lsparrish comments on What is the best programming language? - Less Wrong

4 Post author: lsparrish 26 May 2012 12:58AM

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Comment author: listic 27 May 2012 01:08:27PM *  1 point [-]

I would like to ask the commentators: what do you think about learning JavaScript as a "first" programming language? I would like to learn to use modern programming technologies and utilize best practices, but learn something quickly usable in the real world and applicable to web programming.

I was going to learn JavaScript for a while (but haven't got around to it) because:

  • I heard it's kinda Scheme on the inside, and generally has some really good parts
  • To do web programming, I need to learn JavaScript for client side anyway; with Node.JS I can utilize (and practice) the same language for server-side programming.
  • Node.JS seems to be a great framework for web programming, built with asynchronous/evented paradigm that should be good for doing... whatever stuff they are doing on the web?
  • Looks like Node.JS is slowly climbing to mainstream acceptance. I mean, I think I could really get a job with that outside of Silicon valley and Japan!

But I have heard so much advice to learn Python lately that I am thinking: am I missing something and being difficult?

It looks like lsparrish has been around and tried learning different languages before, so did I: I was paid to program in C and Forth. But I am a real beginner actually.

Comment author: lsparrish 27 May 2012 06:10:13PM 1 point [-]

JS has a powerful advantage as far as usefulness in that it comes with all the browsers already, so you're going to have to learn it for client side if you are doing web apps. My suggestion to newbies trying to find a quick 10-minute intro is coffeescript.

I'm still leaning towards Python and Haskell as things I should be learning for various reasons. (Python seems useful and career-friendly, and I already know enough to be dangerous. Haskell seems to teach a different kind of math/thinking, which is attractive long term even if I never use the language.)

However Javascript is pretty friendly, especially with CoffeeScript and NodeJS. It might actually be a better language for the web-entrepreneur track since the hottest apps will be optimized for the client side.

One thing I've noticed about the NodeJS community is they seem really good about removing trivial inconveniences. For example with Meteor I was able to get an example set up in about 30 seconds.

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