Which Programming Language Should You Learn First?

Which Programming Language Should You Learn First?

Learning to program is tough. There is no easy way. If you are starting out to learn to program, you need to be resilient, and good at starting on your own. Almost every beginner are confused on the choice of programming language. I have been asked many questions similar, and they sound like, “How Do I choose my first programming language?”

or

“Which Programming Language Should I Learn First?”

The confusion doesn’t end here…as new programmers keep asking more questions inclined to new programming languages.

To make my readers free from this trouble, I will discuss the key concepts or reasoning that should go behind choosing the first programming language.

Which Programming Language Should You Learn First?

What programming languages Should I Learn First?

The question doesn’t have one answer. Yes, you read it right.

There are multiple languages that you can pick up when starting out and it all depends on what you are looking for.

As the real saying goes, there is no reason to choose language X if that language fails to do what you want to do. Also, some languages have the capability to do almost everything you can think off — but do you need all of them on your first step?

Now, let’s rephrase the question to a better one.

What is the right choice in my learning path as a programmer?

When you deal with such questions, more ambiguity comes in. There can be so many issues that resonate from the simple question mentioned above.

Are you learning for fun? Or do you want to break into the industry?

Not everyone intends to get into the industry. There is actual fun in learning to code, and many people love programming as a hobby rather than a profession.

But, the real truth is that it is important to get to think like a programmer. And, yes a right choice of programming language can help you become better prepared for your future, and help you motivate yourself to achieve better things.

If you are looking to get started with programming, it is a good idea to sit idle and think why you want to code? A clear understanding of your needs can propel you in the right direction.

Why do You Want to Learn to Code?

Learning to code can be due to many reasons. Academically, a personal goal or to fulfill the job requirement at your dream company.

If you are inclined academically, then you would learn the language that your college or school is referring too. A reference gives you a community to harness your skill and teacher can also help you in learning some basic concepts in the early stage.

Personal goals are quite common for many learners, and this is where it gets tough which programming language to choose. For example, if you want to create a web app, you ought to learn the basics of the internet — HTML and CSS and then move on to some JavaScript and PHP.

On the other hand, if you are in mobile apps, you may want to learn Java or Objective-C.

And,

If you are preparing for the job, you ought to take few factors into account.

  1. 1. Which programming language works well in your sector. For data scientists job, learning Python or R statistical language can help immensely.
  2. 2. Also, many jobs want specialization. For example, front-end developers require a tight range of skills, a specialty of JavaScript and, what’s more, it might rely on your JavaScript skills to get the job done.
  3. 3. Does the company work on a particular framework? A wider range of competencies never hurt. Many companies want their programmers to have one language mastered and have working knowledge of other frameworks and languages.

What’s more, if you were preparing for the job. It is always better to learn from the easiest language and then learn complex ones. Also, the first language depends on which position you are applying to.

For example, if you apply to a web developer, you might need to learn all essential languages such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript and PHP/RubyonRails, Django, etc.

To keep the article as objective as possible, I will go through some potential first time programming language for your learning path.

Let’s list the most popular programming language and their usage.

  1. Python — Python is a great programming language for starting to code. It is also used in creating apps and websites. It is powerful and can be utilized for the range of purposes. Python has also suppressed Java as the primary programming language used by universities to teach programming to beginners.
  2. C/C++ — C or C++ is used to write system-specific features for speed and reliability. If you are thinking about working with Operating System, C/C++ would be an excellent choice. They are also used heavily for the purpose of creating a graphical application such as video games.
  3. HTML/CSS — Used by programmers to develop the front-end section of a website. Nowadays, HTML can also be used to create interactive games and do a lot more than just simple website layout.
  4. JavaScript — JavaScript is one of the leading scripting languages of the web. It can be used for many applications including game creation, website scripting and much more. JavaScript developers are in high demand in the industry with a well-balanced salary.
  5. SQL — If you love fiddling with the data, then SQL can be the database scripting language you need to learn.

Different job roles in an industry

When you are looking for a job in the industry, learning a single programming language will not help. Any job requires technical expertise for a different programming language with the additional skill of soft skills, problem-solving and more.

To understand the difference, we will go through the different jobs in a very broad manner.

  1. Back-end Developer: Clearly one of the leading job roles in the industry. The developer needs to learn a back-end programming language such as Python, PHP, Ruby, etc. and should have knowledge of how to maintain a website or a server.
  2. Front-End Developers: Front-end developers are inclined towards creating a user experience with exceptional design skills. They should be well-versed in HTML, CSS, and JavaScipt.
  3. Game Programmers/3D Programmers: They are well versed in game creation tools and programming language and create games for next generation consoles and PC.
  4. System Programmer: System developers work at a very low level and are proficient in programming languages such as C/C++. They create new systems and fix the old ones.

And much more. It is hard to list different job roles in the industry, but I hope you got the idea.

In the technical field, there is no end of growth as new technologies are released almost every few months. Developers need to learn at a rapid pace to stay in the game and also need to acquire new techniques whenever required. Coding jobs are challenges, and that’s why are rewarding. If you are looking to earn a handsome salary and also want a challenging job, programming is for you.

You can check other programming articles on our website.

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