Which Programming Language Should I Learn First: 4 Options to Consider

Programming is basically learning to use the machine language. To be able to give a machine commands and instructions in a language it understands. Since not all machines and instructions are the same, there are different languages for different hardware and projects. If you don’t know which programming language to learn first, I have compiled for you the top best languages to start with. 

Which Programming Language Should I Learn First?

Programming languages have different complexities and usability. For instance, PHP is for web development, Python is for web, machine learning, and artificial intelligence development, while Javascript is for web and mobile application development. 

Higher-level languages like Java are more versatile and are great for web development, mobile application development, and computer application development. Programming languages like C and C++ are mainly for mobile, computer operating system development, and embedded system development.   

So, the programming language to prioritize learning boils down to what you want. But for a beginner without knowledge of their different complexities and without clear end goals, here are my suggestions of what you should learn first based on ease of learning and market demand.  

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Python

Industries are adopting artificial intelligence at a faster rate than most people expected. For example, an Amazon Web Services report shows that a third of firms in the European Union adopted artificial intelligence in 2023. Look at generative AIs like the Open AI ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. These language models are taking over the writing industry. 

So, what I’m saying is that we are living in an industrial revolution of AI and machine learning. If you look at the money companies have invested in their models, you can tell AIs are not going anywhere, but just getting better. But guess what? Artificial intelligence and machine learning are based on Python programming. 

So, if you want to join the bandwagon of AI development, then go for Python. Another interesting thing about Python is its ease of use. The syntax of Python is almost like the normal English language. There are also lots of Python libraries out there, and you can use them to create almost anything, from server-side web development and data analysis to software development and machine learning. 

Java

AI is the current revolution, and there’s fierce development competition. The result is obvious, companies are hiring top-notch software engineers and data analysts to help with the development. That leaves little to no room for beginner developers. So, let’s face the reality. 

You need to learn something you can use to develop smaller projects such as simple mobile applications and computer programs. And, I don’t think there’s a more versatile and general-purpose language than Java. One unique feature of Java is what is called Java Virtual Machine which acts like a computer inside your computer.

It lets a Java program run almost all operating systems and hardware. In fact, that’s the reason Sun Microsystems referred to Java as the Write Once, Run Anywhere (WORA) programming language. That means by learning Java programming, you can become a mobile developer, web developer, large-scale enterprise application developer, and back-end developer. 

Although we don’t know what the future holds, one thing getting clearer every day is that mobile devices are becoming a basic need. So, you can’t go wrong learning something that can help you with mobile app development. But, something to note, Java is a little more complex than Python. 

JavaScript

Before I dive headfirst into JavaScript, think about the marketing and advertising industry. It’s one of the largest industries, with digital ads spending around $627 billion in 2023. It’s not stopping there. It’s expected to grow to around $835 billion in 2026. Now, the interesting part is that most of these digital ads are through websites and social media platforms.  

Even more interesting news is that around 99% of the websites use JavaScript. Let me tell you why. JavaScript is the code behind the interactive and dynamic front-end applications and web pages. I don’t know how to put this, but I have even more interesting news. There aren’t many JavaScript developers, and the demand is high. 

For example, there are 2.7 Java programmers competing for every Java programming position. On the other hand, there are 1.7 open job positions for every JavaScript developer. That means Java developers are competing for open positions, while website companies are scrambling for JavaScript developers. But, a little sad news, JavaScript is notoriously complex.  

CSS and HTML

CSS and HTML are not really programming languages, but I have added them to the list because I have already tackled JavaScript. Even if JavaScript is used for web development, it can’t be used without HTML and CSS codes. So, if you are a beginner interested in learning web development, failure to learn these two means you can’t create a web page.   

I told you JavaScript makes a web page interactive and dynamic. Now, CSS is responsible for the style of the webpage, while HTML is responsible for the structure and content of the web page. So, if you’re interested in learning JavaScript, reorder the list and start like this: HTML, CSS, and finally JavaScript.  

What to Consider When Choosing the Programming Language to Learn First

I have already mentioned things like different complexities and demands, but let me dive a little deeper into what to consider when choosing the language to start with. 

• Job market: If you are learning to get a job, go for languages in high demand such as JavaScript. On the other hand, if you want to build your own freelancing projects, go for versatile languages like Java. 
• Ease of learning: Languages like Python are easy to learn, while languages like JavaScript have a steep learning curve. When choosing the language, consider starting with the easier ones first.
• Future: I have already told you the future is mobile devices and AI. Choose a language that will remain marketable even in the future. 
• Popularity: Some languages like Java are more popular than languages like Swift. Choose a popular language, so you can enjoy a large community help.

Final Thoughts

There are many programming languages out there, but definitely, some are more popular and marketable than others. The languages I have listed above are the common ones in web development, software development, machine learning, and artificial intelligence development. Note that you might need additional programming languages to develop fully-fledged software.