Which Programming Language Should You LEARN FIRST?

Countless times, in different groups, I have seen aspiring programmers repeatedly ask, “Which programming language should I learn first?”

Now here’s the answer to the question…

While there are a gamut of programming languages to choose from as a beginner, your choice of programming language or languages should ultimately be determined by the purpose for which you want to learn programming in the first place. Different programming goals require different tools, and each language has its strengths and unique applications.

In this post, I’ll recommend some suitable programming languages based on the following (inexhaustive) learning purposes:

1) Programming Languages for Website Development

Website development remains one of the most popular areas to get started in programming. For this purpose, some excellent programming languages to learn include:

• PHP – A server-side scripting language widely used for creating dynamic web pages.
• Python – Known for its simplicity and readability, it’s also used in web frameworks like Django and Flask.
• JavaScript – The language of the web, enabling interactive user interfaces and dynamic content.

2) Programming Languages for Mobile App Development

Building mobile applications opens the door to creating software for billions of users worldwide. Some recommended languages for this field are:

• Java – Popular for Android app development.
• JavaScript – Paired with frameworks like React Native for cross-platform development.
• Dart – The language behind Google’s Flutter framework for cross-platform apps.
• C# – Ideal for creating apps using Xamarin.
• Swift – The go-to language for iOS app development.

3) Programming Languages for Game Development

Game development is a creative and challenging field where the right tools make all the difference. Recommended languages include:

• C++ – Known for high performance and used in many game engines like Unreal Engine.
• C# – Often used with Unity for game development.
• Java – A solid choice for cross-platform games, especially for Android-based mobile games.

4) Programming Languages for Desktop App Development

Creating software for desktop platforms requires versatile and powerful languages such as:

• C++ – Offers high performance and flexibility.
• C# – A great choice for Windows desktop applications.
• Java – Cross-platform capabilities make it a solid option for desktop apps.

5) Programming Languages for Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, and Data Science

This exciting field is revolutionizing industries. Some top programming languages to learn include:

• Python – A favorite for AI and data science due to its extensive libraries like TensorFlow and Pandas.
• R – Excellent for statistical analysis and data visualization.
• Julia – Known for high performance in numerical computing tasks.

6) Programming Languages for Embedded Systems

Embedded systems programming involves working close to the hardware, making these languages essential:

• C – Known for its efficiency and control.
• C++ – Adds object-oriented features to C.
• Python – Used in prototyping and scripting tasks.
• Java – Popular for embedded device applications.

7) Programming Languages for Arduino

Arduino is an excellent platform for learning and experimenting with hardware and software:

• C
• C++

8) Programming Languages for Ethical Hacking

Ethical hacking focuses on security and requires a versatile skill set. Recommended languages include:

• JavaScript
• Python
• C#
• Visual Basics
• PHP
• Ruby, etc.

If You’re Just Starting Out…

If you’re not sure about your purpose yet and just want to dip your toes into the programming world, start by learning how to build modern responsive websites with HTML and CSS. It is the best recommended way to get your coding journey started on the right footing…

Once you’ve mastered these, you can branch out into other languages based on your chosen area of specialization.