I would take a project you've implemented in Python and try converting it to Java. Since you already know basic programming fundamentals, it'll probably be easier if you take things you know how to do and figure out how you'd do the same sort of operations in Java (or whatever new language you want to learn).

In the end, the only way to learn to write code, is to write more code.

Answer from Erich Douglass on Stack Overflow
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/learnpython › is it bullshit: know java, easy to learn python. but not the other way around.
r/learnpython on Reddit: Is it bullshit: Know Java, easy to learn Python. But not the other way around.
August 11, 2019 -

Hello people, I am looking to learn a programming language during the summer before college. The classes I'll be taking at univerisity uses Java. However, I've been trying to learn Python on my own for around two weeks using Automate the Boring stuff and Code academy. So I am still a noob. However, I've read some posts where people say learning Java as a first language will be much better than learning Python as a first language because it is easier to transfer from Java to Python but not the other way around. Now I am conflicted in which language I should devote myself to for the rest of the summer. Please give some advice. Thanks!

Edit: Thanks to everyone who replied and who tried to help. So some said that Python allows you to skip the useless code which therefore allows you to focus more on the concepts. While some said that Java forces you to explicitly write out all the steps which teaches you more on the fundamentals. Although I will eventually be learning Python as I am interested in Machine Learning/AI I think I will be learning Java for the rest of summer until university starts simply because of the fact my classes uses Java so I was think about getting a slight head start. Once again, thank you to everyone who helped.

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Coursera
coursera.org › coursera articles › computer science and engineering › web and app development › python vs. java: which should i learn?
Python vs. Java: Which Should I Learn? | Coursera
September 12, 2025 - If you're just beginning to learn how to code, you might want to start by learning Python because many people learn it faster. It's simple and more concise, while Java has more lines of complex code.
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Blogger
javarevisited.blogspot.com › 2018 › 06 › java-vs-python-which-programming-language-to-learn-first.html
Java vs Python - Which Programming Language beginners should learn in 2025?
If you have any questions or feedback, then please drop a note. P. S. - If you already know Java Programming then you can also learn Python as your second programming language to expand your skill.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/learnpython › java after python.. possible??
r/learnpython on Reddit: Java after python.. possible??
August 8, 2022 -

I have been learning python for a year and I think I can code in python! I just need to work on projects to advance my skills. Lately I have been thinking to learn Java...so I took advice from my friends. They said I will have tough time learning Java because I have learned python before. They said I should have learned Java first and python later... maybe I messed up 😅😅

Is it true? Will it really be that difficult?😩

Python is my first language and I am thinking of learning Java now. Can I?! Please share your opinions

