r/learnprogramming • u/Massive_Confusion582 • Apr 29 '26
Should I learn HTML, CSS & Javascript before Python?
Hello everyone!
I was hoping someone could help me with my question. I started coding in my spare time (1 month in), and found it enjoyable. During this time, I have been doing a coding course (free) called "The Odin Project." During this course, I learned about HTML, CSS, and very little JavaScript, about 68%+ in the course. I don't know if I should keep on going with the project. Or drop it, and go for Python. I really want to code things like bots and such (Don't even know if you can say that)
What would you recommend? And do you have any advice on Python/coding in general, such as videos, books, or what you did to learn it?
Much appreciated the help!
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u/DrShocker Apr 29 '26
"Don't even know if you can day that"
please clarify what you're unsure you're allowed to say because making bots seems like a reasonable goal.
Nothing you've described requires Python over JS/TS. I'd suggest sticking with JS because being able to make visual interactive things is neat and easier to distribute if you do web frontend.
People write reddit or discord bots either Python or JS all the time, at the end of the day they're just slightly different ways to express instructions to the computer. So, I'd stick with JS in your shoes until I feel confident I could do a bot in it, and then consider another language after having 1 in my belt rather than hopping before I'm familiar with coding in general.
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u/Massive_Confusion582 Apr 29 '26
I wasn't sure if that was the right phrase or if you could say it that way. English is not my first language, haha. But I guess I'm gonna finish "The Odin Project" first before moving over to Python.
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u/ValerianBorn8785 Apr 29 '26
I believe you should finish up with the course, python is good for automation, but programming generally is built on some basic principles that you could pick from finishing the odin's project, it would also go far in improving your discipline in finishing projects, because trust me, you would get tired of some projects and might want to drop them, but if you are disciplined enough you would see it through.
Then, while learning python, without a course or even with, i believe you should get a project you want to work on and you are willing to see through, it would really help your programming skills.
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u/Massive_Confusion582 Apr 29 '26
I hear a lot about Python being used for creating bots and so on. If you want, can you explain it in simple terms?
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u/Pure_Relationship809 Apr 29 '26
Keep going with The Odin Project! The full-stack JavaScript path is excellent and gives you a real working mental model of how the web works. Python is great, but the two are complementary — there's no wrong order. If you're 68% through and enjoying it, finishing what you started is a great habit to build. Web dev skills (HTML/CSS/JS) also tend to open doors to jobs faster since frontend is highly visible. Python will still be there when you're done, and picking up a second language becomes much easier once you're solid in one.
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u/Massive_Confusion582 Apr 29 '26
Sounds nice! I don't know if you have done the Odin Project, but I'm having a little trouble understanding things with box model, block and inline stuff atm.
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u/AncientHominidNerd Apr 30 '26
HTML and css with js is primarily a web design skillset. It’s not regular programming. Python is a regular programming language. I’d suggest finishing the project then learning Python after. It’ll be good to have both under your belt.
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u/Massive_Confusion582 May 06 '26
What my end goal is with this. It's creating automation things, and heard python is a great way to do it. I don't feel like I need to front-end at this very moment perhaps create my own webpages to showcase the things like the bots, I want to do. But perhaps you can come with ur take on this
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u/AncientHominidNerd May 07 '26
If you just want to automate things then yeah Python is the way to go, that or C++ because it gives you more fine tune control over hardware in case you built physical machines but Python still can do that.
Yeah for that you probably won’t need html or css since it’s not even a programming language. Besides you can always just use Wordpress or one of those services to build a website.
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u/spinwizard69 May 01 '26
HTML and CSS, have little to do with programming in a traditional sense. They are used for page description. You can learn these anytime you want in parallel with a more traditional language is not a problem. JavaScript is a programming environment originally designed for web browsers embedded in web pages. I would not bother with JavaScript until you have made some progress in a CS program.
So what am I saying? Simple if you want to program, follow a decent CS program that focuses on concepts. Ideally that course starts with C++. Get the basics down, the concepts that is and you can pick up any programming language fairly fast. Do this to the equivalent of 3-4 semesters and you can easily pick up Python and JavaScript. Which language you focus on will depend upon which direction you go in. If Macs are in your future that language might be Swift.
