I finally picked a first language to learn and it wasn't Python

Kim Wright · 2026-03-10T20:30:05.321823+00:00

For weeks I was stuck deciding between starting with JavaScript or Python. Everyone online kept saying Python was easier, but I wanted to build a simple website for my friend's bakery. So I went with JavaScript. I spent about 3 hours a day for two weeks following a free course on Codecademy. It was tough at first, especially getting my head around functions, but I got a basic page with a clickable button to work. Honestly, I'm glad I picked based on what I wanted to make, not just what people said was easiest. Has anyone else started with JavaScript and felt like it clicked after a specific project?

oliviahenderson7mo ago

Good choice going with what you actually wanted to build. That's the best way to learn. Just a small thing, but JavaScript is a scripting language, not a compiled first language like C or Java. The term "first language" usually means your initial programming language, not a type of language. It's a common mix-up. Your project sounds perfect for getting the basics down.

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parkerh387mo ago

Hell yeah, picking a project you care about is the only way to stick with it. I started with JavaScript too because I wanted to make a dumb little browser game. That first time I got a score counter to actually update when you clicked something, it just made sense. Everything before that was just noise. What was the button on your bakery site supposed to do?

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rubyl357mo ago

Started with JavaScript to make a custom music player. Getting the play button to actually work was the moment it all made sense for me.

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