Debate: Should beginners learn Python or JavaScript first?

I've been coding for about 6 months now, and I keep going back and forth on this. Last week, a friend who builds websites told me JavaScript is the only way to go because you can see results right away in a browser. But 3 years ago, when I first asked around, everyone said Python because it's simpler to read and good for getting logic down. I spent a whole month on Python tutorials and built a tiny calculator app, but I felt like I wasn't making anything real. Then I switched to JavaScript and made a basic to-do list in an afternoon, which felt awesome. On the other hand, Python got me thinking about loops and functions without all the weird syntax of curly braces. So which side do you lean on for someone brand new, and why?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_michael1mo ago

Respectfully disagree @grant.richard, Python first builds better habits.

grant.richard1mo ago

Have you tried sticking with JavaScript for the first three months and then circling back to Python? That way you get the instant gratification to keep you hooked, but you still learn the fundamentals later.