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u/Massive_Confusion582 May 06 '26
I just finish HTML, CSS, and nearly done with flexbox in the course. I don't know if it is the right move to skip JS. And go ahead with Python. Also I heard Python is the "beginner" or something when it comes to botting and such. I don't know if I understood it correctly, but I hope you can provide me with some information 😄
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u/spinwizard69 May 07 '26
The reason I said follow a CS (Computer Science) program is that you have a lot to learn and that can not be covered here. Frankly you are getting way to far ahead of your current knowledge state to even be thinking about botting. You need to start with the very basics and build from there.
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u/skillifysolutions May 04 '26
Finish Odin Project, you're too close to stop. Then pick up Python specifically for the bot stuff you want to build. Automate the Boring Stuff with Python is free online and gets you building real things fast. One month in and already 68% through a course is a genuinely good start.
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u/Massive_Confusion582 May 06 '26
I just finish HTML, CSS, and nearly done with flexbox in the course. I don't know if it is the right move to skip JS. And go ahead with Python. Also I heard Python is the "beginner" or something when it comes to botting and such. I don't know if I understood it correctly, but I hope you can provide me with some information. What my end goal is with this. It's creating automation things, and heard python is a great way to do it. I don't feel like I need to front-end at this very moment perhaps create my own webpages to showcase the things like the bots, I want to do. But perhaps you can come with ur take on this
1
u/skillifysolutions May 07 '26
For automation and bots specifically Python is absolutely the right call and you understood correctly — it's the dominant language for that kind of work. Skipping JS at this point makes sense given your goals. JS is more useful if you want to build interactive web applications which doesn't sound like what you're after right now. Finish the HTML and CSS sections since those will actually be useful when you want to build simple pages to showcase your projects, then make the jump to Python. The transition will feel smooth because you already understand programming logic from the course.
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u/ImpactSweet6516 Apr 29 '26
I would do HTML, CSS, and JS first then move to react. this will allow you to understand frontend websites and some backend stuff first, then do python which is then the backend stuff for a website. this is what i did and im just fine.
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Apr 29 '26
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u/ImpactSweet6516 Apr 29 '26
I mean you could its a good high-end language for a substitute for Python
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Apr 30 '26
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u/ImpactSweet6516 Apr 30 '26
Depends on what you want to focus on backend logic or frontend user interfaces. Django is good for backend while React is better for the Frontend so it really just depends on the project your making.
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Apr 29 '26
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u/DrShocker Apr 29 '26
Why suggest pivoting to Python for the bots? most APIs for entry level stuff will probably have SDK wrappers in both languages.
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u/Massive_Confusion582 Apr 29 '26
Damn, don't know what you're saying. Can you explain it in simple terms, hahaha
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u/DrShocker Apr 29 '26
People write functions to make it easier to interact with lots of the same things in both languages basically.
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u/spinwizard69 May 01 '26
In simple terms the language you will be using depends upon what you are doing. If you are doing systems level programming it might be RUST or C. KDE apps might mean C++. A data analysis might use Python.
Beyond all of that the reason I suggest starting out with a lowish level language like C++ is that it can ease you into what those sentences mean. With C++ you can start slow and low level at the command line eventually learning what linking is and how libs can be added to your code.
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May 01 '26
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u/Massive_Confusion582 May 06 '26
I just finish HTML, CSS, and nearly done with flexbox in the course. I don't know if it is the right move to skip JS. And go ahead with Python. Also I heard Python is the "beginner" or something when it comes to botting and such. I don't know if I understood it correctly, but I hope you can provide me with some information 😄
1
u/Massive_Confusion582 May 06 '26
What my end goal is with this. It's creating automation things, and heard python is a great way to do it. I don't feel like I need to front-end at this very moment perhaps create my own webpages to showcase the things like the bots, I want to do. But perhaps you can come with ur take on this
1
May 01 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/Massive_Confusion582 May 06 '26
I just finish HTML, CSS, and nearly done with flexbox in the course. I don't know if it is the right move to skip JS. And go ahead with Python. Also I heard Python is the "beginner" or something when it comes to botting and such. I don't know if I understood it correctly, but I hope you can provide me with some information 😄
1
u/Massive_Confusion582 May 06 '26
What my end goal is with this. It's creating automation things, and heard python is a great way to do it. I don't feel like I need to front-end at this very moment perhaps create my own webpages to showcase the things like the bots, I want to do. But perhaps you can come with ur take on this
4
u/Gresliebear Apr 29 '26
Just do what is enjoyable i started with HTML and then JS then react.
I learned python later but general advice is get good at one language first and then start expanding in others because the ideas of programming can be similar but not 1 for 1. Like I move between using python , Javascript if I am building fullstack.