1 article to help you understand Python and Javascript: the most suitable languages for entry-level programming

In today's era, programming is no longer the exclusive domain of information science students. More and more people are making programming language one of their skill trees through career change and self-study. Whether you want to enter the technology industry, move to a more promising field, or are simply interested in technology, learning programming is an excellent choice!
However, for beginners, how do you choose your first programming language?
This article will focus on two of the most beginner-friendly languages: Python and JavaScript.
Each of these two languages has unique advantages and a wide range of application scenarios, helping you lay a solid foundation for programming and continue to upgrade and fight monsters!

What factors should you consider before choosing a language?

When choosing your first programming language, there are several key factors that can help you decide which language to start with.
These factors will help you make the choice that best suits your needs and ensure a smoother, more effective learning process!

1. Learning objectives

What are your learning goals? This is the first thing to consider when choosing a language, because different languages have unique advantages and application scenarios in different fields.
If you are interested in data science, artificial intelligence, or automation, Python may be your best choice. It has a wide range of applications in these fields, and there are rich libraries and tools available.
If you want to focus on web development, JavaScript is undoubtedly a must-learn language because it plays a very important role in front-end development. In addition, with the development of Node.js (a tool that allows JavaScript, which was originally only used on web pages, to run on the server), JavaScript has gradually penetrated into the back-end development field, making it the first choice for full-end developers.

2. Ease of learning grammar

The ease of learning of grammar is also a very important consideration for learners who want to learn programming from scratch.
Simple and easy-to-understand syntax can reduce the difficulty of learning, allowing you to get started faster and maintain motivation to learn. Python is widely praised for its intuitive and concise syntax, because Python itself emphasizes "making the code highly readable" when designing, which is especially friendly to people who are new to programming.
The syntax of JavaScript is relatively flexible. Although it has some features that beginners need to pay attention to (such as variable promotion, implicit type conversion, etc.), overall, it is still one of the languages that is easy for beginners to master.

3. Scope of application of language

A language with a wide range of applications can help you make a difference in multiple fields and give you more flexibility in changing career trajectories. Python and JavaScript are both capable in this regard!
Python is used in almost everything, from data science to web development, to automated scripts and the most popular AI applications, Python can do almost everything! JavaScript is the cornerstone of building modern websites. Whether it is front-end or back-end, it has its place!

4. Richness of community and learning resources

Whether there is a language with a strong community and rich resources, and being able to find solutions in time when encountering problems is also important to the learning process! When you encounter difficulties, being able to easily find solutions and teaching resources will greatly improve learning efficiency. Both Python and JavaScript perform very well in this regard. Both languages have a large number of teaching resources, technical forums and developer communities to provide strong support for beginners!

Next, we will give an in-depth introduction to the two languages of Pytho and JavaScript, so keep reading!

Python: A versatile language for beginners

Why choose Python?

Python is recognized as one of the most popular programming languages today. It was designed by Guido van Rossum in 1991 to make programming simple and fun. Python's syntax design emphasizes readability and simplicity, allowing beginners to get started quickly and focus on learning the core concepts of programming without being bothered by cumbersome syntax.

One of the outstanding features of Python is its "cross-platform" feature, which means that you can run the same program code on different operating systems without making any modifications according to different environments. Provides great convenience to developers.
In addition, Python has a huge standard library that can be used in almost any field: from data analysis and machine learning to web development, system management, automated scripts, and more. Excellent convenience makes Python the language of choice for many beginners and professional developers.

Application scope of Python

Python has an extremely wide range of applications and is a veritable "all-purpose language"!
The following are the main applications of Python in different fields:

1. Data Science and Machine Learning: Python has become the tool of choice for data scientists due to its powerful mathematical and scientific computing libraries (such as NumPy, Pandas, SciPy, etc.). In addition, Python also has powerful machine learning frameworks, such as TensorFlow, Keras and PyTorch. If you want to cross into the fields of AI and machine learning in the future, you also need to learn Python syntax.
2. web development: The application of Python in web development mainly relies on two popular frameworks, Django and Flask. Django is a full-featured framework suitable for developing large websites, while Flask is more lightweight and flexible, suitable for small projects and rapid prototype development.
3. Automation and system management: Python is often used to write automation scripts because of its simple and easy-to-use syntax and rich standard library. You can use Python to easily automate various repetitive tasks such as file operations, data processing, and web crawling.
4. game development: Although Python is not a mainstream language for game development, its Pygame library provides simple and easy-to-use tools that allow beginners to easily develop 2D games.

