I’ve heard that it’s best to do HTML & CSS first, and then learn JavaScript. Not sure if that’s right or not. In what order should I learn the different coding languages? Is it necessary to learn SQL?
I’m wanting to become a software developer in a couple years, so I’m wanting to learn languages that will give me a good opportunity at getting a good software developer job.
I'm surprised no one has asked what it is you would like to specialise in? Are you wanting to go into front end or back end or full stack? A front end developer creates the interface that the user interacts with. A back end developer handles the back interactions when that button is clicked, like retreiving from a database and the logic you do not see etc. Full stack is both.
Further more, do you want to head into web development, Android/Apple app development, or general application development? Of what I have seen personally on my Linked In, most industries are looking for someone who can make or utilise RESTful applications which kinda fits into all the categories at the start of this paragraph. Usually, in a RESTful type system, you have some sort of database on the backend, you then have the main system that utilises some sort of RESTful API that the front end will interact with and make HTTP GET, PUSH, PUT requests, and the front end will be the user interface like an android app, web page or application.
If you are wanting to go more into web development, the languages you want are HTML, CSS, Javascript or Typescript. I would start either with HTML or Javascript personally, but this is what works best for you. HTML just makes the web page/website, however if you were to interact with a database, would definitely recommend Javascript, though Javascript is more flexible as there are libraries out there like Vue.js or Vuetify that allows you to do front end development, though Javascript is more of a back end language.
If you want to go app development, Java. Literally, Android Studio literally utilises Java or JVM based languages like Kotlin. I personally have never used Kotlin but I have heard it is nice to work with. I personally find Java easy after you have learnt the syntax though other people hate the syntax. Whichever works for you.
If you want to start with a easier language to get the programming concepts and is probably one of the bigger languages at the moment, Python is good too. It has a wide variety of libraries and is supposed to be easy to learn. I personally have struggled with this as I hated the indentation and the conditional statements. Again, whichever works for you. Python is also very good for creating short scripts quickly, the memes out there are mostly true that Python can make a 60 line long Java application down to 9 lines while doing the same thing.
Game development utilise applications like Unity or Unreal Engine, the language you want to use is C++, no questions asked. I'd say C++ or C is along the harder languages to learn, but it is probably one of the fastest programming languages out there in terms of performance for applications as a whole.
Edit: It is also worth noting that you don't need to learn SQL or other database querying language but it is beneficial to have it or be aware of it. If you don't want to learn it now, that's fair enough, but maybe have a look over again when you have experience and feel like you have advanced enough in that language. However, I wouldn't call it essential as there are drivers out there that allow you to access the database with no querying language scripting from you at all.
Tldr:
Web development -> HTML, CSS, Javascript, Typescript.
Mobile apps -> Java, Kotlin, Scala, any language utilising the JVM.
General apps -> Python, C, C++, Rust or JVM languages again.
Learn a language what works for you. Don't do it just because someone said use it. Each have their ups and downs. What language that works for me, might not work for you. We can only provide suggestions on what languages to learn.
What you listed is a good start. Eventually you should learn sql enough that you are familiar with it.
As for getting a job as a software engineer, I suggest getting a bachelors of science in computer science degree first. There are a lot of fundamentals covered that are missed in self study / boot camps.
You are competing with a growing field for the new entry level positions, its best to set yourself up with a good background to start.
Help a newbie out! Which programming language should I learn first?
What language should I start with as a beginner just before college?
What programming language should I start with first?
Depends on what you want to do.
Want to be a web dev? HTML/Javascript/CSS
Want to learn a simple programming language that will work for many things? Python
Want to become a game developer? C# or C++
Want to learn a programming language that will be a little painful to learn but will help you a lot and works in embedded systems, Operating Systems, Drivers, and smart electronics? C
Whats that one Perfect Language to start learning programming with...?
Videos
Hey folks!
I've made the decision to dive into the world of coding, but I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the different opinions out there. Every corner of the internet seems to have a different recommendation on where to begin!
I'm not sure where to even start asking. So, here's the big question: which programming language should I focus on first?
If you could share a bit about your own journey – like which language you started with and how it worked out – that would be incredibly helpful. Plus, if you have any favorite beginner-friendly resources or tutorials, please toss them my way!