Thanks in advance 🤗🤗

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Sololearn
sololearn.com › en › Discuss › 1849742 › is-it-really-necessasry-to-have-knowledge-of-java-before-learning-python-
is it really necessasry to have knowledge of java before learning python ??? | Sololearn: Learn to code for FREE!
On the whole, learning Java can give you a lot of discipline when you design your data types and code structures - same is not enforced by python so if you don't care much and dont follow PEP guidelines, you can easily develop very bad coding ...
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Medium
medium.com › @d3xvn › the-beginners-dilemma-should-i-learn-java-or-python-7efed89dc5b1
The beginner’s dilemma: Should I learn Java or Python? | by Deven Joshi | Medium
November 20, 2018 - If you plan to pursue computer science/engineering, I would recommend Java first because it helps you understand the inner workings of programming as well. Doing python after Java would help you understand how it makes things easier.
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Quora
quora.com › I-already-know-Java-Can-I-learn-Python
I already know Java. Can I learn Python? - Quora
Answer (1 of 9): If you know Java then definitely you can learn Python. Python is easier than Java; it would take approx 1–2 weeks to learn Python.
Find elsewhere
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Sololearn
sololearn.com › en › Discuss › 1634607 › is-it-difficult-to-learn-java-and-python-at-the-same-time
Is it difficult to learn java and python at the same time? | Sololearn: Learn to code for FREE!
December 26, 2018 - It all depends on you buddy as in my views go with that programming language which you want to use. For ex: - if you want to become An android developer, go with Java. It is all a waste of time in learning Python. There is nothing like the thing that "you should learn this language first and this to second"...
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Quora
quora.com › How-hard-is-it-to-learn-Java-if-I-already-know-how-to-program-in-Python
How hard is it to learn Java if I already know how to program in Python? - Quora
Answer (1 of 55): This is how you declare a list of strings in Java (before 9): [code]List mylist = new ArrayList (); [/code]This is how how you declare a list of an undefined type in since Java 9 (thanks Bernard Louw for the comment) [code]List anytypeList = Collections.emptyList...
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LearnPython.com
learnpython.com › blog › java-vs-python
Should I Learn Python or Java? | LearnPython.com
December 12, 2022 - Again, it comes back to what you want to achieve – a programming language is only a tool. But remember: Python gives you more options than Java. ... Does the future belong to Java or Python?
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freeCodeCamp
forum.freecodecamp.org › t › i-am-learning-java-in-college-but-i-like-python › 252991
I am learning java in college but I like python - The freeCodeCamp Forum
January 21, 2019 - Right now I am learning Java in college but I love working with Python/Django because of its simplicity I found that I do a lot of coding in java to get very small results especially for web development. Can I study python by myself, get a degree in Java and get a job in python 😕 is there ...
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Team Treehouse
teamtreehouse.com › community › is-it-easy-to-learn-java-after-your-learned-python
Is it easy to learn java after your learned python? (Example) | Treehouse Community
February 2, 2018 - I guess it would matter on how quick of a learner you are, but I can tell you Java is a bigger beast than Python. It will most likely take you a lot longer to learn than Python did.
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GeeksforGeeks
geeksforgeeks.org › java-vs-python-which-one-should-i-learn
Java vs Python - Which One Should I Learn - GeeksforGeeks
April 11, 2025 - Choose Java if you’re interested ... high-performance applications. Choose Python if you want to work in data science, AI, machine learning, or web development with a simpler, faster development cycle....
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Hostinger
hostinger.com › home › tutorials › java vs python: which should you learn?
Java vs Python: which should you learn?
January 21, 2026 - Both languages have their strengths ... If you’re a beginner interested in learning to code, Python and its simplicity and readability may be a good place to start....
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/learnjava › is it ok to start learning java first before python?
r/learnjava on Reddit: Is it ok to start learning Java first before Python?
March 2, 2021 -

I want to learn about programming and I'm interested in Java. I've been searching Google and most of the results say that I should start with Python. Do I really need to learn Python first? I'm 14 and I want to start and learn to program once I get a new PC.

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Medium
medium.com › @trungluongquang › java-and-python-which-is-better-to-learn-first-and-why-7f4cf5618a8e
Why Java Should Be Your First Language Instead Of Python | by Bobby | Medium
March 18, 2019 - Why Java Should Be Your First Language Instead Of Python Java and Python are two of the most popular programming languages as of 2019. Both are very powerful. However, these two languages are very …
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/learnprogramming › suggestion: should i learn python or java?
r/learnprogramming on Reddit: Suggestion: should I learn python or java?
August 3, 2024 -

Hi! I'm a junior DevOps engineer and I would like to start developing backend too. I already know intermediate python and worked a little bit with django and I would like to dive deep into python and learn it well.

I asked my supervisor for his advice and he thinks that it's better for me to learn Java first. From his point of view Java is more technical and I can become a better developer by learning the fundamentals with it (like polymorphism, interfaces, data types). He considers python as an uneffective shortcut to learn bad software development practices.

At first he convinced me with his argument but then I documented myself better and I saw that even python has all of those concepts, so I feel like if I'm not lazy and l study python well I can achieve the same expertise I would get with Java.

Since I want python to be my main language I'm essentially very skeptical in using my energies in learning java from zero while I could dive deep in python and get solid with it. It's not like I only want to know python overall, but reading a book of 1600 pages like "learning python" takes time and effort and I feel like I want to make that effort on python, not java.

What do you think about it? I could really use your advice, thanks a lot in advance.

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DEV Community
dev.to › alli › what-happened-when-i-learned-java-and-python-at-the-same-time-1haa
What Happened When I Learned Java and Python at the Same Time - DEV Community
August 13, 2019 - Ahaha this is so true. If you like Python, it's hard to let it go. It also changed career course, for me personally. BTW having a Java codebase at your disposal at work should help learning Java with a combination of formal reading and tinkering :D