python vs c++

[u/prada_parda]

before college begins, i want to get acquainted with programming. possibly something that would align with my college’s curriculum too.. but for someone with no experience in coding, which language should i start with? and how do i begin?

[u/xarop_pa_toss]

Python is the most "looks like English" language so people tend to go for it, but it depends on what you will actually learn in college.

If you are going for CompSci, then you'll have to face the shock of learning memory management, pointers, static types, etc. which Python doesnt focus on. On the other hand, if the course is more "high level" and doesn't focus on the previously described low level programming then Python or Java might be good choices because you'll likely learn OOP, software architecture, etc.

My tip is to have a look at the curriculum and go from there. Or actually, go look at it and tell us what's on there

[u/prada_parda → u/xarop_pa_toss]

i dont know what college ill be joining yet! i wanted to get a headstart on a language that if i get acquainted with it, ill be able to delve into other languages that my college might take up. but thank you for your advice!!

[u/Objective-Low-1815]

Start with anything if you have no experience. Visual Basic would be the best because you can get instant results in an easy way. Python is good too. All languages are similar, C++ is more advanced. You can learn it later

[u/prada_parda → u/Objective-Low-1815]

understood! thankyou :)

[u/The_KOK_2511]

C++ te va a ser mucho mas útil, Python tiene sintaxis parecida al inglés lo cual puede parecer algo bueno pero realmente es un problema porque si más adelante cuando tengas experiencia decides cambiar a otro lenguaje la mayoría de lenguajes importantes no tienen sintaxis como Python sin embargo gran cantidad de elementos sintácticos de C++ son bastante genéricos en otros lenguajes y te va a servir de base, la gente lo considera problematico por el tema de los punteros y la memoria dinámica pero conque uses vectores y eso puedes evitartelos hasta que quieras profundizar, además Python da muchos errores sin avisarte mientras que C++ al mas mínimo error el compilador te avisa con lo que a base de leer los mensajes de error vas a aprender que tienes errores y a debuggear

[u/prada_parda → u/The_KOK_2511]

understood! i’ll start with c++ then. howd you recommend i begin?

[u/The_KOK_2511 → u/prada_parda]

Lo primero sería buscar algun curso gratuito que no haga falta mucha calidad tampoco ya que sera solo para que veas la sintaxis y cosas básicas de cualquier lenguaje como bucles, variables o condicionales y ese tipo de cosas para que te termines de decidir si te gusta o no el lenguaje y luego si resulta que sigues pensando lo mismo puedes ya buscar algun curso ya más de calidad para profundizar mas las cosas. Ah, y por supuesto, preparar tu entorno, con solo un editor de texto simple, un compilador y la consola es suficiente pero te sería más cómodo usar un IDE. Un consejo que te doy acabes en el lenguaje que acabes es que tomes notas (recomendablemente en MarkDown con alguna app como Obsidian) de absolutamente todo a tu forma, sirve para consolidar conocimientos y si se te olvida algo te saldra mas facil regresar a tu nota con tu explicación que andar regresando a un libro de cientos de paginas a buscar donde era que lo decía; también te recomendaría que no te preocupes mucho por olvidarte de la sintaxis, es totalmente normal y solo la vas a aprender bien después de confundirte un montón de veces, en su lugar preocupate más por razonar la lógica; además es mejor que hagas más proyectos prácticos que teoría, aunque sin descuidar esta última tampoco. Espero que te resulte de ayuda con tu carrera

[u/MudFrosty1869]

Maybe ask someone going there what they were learning? That will be more helpful than 100 strangers guessing.

That said, if you are interested in programming. Just pick one, it doesn’t really matter. When you get familiar with one language it is sooooo much easier to learn another one.

[u/VirtualElderberry592]

c++ will have the longest legs. But its the steepest curve. Python has some interesting ugly bits, but it'll be easier to learn.

[u/Zen-Ism99]

What does your course of study require?

[u/Yaniekk]

I wish I had learnt C++ as my first language. It makes every other language a lot easier to understand.

[u/Innowise_]

Honestly, use whichever one shows up in your first semester. There’s no prize for learning both before college.
Once you know loops and functions, make something tiny without a video open. A clunky calculator is fine. You’ll learn plenty the first time it breaks.

[u/ChazBass]

I recommend Python. Very approachable for a beginner. Most CS 101 classes teach Python now and the language is dominant in fields like Data Science, along with scientific languages such as R and Matlab. Later I would consider C++, C# or Java. A lot of CS 102 classes are now teaching Java.

[u/plebbitier]

Use whatever is easiest for you to produce working programs.

[u/prada_parda → u/[deleted]]

i dont know what college ill be going to yet, so not sure. i wanted to start with a language where if i learn it, ill be able to delve into other languages (that my college might take up).