Which coding language should you choose when starting to learn coding?

So the question is, “Which coding language should you choose when starting to learn to code without any prior experience?”

If you ask friends or search online, you may often be advised to start with Python or JavaScript.

Python is a popular choice for learning to code due to its ease of use and versatility. It is widely used in fields such as data analysis, scientific computing, and machine learning. However, it may not be as commonly used for end-user projects within companies.

JavaScript is a widely used and versatile programming language, particularly for web development. It is often utilized for building websites, mobile apps, and server-side programming. However, to fully utilize its capabilities, it is necessary to also learn HTML, CSS, and React, as JavaScript is designed to work in conjunction with these technologies.

Also do you know that JavaScript was created in 1995? Since then, many new programming languages have been developed and gained popularity. Some of these modern languages include Python, Ruby, Swift, Kotlin, Golang, Dart, and more.

If you had to choose between using a cutting-edge smartphone, like the iPhone 14, or a phone from 1995, which would you choose? Clearly, the iPhone 14 would be the better choice, because it has been designed with the latest technology and advancements, making it much more efficient, reliable, and user-friendly.

It may not be an appropriate comparison to match a computer language with a mobile phone, so let's compare it with another well-known programming language C.

The C programming language was developed in 1972. Although C is still considered an important language, it is not often used today unless you need to write system or embedded software. This is because C is an older language and can lack certain features and be prone to mistakes.

Comparing with JavaScript, here will recommend you to learn Dart. Dart is an open-source, object-oriented programming language developed by Google. It was first introduced in 2011 with the goal of providing a modern language for web and mobile app development. Dart is designed to be easy to learn and use, with a syntax that is similar to other popular programming languages such as Java and JavaScript.

Dart is the primary language used for the development of Flutter which is also developed by Google. It is a UI toolkit for building high-quality, natively compiled applications for mobile, web, and desktop from a single codebase.

Today, Dart is considered a growing and important language in the development community. It has a large and active community of developers who contribute to its development and maintenance, and it is supported by a range of development tools and resources. Its integration with the Flutter framework has made it a popular choice among developers looking to build high-quality, cross-platform apps.

If you choose to use JavaScript for projects, you'll need to first learn JavaScript, and then learn HTML, CSS, Node.js, TypeScript, React, React Native, and Electron. This can be a lot to take on as a beginner. Because JavaScript, HTML and CSS are all different programming languages, each with its own syntax, and purpose.

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is a markup language used to structure content on the web. It is used to define the structure and content of a web page, including the text, images, links, and other elements.

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is a stylesheet language used to describe the look and formatting of a web page. It is used to define the visual style of a web page, such as the font, color, and layout of elements.

However, if you choose to learn Dart, you only need to learn Flutter. In fact, Flutter is just one Dart library, meaning it's essentially the same thing.

In Flutter, the visual components of an app are defined using a widget-based framework, and the layout and style of these widgets are specified using Dart code. This eliminates the need for separate style sheets or markup languages, as everything can be defined in one language and in one place.

Having everything defined in one language in one place can simplify the learning process and reduce the overall learning curve for beginners. By having everything in one place, beginners can focus on a single language and set of tools, rather than having to learn multiple languages and stylesheets.

Furthermore, this also means that there is a lower barrier to entry for beginners, as they only need to focus on a single language, rather than having to learn multiple languages and stylesheets in order to get started. This can also make it easier for beginners to experiment and build prototypes, as they only need to work with one language.

With Dart, developers can write code for a wide range of platforms, including web, mobile, desktop, and server-side, using the same language. This eliminates the need for context switching between languages and can help to improve productivity.

The cross-platform capabilities of Dart in Flutter also provide an added benefit in terms of code reuse and maintenance. By writing code in one language, developers can more easily reuse code across different platforms, reducing the amount of time and effort required to maintain separate codebases for different platforms.

Overall, the use of Dart in Flutter provides a powerful and versatile language for developing cross-platform apps that can help to improve productivity and reduce the amount of time and effort required to develop high-quality apps.

Dart and Flutter provide many of the modern language features found in other popular programming languages, so if you have mastered Dart and Flutter, it should be relatively easy to pick up other languages like JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and TypeScript.

This is because Dart is a statically-typed, object-oriented language, with a syntax that is similar to other popular languages like Java and C#. It also provides many of the modern features found in other languages, such as async/await, generics, and more.

In addition, Dart and Flutter are designed to be easy to learn and use, with a focus on simplicity and readability. This makes it easier for new developers to get started and quickly become productive.

So, if you have a strong foundation in Dart and Flutter, you should find it relatively easy to pick up other languages, as many of the concepts and syntax will be familiar to you. This can be a great way to build your skills as a developer and expand your knowledge of different programming languages.