How to Decide Which Programming Language to Learn

Choosing our first programming language is a dilemma most of us had gone through when we were taking our first, tentative steps on this programming journey.
Your first programming language becomes a deciding factor that shapes your impression of programming itself. And it could be the thing that convinces you to continue further or abandon learning programming completely.
So, if you are someone entirely new to programming, hoping to dip your toes in the field to see what all the buzz around it is about, you have to be extra careful when picking the first programming language.
Your reasons for learning programming could be different. You might want to learn to program as a hobby or for a personal project. Or you might be looking for a career switch or a side hustle opportunity. Which programming language should be your first could depend on these reasons too.

Therefore, we have prepared this guide for you to find your pick among 3 of the most popular programming languages in 2021. From this mixture of established and up-and-coming languages that are ready to dominate the programming world for a long time to come, you’ll be able to find a language that checks all your boxes as your first programming language.

Python 

In recent years, especially with self-learners, Python has become a leading choice among programming languages for beginners.

According to PyPL index , which analyzes Google searches for programming language tutorials, Python edges out the rest of the languages with over 10% margin.

The main reason for Python’s overwhelming popularity among beginners is its easy-to-understand syntax. As a high-level language, compared to languages like Java and C, Python’s syntax is closer to the human languages we understand. It eliminates the fluff and verbose syntax we see in other languages by including only the most necessary symbols and keywords.

For example, a simple Hello World function in Python takes only one line of code.

print("Hello World!")

While to achieve the same in C, we need to follow a syntax with more lines of code.

#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
    printf("Hello, World!");
    return 0;
}

Python supports functional, procedural, and object-oriented programming paradigms. So, mastering Python gives a student the ability to explore different ways of coding and approaching a problem.

Learning Python also gives you more freedom on deciding the path you want to take in the future as a programmer as it is used in a versatile list of programming domains.

Javascript 

Javascript is the language of the web. It’s the language supported by every major browser we see today including Chrome and Firefox. And if you dream of being a full-stack developer, knowing how to program with Javascript is necessary to build the web frontend.

This necessity of the language has made Javascript the most popular programming language among developers. If you choose Javascript as your first programming language, you can’t go wrong with the choice whether you are learning it as a hobby or looking to make a career.

Though not as simple as Python, Javascript is still quite an easy and beginner-friendly language to learn and understand. And the best part of it all? You can experiment with Javascript code right from your browser without worrying about additional tools such as IDEs.

Example of JS code execution on Chrome dev tools

If you are hoping to pursue web development, learning Javascript eliminates the need to learn a second language to build the backend of the website. Because with the introduction of Node.js a few years ago, now you can develop both the backend and frontend of the web app using Javascript.

Today, Javascript has moved beyond a language used for just web development. It’s now commonly used in mobile development and desktop app development, and even finding increased applications in data science.

So, learning Javascript won’t leave you without options to shape your future in programming.

C/C++ 

As low-level languages, C or C++ is not the easiest programming language to learn for someone entirely new to programming. Then why have we added it to the list of programming languages you should consider to be your first in this post?

Because even though C/C++ languages have a steep learning curve and have the possibility to scare you off programming for good, learning either of these languages will give you a deeper understanding of programming concepts and how programming languages work at the base level. And this will build a good foundation and allow you to become a master of this field, unlike any other language.

C and C++ are also used as their introductory programming language by many universities around the world. It’s a testament to the importance of C and C++ as beginner languages that force students to look beyond the syntax and theories to really understand what’s going on under the hood.

Nowadays, these languages are used in almost every programming domain including backend development, game development, and operating systems and browser development.

As one of the oldest yet most popular languages, C, and its object-oriented sibling, C++, have a large community willing to help you throughout the learning journey with abundant learning materials and support for your questions.

So, if you are willing to aim higher with your first programming language, C or C++ will be a good choice for you.