Starting in programming might seem scary for a lot of people, including you.

Fear not my friends, Python is here for you and it is ready to help you to start writing your first line of code. So are there any specific reasons why you should only start with Python?

Yeah of course there are! Not one, not two, but 5 specific reasons. Hence, fasten your buckle and get ready to jump to Python bandwagon!

1. Python syntax is simple

Psshh… it is just like talking in person to your computer.

Python syntax is beginner friendly since it is very effective and clean. In Python, you can reach your goal with less line of codes. Isn’t that great? It sure is! As you dive deeper, you will surely appreciate the simplicity of Python. The only thing that you need to remember when using Python is the indentation rule, nothing else! No semicolon, no curly brackets, nothing! Only indentations. Say that you want to print “Hello World” in Python. You only need to use the print() function and this can be done in one line!

print("Hello World!")

Simple as it is. Let’s see how it’s done in C++, another popular language.

#include <iostream>int main() {
    std::cout << "Hello World!" << std::endl;
    return 0;
}

How about in Java?

public class HelloWorld {
    public static void main(String[] args){
        System.out.println("Hello World!");
    }
}

It is clear as day that Python syntax is the easier to learn. It means that you can focus more on developing your structural thinking and the workflow of program rather than dealing with the difficult syntax. Trying to learn the syntax at the same time can hinder your improvement.

2. Python is Versatile

Anything you want is covered!

Python versatility as a language is endless. It has now cover most parts of the technology industry. Just say it, Python can back you up! Whether you want to become a software engineer, web developer, data scientist, data analyst, machine learning engineer, or even deep learning engineer, start with Python! Although Python is easy to learn, it also is equipped with the power to get works done effectively. You might not realise, but Python is everywhere around you. Even the most familiar application that you use daily might use Python in their software.

Instagram, a social media giant, even declared that

“Instagram currently features the world’s largest deployment of the Django web framework, which is written entirely in Python.”

Other giants like Google, Facebook, and Netflix also elaborate Python in their software. The list goes on and on.

3. Python is Flexible

Windows, mac OS, and Linux… We got you covered!

Python is an interpreted and cross-platform language, which means that you can write the code in Windows and run it in a Mac. This is indeed a great feature to have since you will be able to work with other people without worrying much about compatibility issues. Furthermore, Python as a high-level programming language allows developer to view and interact with the code mid-debugging. You don’t need to wait for the compile cycles like with other languages like C++. In other words, this feature will help you to become more productive and save your time.

4. Python Community is Huge

A place to meet a new family!

Python community is very supportive. One of the most effective way in learning Python is to learn together with other fellow learners! By doing so, you can help one another when you come across a problem upon your study. Python is a widely used language, so chances are other people will have already see the same problem and even come up with the solution. Should you have any questions or issues, you can just connect to a Python forum and you can expect a solution not long after. One of the best forums that you can use right now is Stack Overflow.

You can also upload your code online and ask your fellow learners to review and provide feedback to make your code even better. The best way to study programming is by writing a code and ask for suggestions from other people.

This aspect has made learning Python even more fun and easier.

5. Vast Amount of Libraries

Everything’s ready!

Python code can be written significantly shorter than in any other languages, thanks to the extensive standard library that Python provides. In most cases, you don’t need to code high use programming tasks since it has already been scripted into the library.

There are also a lot of Third Party Libraries that are available to be used in the PyPI (Python Package Index). Depending on your needs, you can search for the right library from PyPI. Right now, a lot Python libraries have become the epitome for many industries, like Pandas for Data Science, Pillow for image processing, PyGame for game development, Keras for deep neural networks, and TensorFlow for machine learning.

Lastly…

Python is a great first programming language for you to start with. Depending on your study methods, here are a few resources I personally find useful in starting your journey in the world of Python Programming.

Books

Python Crash Course

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Python-Crash-Course-Hands-Project-Based/dp/1593276036

Learn Python Programming

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Learn-Python-Programming-no-nonsense-programming/dp/1788996666

Impractical Python Projects

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Impractical-Python-Projects-Programming-Activities-ebook/dp/B077WZ43P2

Youtube

Real Python

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI0vQvr9aFn27yR6Ej6n5UA/featured

Al Sweigart

https://www.youtube.com/user/Albert10110

Christian Thompson

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2vm-0XX5RkWCXWwtBZGOXg

Courses

Python for Everybody Specialization

https://www.coursera.org/specializations/python

Introduction to Python : Absolute Beginner

https://www.edx.org/course/introduction-to-python-absolute-beginner-2

Introduction to Python

https://www.datacamp.com/courses/intro-to-python-for-data-science

I started my programming journey with Python as well. Even though it is not all fun and games, however it is definitely worth it to learn Python language.

“The only way to learn a new programming language is by writing programs in it.”-Dennis Ritchie-

So what are you waiting for? Start now and code to your heart. Good luck with Python ahead!

Regards,

Radian Krisno

This article was originally published by Radian Krisno on medium