Which programming language should you choose?

"What programming language should I learn?" It's the number one question we get at Codecademy, and there's no easy answer. The industry moves so quickly, and there are so many variables for every learner.

The best way we can help is to give everyone the tools they need to make the best intelligent choices for themselves, so that's exactly what we've done.

In this video, Pat will help you find the right language for you so you can take more confident steps into the world of programming.

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Join the millions learning to code with Codecademy.

Head to our community spaces to discuss what language to learn in more depth.

[LanceNEvans]

The moment you said “picking a programming language without a problem is like shopping for ingredients without a recipe” - my entire problem for “how to get started” cleared up immediately. Best analogy you could have used, given that I am a foodie.

[jewel]

“Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.”
Earl Nightingale

[LanceNEvans]

Best literature reference I can find for what you’re trying to explain around 11:00

Alice: Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?
Cheshire Cat: That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.
Alice: I don’t much care where.
Cheshire Cat: Then it doesn’t much matter which way you go.
Alice: So long as I get somewhere...
Cheshire Cat: Oh, you’re sure to do that, if only you walk long enough.

[mallorybaker]

Wow, I really needed that. I've felt super overwhelmed reading through blogs and blogs about which language to choose. This finally helped me to feel ready to just start and know that if I need to switch, it won't be like starting from scratch.

[thatoseluku]

This video is where a lot started. My job hunt has been very challenging and I've been progressing on my own after I got my CS degree. I realized that it's not easy standing out in the market but it's possible with commitment and constant hard work. Whoever is still searching or finding their feet, I wish ya'll dedication and focus in your craft

[julmor]

I SHOULD HAVE WATCHED THIS A LONG TIME AGO!!! I was always stopping when I feel overwhelmed on the subject that it took me years to finish HTML because i really thought I need be able to remember everything (which is actually a misconception as per this video). I am a subscriber of Codecademy and they really made it easy for new learners...

[imangomaa]

WOW!! what an insightful way to look at this topic, i've always struggled with deciding which language that suits me best but this video have been very helpful.

[mesinish]

Thanks Patrick for the useful video. My worries have faded away on choosing the best langauge. All boils down to what the application your trying to build.

[Foxflix]

Amazing amazing
It's like getting you inside of the computer world
and then breaking programming languages down
And then letting you choose which one you want
Good job i love this video

[AnitaPatel-mqfp]

Hi, Patrick, Love all the information you went over. I've been enlightened by the video. Really appriciated.

[Escobar]

I have the shortest attention span ever so I'm struggling a bit to learn BUT I usually repeat things over and over until it's second nature and it works for me. With that said, my only goal in writing this was to let you know that while I clicked off of other videos because of a speaker's voice, I find yours very easy and soothing to here. It helps me pay attention lol.

[dilliondonathan]

This is the best video that was able to break down the different types of coding languages for me to understand. Thank you!

[CryptonizeThis]

Great video, Patrick! I've watched so many of your videos now trying to decode or encode which language, direction and path that I should take to get started in programming but this video made it VERY clear that it doesn't really matter, in a sense... It really is a non-stop ride into the future and being a "jack of all trades" can be just as beneficial as being the "master of n(one)". Thanks for the great advice ;

[allenholloway]

Even though I never learned a commonly used programming language, and I learned a rather more specific ones instead, but when I started learning other ones, it was really, really easy. (At least the beginning foundational stuff.)

And even when I knew that specific language, I absolutely loved solving new problems, even ones not really designed to work with that language.

[AaronHn]

I agree that assembly is hard to learn even though it's really fast since it's closer to the native language of a computer.

[carolinewyatt]

I really enjoyed this video. It helped me think about a career in coding and programming in a different way. Well done!

[MayWanderer]

THANKS YOU! This is perfect for everyone that's thinking about learning coding. Unable to find a job in my MSc in Water Treatment, I spent months thinking about which language to start with in order to learn programming... Complete waste of time. I wish I've seen this video before. Now I've just finished CodeAcademy's coding intro course and I'm just going to pick up whatever language! Good luck everyone.

[karinasevillano]

Thank you for the video! I found it very well presented and insightful, basically anticipating my questions :). Well done! I have started learning Ruby to be better at calling data from the database at work (the company I worked for has created a query language based on Ruby).

[evelinbaka]

this is the most complete and concrete answer I hve gotten to that question

[anammurad]

Thanks for answering this complicated question. Very helpful.