In this course, we will be learning a programming language called Python. Just like languages in the real world, programming languages are used to communicate; but instead of communicating with other people, they are used to communicate with computers. In most cases, programmers are the ones to do this.
More specifically, a programmer has an idea in his or her head of what he or she wants the computer to do, and the only way for the programmer to communicate that idea to the computer is to write to it using lines of code. And just like knowing English helps you when learning French since they have certain similarities, learning Python as a base will help you branch out if needed and learn other programming languages more easily. And just like English is an international language, Python is also a very popular language, used in many industries.
Python is the programming language of choice for many because of:
1. Its popularity. If you are learning a regular language, wouldn’t it be better if it was used in many countries? Not only is Python used by software engineers and computer scientists, but it is also used by regular scientists (physicists, chemists, neuroscientists), network engineers, data analysts, mathematicians, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, and even accountants may use it for data analytics and automation.
2. Its applications. In general, Python is used for data analysis and visualization, Artificial Intelligence, backend web development, all-purpose scripting (automation), cybersecurity, and even small games.
3. Its beginner-friendly syntax. Compared to other programming languages, Python resembles the English language we all know and love. This makes it relatively easy to transition into the field of programming.
4. Its abundance of libraries. A library is a collection of code that can be imported from the internet and used by anyone to make one’s life easier (by removing the need to write everything from scratch). Working on a website-related project? Then there are some useful libraries for you (1, 2, 3). Working on a data analysis project? There’s a lot in this department (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). Working on an AI project? Python’s got you covered (1, 2). In fact, this very course is built on top of the mcpi library. This library was written by a programmer by the name of Martin O’Hanlon, and it allows us to easily connect our Python code with the Minecraft world. Without this library, this course would not be possible!
5. Its community support. Because of its popularity and widespread use, the exchange of technical knowledge is very ubiquitous, whether in text or in video format. If you are stuck with something, it’s not difficult to find help online.
6. Its demand. Python is one of the most in demand programming languages among employers at the moment. This can be tied to the first few reasons given above.
The important thing is to get started
Even if I were to list another 10 reasons why Python is the best language to start with, my opinion is that the language itself is of secondary importance in the grand scheme of things. What is more important is building up the skillsets (which you get through hours of coding), irrespective of the language. And because that experience and those skillsets are transferable from one language to another (especially if they are within the same “domain”), this means that what’s really important, is to get started! 🙂
Written by Andrei Guevorkian
