Why does nobody talk about learning Python vs JavaScript first?

A buddy in my coding group swore I should start with Python. Said it's easier for beginners. I ignored him. Went straight to JavaScript. Three months in and I'm stuck on DOM stuff. He's building simple scripts already. Was he right? Or is JavaScript better in the long run? Which side do you pick?

3 comments

3 Comments

emmaking17d ago

Wait are you sure your friend isn't mixing up Python and JavaScript? I mean Python is definitely easier for raw scripting and logic, but it doesn't really teach you how websites work. JavaScript is rougher at first with all the DOM and async stuff, but it's way more useful if you want to build anything on the web. You're not stuck because JavaScript is bad, you're stuck because DOM manipulation is genuinely tricky for everyone at first. Python would have made you better at writing clean logic but you'd still have to learn JavaScript eventually if you want to do web stuff. Most people I know who started with Python actually struggle more when they switch to JavaScript because they miss things like variable types and proper loops. So your buddy isn't wrong about Python being easier, but that doesn't mean JavaScript was the wrong choice for you.

kellygrant17d ago

Does your friend actually build things with both languages or just repeat what they read online?

casey81817d ago

Oh man, I totally felt that DOM wall myself. What finally clicked for me was building tiny projects like a to-do list or a simple calculator, way more helpful than any tutorial. Did you try breaking down what you're stuck on into smaller pieces?