TLDR;
Getting confused about what to pick? Choose Python → here’s why.
When you don’t have a clue about programming or nobody to mentor you, it might get confusing to pick one language, especially if you search the internet for help deciding which language to pick.
“Should I go with a language that’s in the hype? Like Rust, Zig, or Go? Should I stick to conventional languages like Java, C, or C++ taught in college? Something like JS which makes developing web applications easier? Or Python - a language simple enough to pick up, making it easy to build your ideas?”
is there really a best language?
Although it might get confusing, what one needs to understand is that languages are designed for specific purposes, addressing particular developer pain points, and are usually meant for working in specific areas instead of being an all-purpose solution. No language is the best language. Each has its own place.
My purpose in writing this blog is to empower the reader in choosing the right language for themselves. So, I’ll be covering the languages I have a clue about - C, C++, Java, JavaScript, Go, and Python.
helping you make a decision
Here’s a small description of what I know of each language’s most relevant applications and for whom choosing this language would be relevant. The idea here is to help the reader understand where and what they might be leading themselves into.
C
overview
C is often called the “mother of all languages.” It is a low-level, procedural language that provides minimal abstraction from the hardware. It requires you to manage memory manually, which takes a bit of learning but provides unparalleled understanding of how computers actually work.
major applications
- Operating Systems (Windows, Linux, macOS kernels)
- Embedded systems and microcontrollers
- High-performance drivers and compilers
when to choose C
Choose C if you want to understand the “under the hood” mechanics of computers. It is perfect if you are interested in hardware, systems programming, kernels, operating systems, etc. and want to work in this domain, or if you want a rock-solid foundation that makes learning every other language significantly easier (which is also the reason why C is preferred in academia).
C++
overview
C++ is an extension of C that adds Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) features. It is incredibly powerful and fast, offering both low-level hardware access and high-level abstractions.
major applications
- Game development (Unreal Engine)
- High-frequency trading (Finance)
- Resource-heavy software (Adobe Photoshop, CAD tools, Video Processing tools)
when to choose C++
Choose C++ if you want to build high-performance applications and are looking forward to working in domains of performance intensive application such as High Frequency Trading. This language might also open your doors for the highest paying opportunities if you truly dwell into it and go beyond DSA to make real world applications using it.
Java
IMO, java == jobs, its as simple as that. The reason being that it has been and is still being used extensively in enterprise applications, this leads to a lot of demand for maintenance and development of codebases that are managing a lot of business.
overview
Java is a classic, class-based OOP language designed to “Write Once, Run Anywhere.” It is known for its “strictness,” which might feel verbose to beginners but helps prevent many common coding errors through strong typing and structured design.
major applications
- Enterprise-level backend systems (Banking, Insurance)
- Android App development
- Large-scale data processing
when to choose Java
Choose Java if you are looking for a stable career in corporate software development or if you want to build Android apps. It is also excellent for learning strict software design patterns and is usually taught in University courses as well, which could turnout to be helpful for picking up on it (given you have a fairly decent professor, which thankfully I did have).
JavaScript
overview
JavaScript (JS) is the language of the web. It started as a way to make websites interactive but has evolved into an ecosystem that can run on servers (Node.js), mobile phones, and even desktops. Although, personally I am of the opinion that there is no need to use JS everywhere, if its meant for client side interaction, then we best use it there only. But, to each his own.
major applications
- Frontend web development (React, Vue, Angular)
- Backend web development (Node.js, Express)
- Cross-platform mobile apps (React Native)
when to choose JS
Choose JS if you want to build websites, web apps, or become a full-stack developer. Without the bother of learning a different language for the backend, JS makes it easier to ship full stack applications while maintaining and improving standards of your JS fundamentals (since you are using the same language everywhere)
Go
overview
Go (or Golang) was designed by Google (particularly three legendary engineers → Robert Griesemer, Rob Pike, and Ken Thompson) to be simple, efficient, and great for modern multi-core machines. It combines the speed of a low-level language with a syntax that is almost as clean as Python’s. It’s biggest power is the problems that it solves as a language natively, becoming the preferred choice for developing modern application.
major applications
- Cloud-native services and infrastructure (Docker, Kubernetes)
- Microservices and backend APIs
- Network programming
when to choose Go
Choose Go if you are interested in backend engineering, cloud computing, or systems that need to handle thousands of simultaneous connections with high efficiency.
