JavaScript doesn't have more uses than Python. Both can be used for pretty much anything and I'd argue there's more use cases Python is better suited for than vice versa. I'd say if you're going for web development, use JavaScript. If you're going for anything else, use Python. Except if you specifically want to write for OS stuff or embedded systems. At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter which language you choose to learn first. Answer from Jnsjknn on reddit.com
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/learnprogramming › why do people recommend python and java instead of javascript as a beginner language?
r/learnprogramming on Reddit: Why do people recommend python and java instead of JavaScript as a beginner language?
September 19, 2022 -

When I picked up programming I started with Python but now mainly use Java. I want to do frontend so I just recently started learning JavaScript. Before I thought JavaScript was a language for frontend only, but now I realized that it could be used for backend and I'm thinking why don't people recommend JavaScript since it has the same concepts as Python and Java but it has more uses?

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Reddit
reddit.com › r/learnprogramming › javascript vs java vs python
r/learnprogramming on Reddit: Javascript vs Java vs Python
March 7, 2014 -

I've spent a decent amount of time learning Javascript and have a pretty good understanding of the core concepts of it. I had no programming background so it helped me learn about loops, if/else statements, switch statements, etc. I have some questions as I consider whether to move further with it that I was hoping you all could help with. I am trying to decide whether I want to continue further with Javascript or switch to learning Java or Python.

Is Javascript used for anything outside of the browser? One of my concerns when it comes to learning Javascript is that I don't do web development. I know HTML/CSS but I don't create websites so I sometimes worry about the practicality of learning Javascript if I don't plan on creating websites.

What are Java and Python most used for? First off, I know Java and Javascript have nothing in common. Java and Python can both be used as a server-side scripting language and Java is used for Android OS development. Part of what interests me about Java is app development, as well as the fact that it allows me to create standalone desktop programs. What else can be done with these two? What are they most used for in the corporate world?

I work in IT but am pursuing Engineering classes for a degree in Mechanical Engineering. I'm trying to find a language to work on that would both benefit me professionally as well as personally. As I mentioned, I am definitely interested in learning to create apps at some point but also creating fun little computer games and useful programs.

I'm sorry if this is a dumb question but learning to program takes a lot of commitment and effort and if I'm going to devote time to learning, I want to make sure I'm learning a useful language as well in addition to the core concepts.

Thanks!

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If you'd like to continue programming, I'd definitely suggest learning:

  • at least one (relatively) strongly typed, OO language. Java and python are good examples.

  • at least dabble in some sort of functional language.

The problem with JS is that it lets you get away with shit that would melt a compiler in any other language and usually leads to bad practices. I'm always weary of programmers that list Javascript as either their main language or the one that they learned on.

To answer your question, JS is moving into the server side of things with things like Node.js which is gaining popularity as of late. However, both Java and Python are much more versatile than JS. You can do just about whatever you want in either of those two (including writing client code if you count frameworks that compile to JS. GWT for instance.).

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Java has similar syntax to the c language which means that once you know how it works, you're well on your way to c++ and c#. My intro to c++ class was lame because it didn't move passed things that were more or less the same as Java. I coulda gotten that far with it in a weekend.

JavaScript follows that syntax to some extent so Java should feel somewhat familiar. And since you want to make apps, I think java is a no brainer. Get a book on java and get a good grasp of it, then start learning android. You even use the same tools for both. Eclipse is a great ide for java and Google has a custom version for making apps.

Python is cool too, though. Once you learn java, picking up python is really easy. You'll find the algorithms and data structures for all object oriented languages are basically the same and once you learn one, picking up others is trivial. This is sorta an over simplification, but its definitely true between java and python.

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Reddit
reddit.com › r/learnpython › javascript or python
r/learnpython on Reddit: JavaScript or Python
July 10, 2024 -

Hi, I'm 17 right now and currently wasting a lot of my time so thought of getting into coding. I did some research and came to a conclusion that most recommend either javascript or python as their first language.

