# Programmers! What language for a total novice?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/programmers-what-language-for-a-total-novice/574156>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [March 10, 2011, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/programmers-what-language-for-a-total-novice/574156 "2011-03-10T11:29:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2011, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/programmers-what-language-for-a-total-novice/574156/61 "2011-03-12T21:50:15Z")

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> [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](#):
>
> Well, yes…
> 
> That’s true, but I do maintain that some problems are just not usefully tackled in an OO manner at all. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that some of the languages with very rich dispatching mechanisms also allow you write completely non-OO code.

Sounds like we are pretty much in agreement on all these things.

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**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/programmers-what-language-for-a-total-novice/574156/62 "2011-03-13T00:08:38Z")

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I’m reorganizing our college’s introductory programming classes, and here’s what we’re going to do for our computer sciences students:

- STOP teaching Python; there’s some strange syntax going on, and lots of built-in’s that aren’t available in other languages, which I think is confusing for students who then study other languages. Beyond the introductory class, there wasn’t anything to use Python for (although I personally know that Python is used in large corporations, mostly for install scripts). I liked the language, but students didn’t get a chance to use it after the class was done.

- Have C/C++ as a SECOND class, since the students still need it on their resumes, but we don’t try to use it as an introductory class

- The FIRST class is now Java, but the first semester is using Java as a procedural language. The second semester introduces objects and classes, and will include some UML topics. I’m basing the class on the Stuart Reges book “Building Java Programs” - it has great reviews on Amazon, and is a great introduction to programming.

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**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/programmers-what-language-for-a-total-novice/574156/63 "2011-03-13T00:48:34Z")

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**JohnGalt** , that sounds like a good plan.

I don’t want to get into the middle of the Python fight, but your characterization of it is correct.

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**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/programmers-what-language-for-a-total-novice/574156/64 "2011-03-14T07:22:01Z")

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The problem is, more and more of the open projects are falling back on Python as plug-in writing language of choice. And this isn’t industry-specific: from Blender to openERP, Python is the hammer everyone takes to their nails. So outside CS schools, Python gets a bit of play. But so does Java, IMO they’re pretty much of a muchness if picking a lang for RW usability.

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