Why Python is a Great First Language for Beginners

“Which programming language should I learn first?” Every hopeful developer has asked themselves this question at some point. I know I have–and more than once at that! It’s intimidating. When you don’t know anything about programming to begin with, choosing a first programming language can feel impossible.

Enter: Python. It is much easier than you might think to learn Python as a beginner. Whether you’re after a career in software development or just want to win your fantasy baseball league (like me!), Python is a great first programming language to learn. It is simple and intuitive, and it (possibly as a result?) encourages good coding practices.

In this article, we’ll get into some of the key benefits of learning Python as your first programming language and how it can set a solid foundation for your coding journey.

Python’s Simple, Readable Syntax Makes it an Excellent First Programming Language for Beginners

One of the most significant advantages of learning Python as a beginner is its simple and readable syntax. Python is designed from the ground up to emphasize code readability and simplicity. This makes understanding and writing code in Python much easier for beginners. Many programming languages, such as Java and C++, have precise syntax rules that can be frustrating to learn and follow. Python uses indentation to define code blocks, which encourages good programming practices and reduces the chances of syntax errors.

Example:

#Python code that will print "PyTaster is the best!"

print("PyTaster is the best!")

Even for someone with absolutely no coding experience, the above code is easy to understand. It is easy to see that this line of code will print “PyTaster is the best!” when we run it. This level of simplicity is key for beginners. Python lets you focus on learning programming concepts rather than syntactical rules.

Just to show how much more readable python is compared to other programming languages, let’s take a look at how we would achieve the same result in C++:

//This is the C++ code

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {
    cout << "PyTaster is the best!";
    return 0;
}

The first thing that you will notice is that this code snippet contains 6 lines of code. The Python version of the same program needed only one line to achieve the same result. how’s that for elegant!?! In addition, we had to use the #include <iostream> file library just to use basic input/output functions like the ‘cout’ command used in the main method.

Moreover, in the C++ example, a semicolon (;) follows each line of code. This is a syntactical rule. If even one line of code is missing a semicolon, the program will return a syntax error when compiled. Finally, rather than the eminently readable “print” keyword used by Python, C++ uses the cout command (short for “C++ out”) to print to the console.

As this example has hopefully made clear, Python is an incredibly readable and intuitive programming language. In my personal experience, if you learn Python as a beginner the simplicity and readability will make it much easier to get started than other programming languages.

Python’s Versatility Makes it a Great First Programming Language to Learn

Python is a versatile language that can be applied in many fields, from web development and data analysis to artificial intelligence and automation. This versatility means that learning Python opens up numerous career paths and opportunities. As you advance, you can explore different domains without having to learn a new programming language from scratch.

Where is Python Used?

• Web Development. Frameworks like Django and Flask make it easy to build robust web applications.
• Data Science. Python has a massive suite of tools, such as the Pandas, NumPy, and Matplotlib Libraries, that make data manipulation and visualization fast and easy.
• Machine Learning and AI. Python has several popular libraries for building and training machine learning models including TensorFlow, Keras, and PyTorch.
• Automation. This is my personal favorite. Python’s simplicity makes it easy and fun to automate all kinds of repetitive tasks.

Python Has a Strong Community to Help Beginners

One of my favorite things about Python is how active and organized the online community is. The Python developer community stands out in the official documentation that it provides. There are great free tutorials available right here on PyTaster, and many other free and paid learning options. The amount of well written, well structured information available has been invaluable to me. One of the reasons I started PyTaster was to help you find it!

Resources for Learning Python for Beginners

• Official Documentation. Most Python libraries maintain and regularly update (super) comprehensive documentation. We’ve listed links to the documentation for many popular Python libraries here.
• Online Tutorials. We have tutorials to help you learn Python as a beginner right here at PyTaster! There are also many other free and paid resources to help you learn Python. Sites like w3Schools and freeCodeCamp are other great free resources.
• Community Forums. There are also platforms like StackOverflow that have Python-specific forums where you can find answers to many questions.

Python Integrates Well With Other Languages

Python’s ability to integrate with other languages and environments makes it a powerful tool. It can easily interface with C/C++, Java, and other languages, allowing you to leverage existing code and libraries. Additionally, Python’s compatibility with various platforms and operating systems means you can develop cross-platform applications without major modifications.

Examples of Python Integration

• JavaScript. Python easily integrates with JavaScript which makes it easy to apply in a web development environment.
• SQL. Python can be used alongside SQL databases to aid in data manipulation.
• Automation. You can combine shell scripts to automate system processes on your own computer!

Python Is Great for Beginners Because It Encourages Good Programming Practices

One of the best reasons to learn Python as your first programming language is that it encourages good programming practices. Because it is simple, Python allows beginners to focus on writing clean and efficient code. As a result, beginners are more likely to develop habits that will serve them well as they advance to more complex programming languages and projects.

For me, creating reusable and readable code in Python feels almost natural. The examples that you will find online all use the same or similar naming conventions for things like variables and functions. Because of this, you will intuitively follow these rules, such as only capitalizing the names of classes and using descriptive names.

Moreover, the Python developer community’s standard for documentation is high. By exploring the documentation for the libraries and packages you use, you will learn how to properly document your own code for others.

Python Is Actively Developed

Python is constantly evolving, with regular updates and improvements. Python’s active development ensures that it stays up-to-date with modern programming practices and trends. Although nothing is future-proof, the amount of activity in the Python community and its active development suggest that it is thriving.

Why Learning Python as a Beginner is a Great Choice

Choosing Python as your first programming language is a smart decision that I think offers numerous benefits. Python’s simple and readable syntax make the language accessible to beginners. The versatile possible applications make Python a great language for beginners because it will be applicable in many different fields. Python’s design encourages good programming practices, and its comprehensive standard library and third-party packages provide tools for almost any task.

By learning Python, you are not only acquiring a valuable skill but also opening doors to various other opportunities. For me, Python’s simplicity allowed me to step back and understand object oriented programming as a whole. Because of that, I now have confidence that learning other languages will be much easier. So, I encourage you to learn Python as a beginner and I truly hope that it helps the bigger concepts click for you just like it did for me!