Your First Step in CSE: Which Programming Language Should You Learn First?

Greetings and Congratulations to the Future Engineers 🌟

We welcome you into the Computer Science Engineering (CSE) academic world! It can be a great big world! Some of you may have been coding for as long as you can remember others are new and may have a number of questions and are feeling lost about your new adventure with programming.

There is nothing wrong with feeling like you don’t know how to code! When learning a new spoken language we begin with letters and words. When learning to program selecting the best first programming language is the start of building knowledge on solid ground.

The Purpose of Your Journey: It’s Not Just Coding!

Programming goes far beyond writing code as it is the art of using your mind to express it to the computer in order for it to logically solve the problem.

Below are some examples of the benefits you will gain from learning programming:

1. Problem-Solving Ability: Learning to take complex problems and breakdown into manageable parts, which will benefit you in your career and in life.
2. Creativity: Creating apps, websites and games and turning your ideas into reality
3. Opportunities: Virtual Reality, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Web Development, Mobile Applications, Games..the opportunities are endless!!!!

👉 The Initial Key to Success: Selecting a Language

When you choose a programming language, make sure to pick one that is extremely easy to read, highly readable, and teaches you the announcements of the fundamentals:

Option A: Python

• Reason for Selection - The syntax is very similar to the English language; hence, it will be easy to read, providing significant comprehension for someone who has never done any programming before.
• Future Use — AI, Machine Learning, Data Science and Web Development are just a fraction of what will be using Python in the future.

Option B: C or C++

• Why You Need C/C++ - C and C++ teach you about memory, hardware, and the basic concepts of a computer.
• C is the foundation of many of the more advanced programming languages.

Option C: Java

• Reason - Java is an extremely popular object-oriented programming language that is used for Android and enterprise-level software applications.
• Why - Jobs using Java are in demand during landing positions and also during the time you are completing your studies for corporate jobs.

👉 My Recommendation - Learn Python First

• As a person who has never programmed before, you will have a great deal of confidence in your programming skills by using Python, because you are able to see the result of your programming, typically very quickly. Once you understand how to programme with logic with Python, programming with the other two languages (C, C++) and/or Java will be significantly easier!

👉 Remember, Your 1st Language is Just a Tool

• Your thought process and ability to solve problems are the keys. Once you master your first language, learning the second will only require you to learn how to code.

Start Now - Making that initial effort may seem like a daunting task, but once you do take the initial step into something new, there is no turning back!

LET GO OF FEAR... Every developer started out as a beginner just like yourself!

LEARN ONLINE... Find a good YouTube or other online course that teaches Python Basics!

BUILD SMALL PROJECTS... Try making simple calculators, guessing games, or simple apps.

HAVE PERSISTENCE... It is perfectly normal to find bugs in your code when programming. Finding bugs allows you to learn how to build better code.

YOU CAN DO THIS!!! I cannot wait to see what you build and share with the world during this awesome CSE adventure!!! Good luck!

Article by:
Ravula Kartheek, M.Tech, (Ph.D)
Assistant Professor in Data Science
Bapatla Engineering College, Bapatla