Recommended learning resources

There are a large number of resources available for learning Python. Here are some online resources that are especially suitable for self-taught beginners:

• Python.org: Python official website, providing detailed documents and getting started guides, suitable for beginners to learn basic syntax. The official document has a clear structure and covers all aspects of Python syntax, making it suitable as the first step to lay a solid foundation.
• Codecademy Python Course: An interactive teaching platform that helps learners master the basic knowledge of Python through practical operations. Codecademy's course interface is simple and interesting, suitable for beginners.
• Python courses on Coursera:
  Coursera provides professional courses from well-known universities around the world, including basic and advanced Python applications, covering fields such as data science and machine learning. If this is your first time learning, you can find a series of courses like "Python for Everybody" to learn Python from scratch!
• RealPython: Provides a wealth of Python teaching resources, covering everything from simple grammar teaching to advanced projects, suitable for learners of all levels. Real Python's articles and teaching videos are of high quality and frequently updated, making them a good choice for in-depth learning of Python!

JavaScript: the essential language for web development

Why JavaScript?

JavaScript is another language that is very suitable for beginners to learn, especially those who want to focus on web development! JavaScript was created by Brendan Eich in 1995, originally to implement simple interactive functions in browsers. Today, JavaScript has developed into the core technology of web front-end development, and together with HTML and CSS, establishes the foundation of modern web pages.

JavaScript has a flexible syntax, powerful functions, and a wide range of applications.
It can not only be used to control the dynamic effects of web pages, but can also be run on the server side through Node.js to achieve back-end development! In addition, JavaScript has a very large ecosystem and frameworks. Whether it is front-end frameworks such as React, Vue.js, or full-end solutions such as Express.js, it provides developers with powerful tools that can be used flexibly.

Scope of application of JavaScript

JavaScript has a wide range of applications and is the backbone of modern web development. The following are the main applications of JavaScript in different fields:

1. Front-end development: JavaScript is a scripting language in browsers that makes static web pages more interactive and dynamic. By combining with HTML and CSS, JavaScript can implement functions such as animation effects, form validation, and user interaction. Popular front-end frameworks such as React, Vue.js, and Angular are based on JavaScript, and these frameworks make building complex single-page applications (SPA) more efficient.
2. backend development: With the emergence of Node.js, JavaScript is no longer limited to front-end development. Node.js allows developers to run programs on the server side using JavaScript and create back-end APIs and server applications. Express.js is one of the most popular frameworks in Node.js, providing a simple yet powerful set of tools for building web servers and handling HTTP requests.
3. Full-end development: Thanks to the application of JavaScript in the front-end and back-end, full-end developers can use the same language to implement development work from front-end to back-end. Not only does it improve development efficiency, it also reduces the learning curve and conversion costs between different languages. Many startups and small teams choose JavaScript as a full-end solution to speed up development.
4. Mobile device application development: JavaScript can also be used to develop cross-platform mobile applications through frameworks such as React Native or Ionic. These frameworks allow developers to write code in JavaScript and package it as native iOS and Android apps!

Recommended learning resources

JavaScript also has a wealth of learning resources and tools on the Internet. Here are some resources suitable for beginners:

• MDN Web Docs: This is the authoritative web development document provided by Mozilla, covering HTML, CSS and JavaScript. MDN has a clear content structure and rich examples, making it suitable for beginners to learn in depth.
• freeCodeCamp: Free full-end development course platform, covering basic JavaScript syntax, front-end framework and project implementation. freeCodeCamp also has a strong community where learners can interact with developers around the world.
• JavaScript.info: A detailed teaching website specifically for JavaScript, with systematic explanations from basic syntax to advanced concepts, suitable for beginners to learn step by step.
• The Odin Project: This website provides a comprehensive full-end development roadmap, with a special emphasis on the application of JavaScript in both front-end and back-end. The course contains a wealth of project implementations, which can help you transform theoretical knowledge into practical skills.

Conclusion: How to choose a suitable programming language?

Choosing the first programming language to learn should be based on your interests, goals, and application scenarios.
Python and JavaScript each have a wide range of application fields and rich learning resources, making them the two most suitable languages for beginners. If you are interested in data science, AI, automation, or getting started quickly, Python is an ideal choice; if you want to enter the field of web development, or become a full-end developer, then JavaScript is a must-have skill.

No matter which language you choose, the most important thing is to be able to continue learning and clearly know what your goal is in learning the program!
At the same time, you can also make a step-by-step plan (you can read this article "How to Make a Self-Study Program Plan"👉 https://www.instagram.com/p/C-0AJWcSuZ9/?img_index=1 )

Continue to practice and participate in projects. In the learning process of programming, practice and project experience are more valuable than pure theory!
I hope that after reading this article, you will have more ideas about which programming language to choose to learn. If there is any language you recommend more or want to know more about, please leave a message and tell us!