Javarevisited: Python or JavaScript in 2024? Which is better Programming language to Learn Coding for Beginner?

Hello guys, if you are thinking to learn Coding in 2024 then the most pressing question for you would be to choose the programming language? A couple of years ago, I have blogged about Python vs Java? which programming language a beginner should learn? and, which programming language is better to get started with programming, but now the question has changed. It's no more about Java but it's about JavaScript. Now the choice is between Python or JavaScript. Don't get me wrong, I am still a Java developer and still love Java most but as an author, blogger, and technical guy I keep exploring new technologies so that I can advise and support people in their learning and I have seen things has changed in last a couple of years. Python has come a long way from just being a scripting language it was.

Python has explosive growth in the last couple of years at the expense of Java, C#, Ruby, PHP, and many other programming languages. It is also the fastest-growing major general-purpose programming language and also the highest-paid technology but JavaScript is also not far behind, it is also the only language that allows you to develop a web application from front-end to back-end.

Another plus point for JavaScript and probably a differentiator is the popularity of React.js and React Native framework which allows you to create both iOS and Android apps using JavaScript programming language.

This means, now JavaScript is the only programming language that not only allows you to create both frontend and backend services but also a mobile app.

Python or JavaScript? Which is the better Programming Language for Coding?

Let's explore the landscape of Python and JavaScript to come to a logical conclusion:

1. Easy to Learn

Both Python and JavaScript are very easy to learn. They are both Object-Oriented Programming languages and even if you don't have any programming background you can easily learn them.

Compared to Java, both are also free from any setup issue as JavaScript runs on the browser while you can download and install Python 3, but you don't need to worry about Classpath issues like beginners do when they learn Java.

Python vs JavaScript? which is better to learn Coding?

2. Learning Resources

Both JavaScript and Python have a massive amount of resources, both free and paid available on the Internet. You just search for a JavaScript course, book, or tutorial and you will get millions of results. The same is true for Python.

There are a lot of great courses to start learning Python in 2020 like The Python 3 BootCamp by Jose Portilla which has taught close to million developers Python. This is an amazing course and if you want to learn Python, I highly recommend this course on Udemy. It's also very cost-effective as you can get this course for just $10 to $12 on Udemy flash sales which happen every month.

Similarly, there are a lot of great JavaScript books and courses available online which you can take to learn JavaScript by yourself. If you ask me, I would recommend The Complete JavaScript Course 2024: Build Real Projects by Jonas Schemdtmann on Udemy.

This is a project-based course which is probably the best way to learn a new programming language or technology and you will build not one but several real projects while using modern ES5 and ES6 JavaScript syntax.

More than 270,000 students have benefitted from this course which talks about its quality and you can get it for just $10. I highly recommend this course to anyone learning JavaScript in 2024.

So resources are definitely not a problem but if you are looking for some more curated resources then you can check out this list of best Python courses and best JavaScript courses.

3. Community

Again, both JavaScript and Python have a huge and strong community on the Web. You can get help in StackOverflow where thousands of Python and JavaScript developers are always online to help you at any hour of the day.

The same goes for other community websites like Reddit which has a big JavaScript and Python subreddit for discussion, help, and guidance. What this means is that even if you are stuck somewhere in your journey, you are not alone, they are people and community there to help you out.

4. Tools

When I learn a new programming language, one thing I always look for is the tools around that. For example, just assume if you have to work without Eclipse or IntelliJ IDEA in Java, it will be a nightmare, even for developers who have started learning Java with Notepad and DOS editors.

These IDEs play a massive role in software development and learning, and fortunately, both JavaScript and Python are lucky on the tool side.

You can use IDEs like Visual Studio Code and Sublime for JavaScript and IPython/Jupyter, PyCharm for writing Python programs.

best IDE for Python and JavaScript coding

5. Frameworks, Libraries, and APIs

Apart from tools, Libraries and APIs are other things that make a programming language usable and popular. One of the main reasons for Python's explosive growth was the kind of library it possesses. Just imagine Python without Pandas, TensorFlow, Django, and Flask framework.

They will not just help you to become productive and deliver quickly but also prevent you from re-inventing the wheel. I still remember those days where every single project I have worked on in Java had its own proprietary API, doing the same thing again and again.

