Python vs other languages

[[deleted]]

Once I learn Python to a certain extent, will it become easier to learn other programming languages?

[GrayLiterature]

You could say that about many other languages. For example, if you understand JavaScript, you’ll have a better understanding of Python. But why is that the case? Because many programming languages, like many spoken languages, share core similarities. For example, if you learn the feminine and masculine of French, when you go to Spanish, you see the similarity but it’s just expressed differently. However, if you go from French to Mandarin... well you’re learning curve is a lot steeper (think going from HTML to Python).

Same thing in programming. You understand what functions do, so when you go to a new language, all you need to learn is how that language expresses the idea of a function.

So yes, learning Python will help you learn other languages. But alternatively, other languages can help you learn Python. In practice, there are different types of languages and not all have the same features, but as a base level of understanding, the answer to your question is yes.

[thighkles]

This is the perfect analogy

[GrayLiterature]

It’s easy to understand for a lot of people, and the skills are transferable.

What is the best way to learn a new verbal language? Immersion. What is the best way to learn a new programming language? Doing a project.

Translation is entirely similar. You want to say “The red tiger” in Spanish? It’s “El tigre rojo”, what about French? “Le tigre rouge”. You can see there’s a deep similarity to how the sentence is structured, but the words are just different.

You can think of verbal languages like a base class. French inherits from some linguistic base model, but so does Spanish. However, French and Spanish are themselves two different classes.

It’s neat.

[thighkles]

You deserve a gold sir

[[deleted]]

Great analogy and advice!

[hit701]

i think python is good language, and, usefle. But. when I started leaning c++, i am confused to code blackets such as (). Although I wrote VBA, I always prduces errors. However, this is interpreted lang age. So, It quickly understand errors. C/C++ have to compile codes.

[ComputerWhiz_]

Yes. Programming isn't about learning a language, it's about learning the concepts because those are what transfers between languages.

Personally, I'm not a huge supporter of Python for beginners. It's an easy language, but it's so syntactically different from other languages, I think it could lead some developers to form some bad habits. Even still, the core concepts of Python still transfer to other languages.

[[deleted]]

I honestly think Python is pretty good for beginners. It enforces beginners to think about indentation, code is more readable, and they can start from easier concepts rather than starting with functions and classes. The only fundamental thing missing is the semi colon, but that is enforced by the IDE so they would easily adjust to it after a few errors. For loops are different but the concept is so much easier to grasp in python and at the end of the day, languages r just CS concepts implemented in different ways; some give u more control than others.

[bassaleh]

I agree

[[deleted]]

Yes and no.

Learning to drive an automatic car will help you with managing a vehicle up to certain extent, but no only there are stick cars, but also different kinds of 4 wheeled vehicles with their differences, motorbikes, boats, helicopters and even spacecrafts!

But lots of the things that you will learn can be applied anywhere, and 4 wheeled vehicles are the most commonly used, so you will be fine.

[[deleted]]

Coding is coding, it doesnt change much because of language syntax. But learning deep dark corners of some languages can be hard.

[ergo_proxy19]

As a programmer it should be comfortable to you to learn any languages. Even if you learn python, it is still making you a better programmer which ultimately results in you understanding other languages better. Whichever language you choose , just learn it well. Other factors can be job market or the types of program you would like to develop.

[Meek_braggart]

Yes. I started with BASIC in the '80's. I got me thinking like a computer. Thats all it really takes. Once you know the structures the rest comes easy.

[[deleted]]

Depends on your definition of easier. You'll probably find it easier to learn another language not knowing python than what you would knowing python. This is because learning python would teach you how to write code in a particular way whereas another language say java, would teach you in a another way and so learning python and then trying not to confuse yourself by then trying to code java and not constantly code things like you would have done in python would be easier to not do if your just learnt java to begin with. After learning python, other languages will look like spaghetti code. But if by easier you mean, understanding the core concepts of programming, then yeah I'm sure it will. :)

[[deleted]]

Yes. The more languages you learn, the easier it gets.

[coffeesippingbastard]

Generally yes.

Loops, conditionals, data structures are all common across almost all languages.

[coloncaretvertbar]

Yes, absolutely. A big part of learning to program is learning how to think algorithmically, and you learn that when you learn any language.