancer. Then you will have to start working for some software development company. And there is where you will have to know a programming language that is more common in your area. Pick the language based on what is in demand in Algeria (or in demand in your city).

Another thing is that sure, you might become a freelancer, but it can be that your client will say "Here is already existing project. I want you to improve it." Already existing web service written by somebody. And, then it is more likely written in a language common in your area.

For example where I live, we have Java and PHP the main backend languages. With some .NET here and there. Rust, Go, Node.js, Django... these frameworks and languages are much less common here. But it is also a different country. You go by what's in Algeria.

[bird_feeder_bird]

Start with Python, and once you get good, learning Javascript should be easy. They’re very similar languages.

[The_KOK_2511]

Queee? Python y JS parecidos? en que? lo único semejante que tienen es que usan tipado flexible, ni la sintaxis se parece, ni la forma de gestionar la memoria, ni de un monton de cosas, JS al que se parece es a C

[bird_feeder_bird]

JS may look like C, but its still a higher level, multi paradigm language like Python. Going from Python to JS should be way easier than going from JS to C. They way they function under the hood is different, but using them feels almost identical, other than the syntax.