The honest guide

Which Language Should I Learn?

Every language exists for a reason. Here's what each one actually does, who uses it, and whether it's the right one for you — no gatekeeping, no hype, just real talk.

Quick answer based on your goal:

🌐

I want to build websites

→ HTML/CSS → JavaScript → React

📱

I want to build mobile apps

→ Swift (iPhone) or Kotlin (Android)

🤖

I want to get into AI / data

→ Python → SQL

⚡

I want to automate boring stuff

→ Python

💼

I want a tech job ASAP

→ JavaScript + React or Python

🎮

I want to build games

→ C# (Unity) or C++ (Unreal)

🤷‍♀️

I have no idea yet

→ Python or JavaScript — both keep all doors open

✨

I want to build this website

→ TypeScript + React + Next.js

🎨

HTML & CSS

The building blocks of every website

Beginner-friendly

HTML is the structure of a webpage (headings, paragraphs, images) and CSS is the styling (colors, fonts, layouts). They're not technically programming languages — they're markup and styling — but they're the first thing every web developer learns.

Used for

  • Building websites and web pages
  • Designing layouts and visual styles
  • Email templates
  • Landing pages and portfolios

Real-world examples

Every website you've ever visitedShopify themesWordPress sitesEmail newsletters

Should you learn it?

Everyone. If you want to build anything on the internet, you start here. It's the most beginner-friendly entry point into tech.

Read the guide →All Projects guides
⚡

JavaScript

Makes websites actually do things

Beginner-friendly

JavaScript is the language that makes websites interactive. Clicking buttons, showing notifications, filtering search results, loading new content without refreshing — that's all JavaScript. It runs in every web browser and is also used on servers with Node.js.

Used for

  • Interactive websites and web apps
  • Frontend frameworks (React, Vue, Next.js)
  • Backend servers (Node.js, Express)
  • Mobile apps (React Native)
  • Browser extensions

Real-world examples

Instagram's web appNetflix's interfaceSpotify's web playerNotionFigma

Should you learn it?

Anyone who wants to build websites or web apps. It's the most in-demand programming language in the world and the gateway to frameworks like React.

All JavaScript guides
📝

TypeScript

JavaScript with guardrails

Some experience helpful

TypeScript is JavaScript with added type safety. It catches bugs before your code runs by making you declare what type of data your variables hold (string, number, etc.). It compiles down to regular JavaScript.

Used for

  • Large-scale web applications
  • Team projects where code clarity matters
  • React and Next.js projects
  • Backend APIs with Node.js
  • Any JavaScript project that's getting complex

Real-world examples

VS Code (written entirely in TypeScript)Slack's desktop appAirbnb's frontendVercel's dashboard

Should you learn it?

Learn JavaScript first, then pick up TypeScript once you're comfortable. Most modern companies and open-source projects use it. It makes your code way more reliable.

Read the guide →All TypeScript guides
⚛️

React

Build UIs out of reusable pieces

Some experience helpful

React is a JavaScript library (made by Meta) for building user interfaces. Instead of writing one giant HTML file, you break your UI into small, reusable components — like LEGO blocks. It's the most popular frontend framework in the world.

Used for

  • Single-page web applications
  • Complex interactive UIs
  • Dashboards and admin panels
  • Mobile apps (with React Native)
  • Full-stack apps (with Next.js)

Real-world examples

Facebook & InstagramWhatsApp WebUber's rider appDiscordThis website!

Should you learn it?

Anyone who wants a frontend developer job. React is on more job listings than any other framework. Learn HTML, CSS, and JavaScript first — then React will click.

All React guides
🐍

Python

The friendly all-rounder

Beginner-friendly

Python is known for being easy to read — it looks almost like English. It's incredibly versatile: data science, AI, web scraping, automation, backend servers, even game development. If JavaScript is the language of the web, Python is the language of everything else.

Used for

  • Data science and analytics
  • AI and machine learning
  • Automating boring tasks
  • Web scraping
  • Backend APIs (Django, Flask, FastAPI)
  • Scientific research

Real-world examples

Instagram's backendSpotify's recommendation algorithmNetflix's data pipelineYouTubeNASA

Should you learn it?

Anyone interested in AI, data, or automation. Also great as a first language because of how readable it is. If you're not sure what you want to do in tech, Python keeps all doors open.

