There is something better than Python 🤩 (To Start)

Published in

TEK Society

3 min readFeb 23, 2021

Firstly, If you find this helpful, I will recommend you to share this with anyone who might be in a bit of confusion in choosing their first language.

Now that we have cleared that, let’s move to the discussion

Python — The obvious choice

Let me make it clear. Python is stupidly simple. It is too easy to a point, that you might end up in a trap of not being able to switch to any other language (especially type based languages like C, CPP, Java).

Even for someone without previous computer knowledge, Python is one of the obvious choices.

Things that can be done with Python

Web Development using Django or Flask
API backend with Django or Flask or the recently popular FastAPI
Trendy Machine Learning and the Hyped Artificial Intelligence

Something better for most people — Java script

JavaScript is a high-level scripting language used in browsers to bring functionality to the HTML. This is the simplest definition. But the potential of JavaScript doesn’t end there.

JavaScript is the Language of the web

Is there anything that cannot be done with JS? Maybe there is.

But there is a lot that can be done with JS.

MERN/MEAN

Mern stack and Mean stack are a few of the most popular stacks that are being used in web development for the last couple of years and their popularity can only grow from now.

MERN — MongoDB, Express, React, Node
MEAN — MongoDB, Express, Angular, Node

Typical Interview Environment

Talking about a typical interview environment, Python is widely used (in comparison with JS). Don’t get me wrong JS is also used by a good number of interviewees and interviewers. When it comes to FANG interviews they don’t care about which language you use and rather about your ability to solving the problem. Still, there might be a language-specific requirement based on the job role at times.

One thing for sure, using easier language helps in an interview environment especially when the questions are complicated. In this perspective, both Python and JavaScript stand well.

Easier Language is the language you are best at

Some companies prefer one language over the other. Most Indian companies interview in languages like C, C++, and Java. Python is used by a majority of companies nowadays. If you are trying to get a job in a startup then JavaScript might be a good fit for you.

I started with Python and do I regret it?

No. What I would have said to my younger self 2 years ago as advice for choosing my first programing language?

Learn Both.

Let me explain. Both Python and JavaScript are relatively easy to learn languages. Both do not have explicit data types. I have used python in a variety of circumstances. I have built multiple large scale websites using Django. I use Python for competitive programming. It’s been fun.

JS is just unavoidable in 2021 as a web developer. You are losing out on a vast market otherwise.

Front End: React, Angular
Back End: Express (Node runtime)
Mobile Apps: React Native

What you should/can do?

This is all it boils down to

If you want a typical job as a software engineer, go with Python combined with either C or C++ as a backup for some companies.
If you want to take the interesting route of working in a startup, JS is highly recommended. You can effectively do everything from frontend to backend and even a mobile version of the app, although this is not recommended.
If you have a business idea and you have to learn a language to code yourself. There is no doubt here… Go with JS (MERN/MEAN).

If you looking for online resources to learn these languages, just ask me in the comments and I will talk more about the best resources that are available online.

With that being said, if you liked my article above nothing stops you from subscribing to my newsletter here. I will be bringing more open-source content shortly.