I have a very basic foundation in C, like very basic so wondering which one would be more useful to learn first. I'm thinking of giving both js and python a week or a month and then decide which one I'll study further. Would this be a good idea or a waste of time?

I'm choosing js because of web development and python since many said it's easy to understand and won't take much time to learn. I don't exactly have a goal to pursue either web development or any js things OR the machine learning, data science thing from python which is the reason i thought of learning both for a week or month to figure out what I would be suited for most. But I plan to get a job on this related firled quick. Thank You.

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Reddit
reddit.com › r/learnprogramming › should i switch from javascript to python
r/learnprogramming on Reddit: Should I switch from JavaScript to python
March 19, 2023 -

I stayed away from python at first since I wanted to build cool stuff immediately but as a programming beginner the mingling syntax between js, html and css just frustrates me and I can’t make a lot of progress quickly.

I’m wondering if switching to python would be a good move since I’m studying engineering and I won’t have that frustrating part of not knowing the syntax for three different things.

Just focus on one program and build it correctly you know.

Thanks for reading.

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I’d recommend not learning Python and sticking with HTML/CSS/JavaScript - why? The web is king, if you want to share what you build, you use the web. JavaScript is the only programming language you can use for the frontend. Yes there is more to learn, but it is so rewarding once the pieces start falling together. You can get so much done with just the basics of CSS once you understand Flexbox and/or Grid. HTML is so easy you can learn it in a few hours. What do you want to build? I’d only bother with Python if I was exploring Machine Learning, Statistics, data structures and algorithms, or I wanted to create APIs with Flask/FastAPI. Python is crap for gaming, GUIs, and definitely not first choice for a backend language. Python is a great second language to know, it is a great support language and data language, it’s a great beginner language, but it’s not the best language for almost anything except data. If you just want to build local things for yourself sure it’s a good choice and easy to get started. I say all this as someone who started my programming journey with Python as my first language for about 2 years, before branching out. Really think about what you want to build and choose a language based off that, rather than choosing what’s “easy”
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Why switch use both? I use JavaScript for web apps and compile them with Vite. For web services I use Python and FastAPI. It is a great combination. Python is also great for talking to hardware. I am using Python on a project to communicate to a NFC reader. Bosses also like it if you can show competency in several languages. I feel like it definitely helped my career.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/learnprogramming › the differences and similarities between javascript and python
r/learnprogramming on Reddit: The differences and similarities between JavaScript and Python
September 15, 2022 - A big difference between javascript and python is that javascript uses a non blocking callback design, where python is blocking by default. ... There isn't a need for double underscore in JS.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/learnprogramming › python or js for my first language?
r/learnprogramming on Reddit: Python or JS for my first language?
August 16, 2024 -

I am so confused. My friend recommended I start with JS, so I went online for some resources and had half of the people recommend Python while the rest recommended JS

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if you're finding mixed opinions, then it doesn't matter, just get started
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In order: If you're learning your first language, it doesn't really matter what it is so much as that you learn coding principles. You don't need to learn Python until it's "done" because you will never be "done" and you might find that once you know a bit of one, there are things that attract you to another. It depends what you want to do with it. Although there's little stopping you from doing anything with either at this point, Python is used more frequently for data work and JS more naturally for web development. So if this is for employment, look at the sort of jobs you're thinking of and see where the priorities are. Or ask here. When it comes to coding languages there exists the concept of language communities. That is to say, when you go online and ask a question, what is the manner of response you would expect? In general, software engineers and developers are very helpful people, but not always able to articulate that helpfulness. Python (and Ruby) are generally well-regarded as having more helpful online communities than Javascript (and certainly more than C, or C++, which can be quite caustic). For many people - but not all people - Python's (and Ruby's) focus on indentation and ability to function with English-like syntax makes them feel easier to read. This is entirely personal preference, but it helps a lot of people in the early stages. A lot of programmers talk about programming "religion." That is to say, a lot of what individuals say as fact is really just a reflection of the teachings they received, their own pathway, and how this informs their preferences and prejudices. When people tell you that "Python is better than JS" you should take this with a truckload of salt, because all they're really saying is "I feel like Python is better than JS based on my own pathway." Javascript is a silly language that might as well arrive in a clown car.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/learnprogramming › should i learn python, javascript or java first?
r/learnprogramming on Reddit: Should I learn python, javascript or java first?
May 3, 2023 -

