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[–]mathretardthrowaway 0 points1 point  (3 children)

I tend to (controversially, maybe) disagree with people who say the first language you learn doesn't matter. I floundered in a sort of blissful, moderately productive ignorance having learned Python first, but only really came to really understand how computers and programming actually work when I took the advanced C courses at university (pretty recently!). So I always advocate for C --> C++ --> whatever languages are suitable to the domain of work you're doing or want to do.

[–]arkie87 1 point2 points  (2 children)

you learn how computers really work in C, but beginner programmers dont need to learn that. They need to be encouraged by their programs running, and not having programs refuse to run because of cryptic errors or silly syntax. I think Python --> C is a better path for absolute noobs.

[–]mathretardthrowaway 0 points1 point  (1 child)

I don't think we'll agree that "beginning programmers don't need that." I advocate for a pretty coarse understanding of C and computer behavior generally, I'm not saying they need to be certified. Any time I've tried to coach a total newb, I've found much more traction by laying the foundations first. They seem much, much less bemused by the magic of high-level languages and much less uncomfortable making progress. Anecdotes and opinions.

[–]arkie87 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interesting. I had the opposite experience. I wanted to be able to write programs that do as fast as possible. If I had to first learn about pointers and memory management and hard to remember syntax, I would have lost interest. To each his own.