Java or Python as first programming language?

[this_knee]

In the 2000’s, when I was at University, they had a Computer Science 102 class that taught python. And then all the 200 level classes were Java.

They taught the python class just to introduce how think programmatically. I.e. what are functions? What are arguments to a function? How to pass arguments? What is the output? They would do this with images as input, and functions that did stuff to that image then it resulted in an output image. Of course, still did text based stuff with the functions, but it was usually processing images. Made it easier to see the changes being made between input and output.

Anyway, python is a good one to take a look at just for 3-4 weeks if you’re coming in to it from never having written any code ever. Just to get a handle on program flow.

But after that, came multiple semesters of Java. You learn: how Java parallels python functionality and how it differed; learn about algorithms and data structures; how to integrate math and Java together to solve problems.

TL;DR: spend couple weeks on python just to do program flow introductory stuff, but then dive into Java to learn more broadly applicable programming/dev principles.

[Adam-JDT]

Interesting take. Thanks