Which Programming Language Should I Learn First?

TL;DR: Python

Cutting to the chase—In my opinion, Python is your winner here. It’s beginner-friendly, widely used, and highly marketable. Think of programming languages like different cooking recipes, rather than universal skills like knife work. You can start with any language to grasp the fundamentals, and those fundamentals will help you learn different languages later. But if you’ve got to choose one recipe to start with, you’d probably start with a stir-fry instead of some obscure, unique delicacy, right?

Note: This is my recommendation for students looking to be in it for the long haul. For some niche cases, other languages may be a better fit. More on that below.

Why Python?

1. Approachable 🙌

Python has a simple syntax, meaning fewer technical details to memorize before diving into the core concepts of programming. The faster you get to real problem-solving, the better—and Python enables that. Programming languages don’t lock you in. You can and should learn multiple languages as you grow, but Python is a fast and straightforward path to start with.

2. Support & Extensibility 🤝

Python has been around since 1991, and its ecosystem is continuing to grow. When learning something new, access to support is critical. Python has one of the largest programming communities, making it easy to find solutions to any issues. When you start coding you’ll find that googling and the ability to search for solutions is a good chunk of what you end up doing. In the age of LLMs, this advantage is even more relevant.

Beyond that, Python is incredibly versatile. There is a misconception that Python is just for data operations, but I’ve used it for web development, automation scripts, visualization, and more.

3. Market Relevance 💼

If your goal is to build real-world applications and gain industry-relevant skills, Python is an excellent choice. Younger students can definitely benefit from tools like MIT Scratch, Minecraft coding, or Roblox scripting to develop logic and problem-solving skills. But if you are going to commit to programming, there's no reason not to start with a professional language like Python. As I mentioned in this blog: Learning Code in 2025, you don’t need much to get started, and if you have the right coach, you don’t need training wheels for long.

Niche Cases

For some specific cases, other languages may be better suited.

HTML/CSS/JavaScript

This trio is essential for frontend web development. If your goal is purely to build websites, start here. I would caution against defining your scope before you get some fundamentals down, though. There is a lot more to coding than just websites and apps. Additionally, modern applications separate the frontend (user interface) from the backend (business logic). Many websites use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for the frontend while relying on other languages, such as Python for the backend. Starting with Python doesn’t mean you can’t transition into web development later.

Java, C, and Other Industry-Standard Languages

If you’re learning coding for a specific career use case where a certain language is required, it might make sense to start with that language. Some universities programs begin with Java or C because of their comprehensive learning path, so it’s been done before effectively.

Questions?

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