What programming language should I learn?

May 3, 2024

Choosing a Programming Language

The best programming language to learn is any language that helps you solve problems.

Start Now, Improve Later

Focus on problem-solving rather than perfect code. As you progress, you'll naturally improve and find better solutions. Embrace this growth—it's a sign of learning.

General Advice

For Everyone: Build Something

Learn by doing. Start with simple projects like:

  • Windows: Create batch files for common tasks
  • Mac/Linux: Learn basic terminal commands

Familiarize yourself with command-line interfaces to overcome initial anxiety.

Understanding web basics (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) is valuable for building interactive websites.

For Data Analysts and Scientists

  1. Python: Widely used with extensive libraries for data analysis and machine learning
  2. R: Popular alternative, though with a smaller community
  3. SQL: Essential for database querying, complementing Python or R

For Interactive Development

JavaScript is versatile, running in browsers and on servers.

Remember, the key is to start building and solving problems, regardless of the language you choose.