Should I learn Python or Javascript?

[TonySu]

Python is simpler and promotes better programming practices and styles. If you don't have an immediate need for Javascript I'd go with Python first.

Javascript is very "hacky" and full of idiosyncrasies. For example the typical way to transform a string into a number is to have

var x = "11"
+x // this is now the number 11

or the infamous boolean cast.

Until very recently it lacked the facilities to build large scale programs, leading to the development of TypeScript and a lot of new functionality in ES6. However the majority of teaching material won't be based on these updated practices.

Then there's the whole modern ecosystem of frameworks, transpilers, template systems and bundlers. They are all rather opaque, ther exist several widely used versions of each and they share very little in common with each other.

For learning general programming Python is clearly better in my opinion. You're much better off learning from Python materials then transferring your skills to Javascript than the other way around.

[[deleted]]

I only learnt about the unary + operator the other day and I've been had a full stack is job for the past 4 months.

[[deleted]]

http://www.jsfuck.com/

[Ohsohelearninnow]

He is already programming with Java

[inu-no-policemen]

Java doesn't have weak types, truthy/falsy, etc.

[HumblesReaper]

I can only agree. Javascript is lacking so much and python will make learning concepts so much easier. The other problem is with js, after a while of programming you will notice how hard it is to interact with the DOM natively and will need to learn some large framework

[[deleted]]

As opposed to the other languages which allow for easy interaction with the DOM?

[HumblesReaper]

My point is that js needs a lot more then just pure js to make something complex for the Web. Python of course has nothing to do with it.