I am very conflicted. I know a small bit of python and javascript (as in the only thing I can do is print things like hello world in them) but I have seen many videos about learning java's basics in 15, 14, even 10 minutes.

I should probably say my reasons for leaving it though as that will affect this quite a bit. I wanna make a website and small applications and some games but I want to learn the basics in a video shorter than 11 hours.

At the end of the road I wanna be able to make a small operating system that contains its own code app, a custom Web browser, settings, built-in games, a messaging/calling app, video player, files app, and all the other things a good operating system has.

So, which language should I code in?

Edit: I have had a change of mind, im learning binary first.

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I have seen many videos about learning java's basics in 15, 14, even 10 minutes. LOL. They at utmost give you the basic vocabulary, but they cannot teach you programming. but I want to learn the basics in a video shorter than 11 hours. Ahem... that's illusional. You fall for the common misconception of conflating learning programming languages with learning programming. The former is the easy part as it is only very limited vocabulary and grammar. The latter is the difficult, time and work intensive part as it is learning to analyse and dissect problems to develop minuscule detailed algorithmic step-by-step solutions that then can be implemented in a programming language. The MOOC Java Programming from the University of Helsinki is a beginner course in 14 parts (each part is considered a week) where the total time investment is upward of 70 hours - and that's just the basics. Similar, the MOOC Python Programming 2023 from the same University. Both are beginner courses. Also, you don't learn by watching videos. You learn through active programming. At the end of the road I wanna be able to make a small operating system that contains its own code app, a custom Web browser, settings, built-in games, a messaging/calling app, video player, files app, and all the other things a good operating system has. That's a huge untertaking that will take several years to complete even in the most basic state. See TempleOS . If your final goal is an OS, there won't be a way around C++ in the long range as you need to be able to directly access the hardware. None of the languages you have listed will be directly applicable to your goal.
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Wrong languages for making an OS and making an OS it's the wrong activity to learn programming.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/learnprogramming › should i learn javascript or python?
r/learnprogramming on Reddit: Should I learn Javascript or Python?
December 5, 2023 -

I'm fairly new to programming. I know the basics of both Python and JS. I want to learn one of the two languages (fully with online material and by myself) in depth. My future goal is to work for a company to earn further experience. What would you guys recommend? What is most needed in the market? What will give me better job opportunities? Do you know any good online resources I could use? Any tips would be great.

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One thing to consider is that neither one by itself is sufficient to get a job. If you pick JavaScript, then realistically 95% of jobs are going to expect you to have frontend development skills, meaning you'll need to also know how to use HTML and CSS, and probably a frontend framework like React. If the job is backend or full-stack you'd need to know Node.js, but you'd likely be expected to have some frontend familiarity too. The last common possibility is building mobile apps with React Native, but some basic HTML, CSS, and Node.js skills would still be assumed. So if you go that route, plan on learning the full web stack and then focusing on either frontend, backend, or full-stack. On the other hand if you pick Python, then there's a bit more diversity: Some Python jobs are web backend, so you'd be expected to know one or more Python frameworks like Flask, Django, or FastAPI plus one or more databases, and in general how to host and deploy applications. Other Python jobs have to do with big data analysis, machine learning, or other number-crunching. For those jobs you'd need to be strong with pandas, numpy, pytorch, Jupyter notebooks, and in general you'd have to be strong in advanced math including linear algebra, probability & statistics. There are also sysadmin / infra / DevOps jobs that require general Linux skills, with some scripting and automation using Python. Finally, keep this in mind: while all of those areas are different, the core programming skills are the same. So if you're still a beginner now, then whatever language you learn will be beneficial, even if you change your mind later. So hopefully this helps you pick an initial direction, but don't worry if you change your mind later.
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I would say JavaScript, since you can learn full stack web development with JS. I would look into a full stack web development course rather than just a JS course. You'll learn JS and more in a full stack web dev course.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/learnprogramming › should i learn python or javascript for backend development?
r/learnprogramming on Reddit: Should I learn Python or JavaScript for backend development?
July 21, 2025 -

