What programming language is better to learn first, and why
Forming Technologies / / December 19, 2019
resource teacher FreeCodeCamp and popular blogger Larson Quincy (Quincy Larson) says that you need to consider when choosing a first programming language, so you do not regret it. Layfhaker publish abridged translation of his article.
Selecting the first programming language may seem the same fun as passing tests in the spirit of "How do you figure out Tarantino movie?". But before you choose the Ruby, because as a child you liked the toy with a similar name, let me remind you that the stakes are quite high.
You spend hundreds of hours of practice before you become even remotely competent in their first language. Therefore, we must first consider the following factors:
- demand for language in the labor market;
- its long-term prospects;
- how easy it is to learn the language;
- what kind of projects you can create with it.
Before I continue, let me clarify a few points. I do not feel like any programming language is objectively better than any other. I agree that the developer finally has to know several languages. I insist that to start programmer must possess good to any one of them.
And this language must be JavaScript.
According to the largest community of developers Stack Overflow Stack Overflow Developer Survey Results 2016. , JavaScript is the most popular language among all those surveyed. It is vital to create a browser of the Web sites and becoming more suitable for the development of server-side components. In addition, JavaScript quickly extended to areas such as development of games and Internet of things.
Factor №1. Labor market
If you learn programming purely out of curiosity, you can safely skip this step. But if you want to earn a living in this way, as the vast majority of students, this factor is very important for you.
Of all the programming languages in the number of vacancies in the lead Java. JavaScript must be right behind him.
But there is one important caveat. While JavaScript has been around for more than 20 years, it has only recently become a serious tool with which companies such as Netflix, Walmart and PayPal can completely design their applications.
Many employers are looking for JavaScript-developers. The latter is not even enough for the labor market.
According to the largest aggregator Indeed.com Job Java, Python, JavaScript, Ruby, PHP, Android and iOS Job Trends. For each open position Java-programmer claims 2,7 applicant. Competition for positions PHP- and iOS-developers are also quite high.
But for every JavaScript-programmer's job is only 0.6 Jobseekers necessary. In other words, demand is higher than supply.
№2 factor. Long-term prospects
JavaScript is developing faster than any other popular language. Its ecosystem supports large monetary and intellectual investments from companies such as Google, Microsoft, Facebook and Netflix.
For example, over the typescript (a special version of the language, which expands the possibilities of JavaScript) employs more than one hundred professionals, many of them receive funding from Microsoft and Google.
Such co-operation of different companies is difficult to arrange for Java development. Oracle has taken possession of the rights to the language after the purchase of Sun Microsystems, often sues organizations that want to contribute.
№3 factor. ease of study
Most developers agree to that high-level scripting languages are relatively easy. JavaScript refers to those, like Python with Ruby.
Despite this, the university is still the first thing learn languages like Java and C ++, which are much more complex.
№4 factor. What projects can be created
This JavaScript plane at altitude. It works on any device that has a browser. With JavaScript you can develop almost anything, and easy to share with other.
Community co-founder of Stack Overflow developer Jeff Atwood (Jeff Atwood) formulated the law that reflects the ubiquity of JavaScript.
Jeff AtwoodAny application that you can write in JavaScript, in the end it will be written in JavaScript.
And over time, this pattern becomes more and more accurate.
Once Java developers also promised that the ubiquity of language. You can remember of Java-applet. But Oracle has officially refused from them earlier this year.
And Python suffers from similar problems.
James Hugh game developerHow can I give the game is developed by me a friend? Better yet, is there a way to download it to your phone so that you can show it to the children at the school, so they do not have to install it?
Good will be examined in the first language. Then teach second
If you jump from one language to another, then you will not achieve success. To go beyond the basic skills, you need a good deal in the first language. A second after that will seem much easier.
Over time, you will be able to expand their knowledge and turn into fully-savvy programmer, learning other languages:
- C helps to understand the computer in terms of memory. It is also useful when working with high-performance computing.
- C ++ is perfect for game development.
- Python is great for scientific calculations and statistics.
- Java plays an important role for those who want to work on enterprise services.
But first get your hands on JavaScript.