Read the guide →All Python guides
🗃️

SQL

Talk to databases

Beginner-friendly

SQL (Structured Query Language) is how you talk to databases. Every app that stores data — users, products, orders, posts — uses a database, and SQL is how you ask it questions. "Show me all users who signed up this month" is a SQL query.

Used for

  • Querying and managing databases
  • Data analysis and reporting
  • Backend development
  • Business intelligence
  • Any app that stores user data

Real-world examples

Every app with a login systemBanking systemsE-commerce product catalogsAnalytics dashboards

Should you learn it?

Anyone going into backend development, data science, or analytics. Even frontend developers benefit from understanding SQL. It's a must-know for most tech jobs.

🍎

Swift

Build iPhone and Mac apps

Some experience helpful

Swift is Apple's language for building iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS apps. If you want your app in the App Store, Swift is the way to go. It's modern, fast, and designed to be beginner-friendly (by programming language standards).

Used for

  • iPhone and iPad apps
  • Mac desktop applications
  • Apple Watch apps
  • Apple TV apps

Real-world examples

UberAirbnb (iOS app)LinkedIn (iOS)Duolingo (iOS)

Should you learn it?

Anyone who wants to build native Apple apps. If your dream is to see your app on the App Store, learn Swift. You'll need a Mac to develop with it.

🤖

Kotlin

Build Android apps

Some experience helpful

Kotlin is Google's preferred language for Android app development. It replaced Java as the go-to for Android and is more concise and modern. If you want your app on the Google Play Store, this is your language.

Used for

  • Android phone and tablet apps
  • Android Wear apps
  • Server-side development
  • Cross-platform with Kotlin Multiplatform

Real-world examples

Google appsNetflix (Android)Pinterest (Android)Trello (Android)

Should you learn it?

Anyone who wants to build Android apps. If you're choosing between iOS and Android development, consider which phone you use — it helps to be able to test on your own device.

☕

Java

The enterprise workhorse

Some experience helpful

Java has been around since 1995 and it's everywhere — banks, enterprises, Android (historically), and massive backend systems. It's verbose (lots of typing) but extremely reliable and performant. Many large companies run their entire infrastructure on Java.

Used for

  • Enterprise backend systems
  • Android apps (legacy)
  • Banking and financial systems
  • Large-scale distributed systems
  • Desktop applications

Real-world examples

Most banking systemsAmazon's backendLinkedIn's backendMinecraft

Should you learn it?

Anyone targeting enterprise or fintech jobs. Java developers are in high demand at big companies (banks, insurance, Fortune 500). It's also commonly taught in CS courses.

⚙️

C / C++

Maximum speed, maximum control

For experienced devs

C and C++ are low-level languages that give you direct control over hardware and memory. They're the fastest languages out there and are used where performance is critical — operating systems, game engines, embedded systems.

Used for

  • Operating systems (Windows, Linux, macOS)
  • Game engines (Unreal Engine)
  • Embedded systems and IoT
  • High-performance computing
  • Compilers and interpreters

Real-world examples

Windows and macOS coreUnreal EngineArduino projectsPhotoshopMost video games

Should you learn it?

Anyone interested in systems programming, game development, or understanding how computers actually work under the hood. Not recommended as a first language — it's powerful but unforgiving.

🦀

Rust

Safe systems programming

For experienced devs

Rust is a newer systems language that's as fast as C++ but prevents entire categories of bugs through its ownership system. It's been voted the "most loved language" by developers for years running.

Used for

  • Systems programming
  • WebAssembly (high-performance web apps)
  • Command-line tools
  • Browser engines
  • Blockchain and crypto infrastructure

Real-world examples

Firefox's rendering engineDiscord's backendCloudflare WorkersDropbox's file sync

Should you learn it?

Experienced developers who want to do systems-level work with modern safety guarantees. Not a beginner language, but incredibly rewarding once you get it.

🐹

Go

Simple, fast backend services

Some experience helpful

Go (or Golang) was created at Google for building fast, reliable backend services. It's intentionally simple — few features, easy to learn, compiles instantly. It excels at handling thousands of simultaneous connections.

Used for

  • Backend APIs and microservices
  • Cloud infrastructure tools
  • DevOps and CLI tools
  • Real-time systems

Real-world examples

DockerKubernetesUber's backendTwitch's chat system

Should you learn it?

Backend developers who want simplicity and speed. Great second language after Python or JavaScript if you want to move into cloud/infrastructure work.

🚀

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