What Coding Language Should You Choose? Most Bootcamps Say JavaScript
I recently completed Fullstack Academy’s Flex Immersive coding bootcamp in New York City. Based on this enriching experience, I wrote this article to be the type of helpful article I would have liked to have seen when I first googled what programming language is best to start with to teach oneself to code.
One of the first hurdles to learning to code is choosing a language — here I recommend choosing a language called JavaScript. There are many different languages and the best choice does, to some degree, depend on what you want to be able to do as soon as possible. My experience has been that most people who say that they “want to learn to code”, but who did not study computer science in college, are interested in learning to code to build their own web sites, web applications, mobile applications, and sometimes looking for a career switch. In all these cases, I recommend starting with JavaScript.
JavaScript has evolved as a core technology for the internet and there is good reason most coding bootcamps teach it as the most bang for your buck starter language. Some people will recommend starting with a language called Ruby, which is also a good option, although JavaScript has some advantages that arguably make it a better place to start. There is also a language called Python which is a great choice if your initial use case is data science. However, starting with JavaScript will introduce you to programming fundamentals and allow you to create your own web app projects that will jump start your learning. Ultimately, as you build on the fundamentals and learn how to learn, it will become easier to learn any other language as needed.
Below is a summary comparing different languages from the perspective of a beginner.
JavaScript has the advantage of being a “fullstack (front-end and back-end)” language, but to understand why this is valuable you need to have some understanding of what “front-end” and “back-end” mean. Read me quickly.
Please note that whether you learn JavaScript first or Ruby first, unfortunately, you cannot learn only that one, you will also need to apply helper technologies needed for structuring and designing web pages called HTML and CSS. Do not worry though, HTML and CSS are relatively quick to learn and the basics can be covered in an afternoon or two. Additionally, after learning JavaScript (or any language), you will still need auxiliary technologies and tools to build a website, web application, or mobile application. Below is a list of key technologies.
Once you have chosen a language, the second step is learning how to write basic code and syntax in that language. The step after that is learning the fundamentals of object-oriented programming. After that, the next step is learning how to put different pieces and tools together to actually build a full project with both a front-end and back-end. For more on all this, look out for another article with online learning resources to go from zero to building something basic.
I am by no means an expert, so please let me know of any edits or updates to make in the comments.
Good luck and happy coding!
-Alex
Select Sources:
Front-end and Back-end:
· Fullstack Staff, Front-end vs Back-end Developer: What is the Difference?
JavaScript:
· Andy Johnston, I’m Considering a Coding Bootcamp: Should I Learn JavaScript or Ruby?
· David Yang, Is the Programming Language Taught at a Coding Bootcamp Important?
· David Yang, The 9 Best Programming Languages to Learn in 2018
Python:
· YK Sugi, What exactly can you do with Python? Here are Python’s 3 main applications
Peter Gleeson, Which Languages Should You Learn For Data Science?