Hey everyone,
I’m a beginner in programming. I'm confused about whether to go with Python (Flask/Django) or JavaScript (Node.js) for backend development.

Here’s some context:

  • I’m also learning front-end (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript).

  • I want to build full-stack web apps.

  • I enjoy Python’s simplicity, but I’m also okay learning JavaScript properly.

  • Long term, I might also be interested in data science or AI (so Python would help there).

Can you guys share what worked best for you, or which path makes more sense for someone starting out?
Any tips, resources, or personal experiences would be really helpful!

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Reddit
reddit.com › r/programmerhumor › should i learn javascript or python?
r/ProgrammerHumor on Reddit: Should I learn JavaScript or Python?
February 19, 2022 - I'd say python. It has some oddities but Javascript is kinda a shit show in what it allows so although JS is good to know, I wouldn't recommend starting with it. If you want something like JS to start with, I recommend Java or C#
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/learnprogramming › java vs python vs c++
r/learnprogramming on Reddit: Java vs python vs C++
May 23, 2023 -

Hey y'all, I'll be needing to choose either one of Java, python, c++ or web programming for my second semester in electronics and communications but i have no idea where to start from

I've learnt all the basics of c programming in my first semester and i have to choose between the above mentioned for the second semester and it's really rattling my brain

Which of them would be better for a beginner to programming language and which would be most helpful in the future, if you'd have to say?

Thanks in advance!

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All of those languages are useful in different situations. Python's very popular with scientists, ML engineers, and the like. Non-programmers who need to write programs love it because it's approachable and has a plugin for basically anything. It's my favorite language for writing tiny, one-off programs and doing hackathons and coding competitions and stuff. Java's the workhorse of the corporate world. If you're writing a giant application full of business logic for a big corporation, and you're gonna maintain it for two decades, Java's still the default choice. C++ is the most powerful option. If you need something to go as fast as it can go, C++ is your default choice. But whole types of bugs around stuff like memory that are basically impossible to cause in Python or Java are really easy to cause in C++, and its error messages aren't so much legible as they arSegmentation Fault (core dumped). You can go far with any of them, and there's a good chance you'll end up learning all three at some point.
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Love Python, but I’m in the “it’s better as your 2nd/3rd language” camp. The others are ‘harder’ and force you to gain a deeper understanding. Then you can pickup Python super easy. “Oh hey, it basically works the same but just does all the fiddly bits for me”. But you would know what those fiddly bits are, and can check the docs and be certain that behind the curtain it really is doing what you think it is. People who do it the other way around seem to have it harder, they don’t know how much Python is doing for them, why, or that it even is.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/learnprogramming › if my goal is to learn both python and javascript, which one should i start with?
r/learnprogramming on Reddit: If my goal is to learn both python and Javascript, which one should I start with?
December 13, 2023 -

I hate my career field, and long term I'd like to do something in programming. Web development seems much more in demand which pushes me to learn Javascript first, but I keep seeing learning python recommended to beginners. Long term though, I'd like to be able to do full stack web development and also small personal applications on the side, and most job listings I see want some amount of literacy in both languages. I've heard from both sides "if you learn python first you can pick up bad habits" and "if you learn Javascript first you can pick up bad habits" so I'm not really sure where to go from here.

Also, if Javascript I was going to go the route of The Odin Project. Is there something similar for learning Python?

Thanks!