Ask HN: Should I learn Python? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Should I learn Python?

And what about Rust?

https://www.codecademy.com/learn/python

https://www.khanacademy.org/computer-programming/python-prog...

Python is good because it works across different platforms. It has a lot of example code and libraries to use.

Rust is still a new language not as many people using it as Python does. I remember a startup tried to write a haunted house video game in Rust but ran out of money because Rust developers are rare and want a lot of money to work. If it was Java or C++ based they could have hired cheaper programmers and then sold it to raise money for a Rust remake.

Here is some Rust learning resources: http://hackr.io/tutorials/rust

Do you happen to remember what that startup's name was? I've never heard this story.

The startup name was never given. They posted on HN asking why they couldn't get their game finished in Rust and why Rust developers wanted more money than other developers. I don't have the link and HN is hard to search to find it. But I remembered it.

Hard to say without context. I can speak for myself, after spending many years doing Perl based web dev work, I'm finding less and less of them and the ones I do get are not what I want. Got tired of seeing high paying python jobs going across my inbox...So yea I'm learning Python because I think it will double my job reach.

Oh and I don't know where you are, but pycon is coming up. If you are serious about learning, you should go: https://us.pycon.org/

Your productivity is not really tied to the language syntax as much as it's dependent on libraries. Python Standard Library as well as libraries outside of it are in many cases mature, stable and well-tested. Things like scikit, pandas, NLTK, Django have mature ecosystems of their own, so overall it's a very good general-purpose language to know.

It's hard to answer this question without knowing what languages you already know and how experienced you are. I'd recommend Python regardless. It's very useful for writing small scripts sometimes and is used pretty widely I'd say. Can't say too much about Rust, but it looks interesting.

If you want to make money, neither is your best bet, but Python is far better of a bet than Rust. If you want to learn about programming, Rust is a better bet. If you want to develop apps for your own use, Python will have more pre-written libraries and components for you to use.

It depends on what you're trying to do.

Where are you coming from, and where do you want to go?

My answer: Yes

If you are a beginner,then YES.

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