What language is best for a beginner to learn?

Question

What do you guys think would be the best language for someone who is new to programming or has little programming experience to learn?

Answer 1

It really doesn't matter I think. But if you must need a starting point, start with basic C#.

Answer 2

For me, PHP helped a lot with its basic language setup and duck typing. It also helped me begin to understand C and C++ since their syntax is similar but the language is more complex.

Python is another simple language but it has another syntax type.

I would recommend both imo

Answer 3

Python. Read the short foreword and preface of this book for compelling reasons why. In short, Python is easier because of the simple syntax rules.

Answer 4

I think it's best to pick a project that excites you and then pick the best language and framework for that project.

I prefer:

• C# for Windows programs
• Python with Django for web applications
• Objective C and Cocoa for iPhone (no choice here)
• Clojure for anything that I want to interoperate with Java on a JVM

If you are just starting, something with garbage collection is probably a good choice.

Answer 5

Please look at the following link

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4769/easiest-language-to-start-with

Answer 6

Java or C# are good if you want to learn a language that people actually use.

Python is good from a theoretical viewpoint.

PHP might be easy and have immediate results, but I don't personally think that it encourages good coding habits straight up - it's the modern BASIC that was derided for the same back in the 80s. Not that I think BASIC was all that bad for what it was, and the same goes for PHP.