Python
overview
Python is currently the most popular language for beginners. And by beginners, I also mean experienced professionals from other fields who are using programming as a means to an end. Python’s easy syntax and huge library support, lets you focus on learning “how to solve problems” rather than spending time on learning the syntactical sugar. Its mostly because python was designed to be simple, and application oriented to make programming more accessible.
Its because of this that I suggest python to anyone who don’t have a clue regarding programming and want to get started. The intensive library support across applications makes it easy to create good applications even for beginners.
And for students, whose focus should be on the learnings itself (such as DSA, ML, server side handling of web apps, etc), the python ecosystem provides very good support.
About python being slow
IMO, with modern compute power, its not something that one should worry about even before getting started. Optimizations are done after bottlenecks are reached or if there is experienced foresight to avoid it entirely. For an inexperienced application developer its a problem that would unnecessarily hinder with the fact that even when the internet provides the verdict that python is slow, production applications are still using it, developers are still getting paid for it.
major applications
- Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (AI/ML)
- Automation and Scripting
- Backend web development (Django, Flask)
when to choose Python
Choose Python if you want to get started as quickly as possible. It is the best choice for anyone interested in AI, data analysis, or just wanting a versatile tool to automate boring tasks. Its a great choice for DSA as well, letting you focus on the theory, solutions, and learnings instead of the implementation overheads.
will one language suffice?
As a developer, you would most likely be using more than one language to achieve some end goals. Even if you are a Python Developer, you might still have to use some Bash, SQL, and JS to achieve most of your goals (especially if you don’t want the overhead of another dev - more on that later). But you still have to master one language and build your other skills around it. As a common saying among devs goes these days - “Jack of all trades, master of some.” While it’s true that modern tools powered by AI and LLMs reduce the need for truly mastering multiple languages, a good understanding is still required for fixing bugs when things go wrong or even to identify whenever the tools hallucinate.
Experimentation - not just the vibes
I highly encourage you to try out multiple languages of interest and to work with them first before making a decision.
But how do you try a language?
LLMs for learning
While LLMs can be very helpful for learning new things, I’d rather suggest sticking with the language’s documentation itself for the best tutorials to get started. Human-led video tutorials and hands-on labs also suffice depending on who the instructor is and the quality of delivery. I’d suggest that for anything at all, to be honest, if you really want to thoroughly learn something. Once you are done with the fundamentals, LLMs can be used for questioning and recall.
Honestly, it takes some work. Here’s an oversimplified roadmap of how one must try a language:
- Learn the fundamentals:
- Language Syntax
- variable declarations and assignments
- loops
- function declarations
- Data Structure syntax for that language - arrays and hashmaps should be enough to get started
- Language Syntax
- Learn the things specific to that language:
- Commonly used libraries (2-3)
- Best practices
- Any standards that must be followed
- Build an unpolished application
- While its not the most exciting thing to do, building a not so polished application that utilizes most of the things that you have learned about that language is how you evaluate the extent of your learning and get the scope of improvements.
- Read some code!
- There is no better way to learn how to write the code in a particular language than to read some prod ready code that is already being used by other devs. Libraries, frameworks, tools and applications that are open sourced are the best way to learn more. You might even make a great contribution!
- Use that language
- If you don’t use it, you lose it. Its as simple as that. Keep using the language you learned, build an application or a pet project using it every once in a while. You’d realise you have learned more from your personal endeavours than just going through more tutorials and reading. Even if those endeavours might stay on your local system, every little pet project adds up to that appeal of applying what you learned to realise those vague ideas in your mind, which is a great way to live as a developer in my opinion.
This entire parade might take a month, but its worth the effort. One might think that - why should I bother giving a month to just “try” a language. But considering that one has decided to stick to this field and spend the next few decades most likely writing and reviewing code, I say, what is just one month? Heck even spending a semester working with one or two languages might help a person end up with exposure to quiet a few languages by the time he/she graduates.