Open-source libraries have helped a lot, so choose a programming language that has rich API and library support.

At this point, I feel, Python just edged ahead with JavaScript because it has better library support across functional areas but JavaScript is also not behind and frameworks like Node.js, React, Angular and jQuery still rule the Web.

Finally, which is better to learn Coding? Python or JavaScript?

As you have seen, both Python and JavaScript are amazing programming languages and they are also suitable for beginners. They are also easy to learn, mature has a strong community and a huge number of popular library which will allow you to do all the things you want to develop.

So the choice is difficult but like many things, in life,, the choice really depends upon your goal. If you can answer questions like why are you learning Programming? do you want to create a mobile app or want to develop a web application? Do you want to learn Programming to explore Data Science, Machine Learning, Artificial intelligence, other sunrise technologies, etc?

As per my thoughts, if you want to become a Web Developer then there is no better programming language than JavaScript. Just learn it. It has the best front-end frameworks like Angular, Reacts, and Vue.js but also strong backend support in form of Node.js.

On the other hand, if you want to learn Data Science and Machine learning then choose Python because it is more evolved in that space and has a bigger community and popular libraries to support you.

And, if you are a mix of both like you want to do Web Development now and Machine learning later than learn Python. IMHO, Python is the best major programming language and every software developer should learn it.

And, this image from Felixx sums it nicely with advice that "If you want to get into programming do not start with JavaScript"

Python vs JavaScript - Which Programming Language Beginners Should Learn?

If you want to get into programming do not start with JavaScript

Best Python and JavaScript Learning Resources in 2024

There are a lot of free and paid resources available online like books, courses, and tutorials but I suggest sticking with one course from this list and one book instead of going through massive resources and wasting a lot of time.

This is one of the most common mistake beginners makes and you must avoid learning Python quickly. A course helps you to get up to speed quickly and a book provides the most authoritative in-depth knowledge.

So, if you want to learn Python, here are some of my recommended resources, which includes books and courses :

These are some of the best online courses and books to learn Python in 2024 and beyond. As I suggested pick one book and one course to start with and go for a hands-on course where you actually build a project.

And if you want to learn JavaScript, you can check these resources:

Whatever you decide to learn just to be honest with that. Don't leave your goal in between and you will reach there.

Both Python and JavaScript are awesome but it is just that one suits better than others for some situations like JavaScript is the Emperor of Web Development while Python is the King of Machine Learning and Data Science.

That's all about Python vs JavaScript - which programming language beginners should learn. As I have said, both Python and JavaScript are great and major general-purpose programming languages, and there are a lot of opportunities with each of them, but if your goal is to become a web developer and create web applications then I suggest you should start with JavaScript.

On the other hand, if you want to explore sunrise technologies like Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and Cloud Computing then I suggest you start with Python. It has a very interesting, powerful, and hugely popular library which gives it a stronghold in this area, and learning Python not only makes you more productive but it will also help you to reach your goal quickly.

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Thanks for reading this article so far. If you like this article then please share it with your friends and colleagues. If you have any questions or feedback then please drop a note.

P. S. - If you are confused between JavaScript and Python then you can also learn Java, my favorite programming language, and a great language for both beginners and experienced programming languages. In popularity and maturity, it's one step ahead of both Python and JavaScript and you can also earn a highly paid Java developer job. If you need resources start with The Complete Java MasterClass course on Udemy. It's also the most up-to-date course.

3 comments:

Nganthoi MoirangJuly 16, 2019 at 7:44 AM
I'm learning Java Programming. But is it very important to learn Java programming to learn Machine learning and deep learning and data science.? I'm a beginner and i don't know which programming language should i learn. Everyone says learn Java first and go for python. But it seems like i'm wasting time learning Java programming. So please suggest me what i need to do and which programming language should learn.
Renan MouraJanuary 4, 2021 at 6:19 AM
You can learn Python for free with this Ultimate Python Guide for Beginners:

https://renanmf.com/the-python-guide-for-beginners/

Monday, January 17, 2022

Python or JavaScript in 2024? Which is better Programming language to Learn Coding for Beginner?