6 ms·

Ask HN: Should I learn Python?

6 points by ApplaudPumice 11y ago

And what about Rust?

analognoise 11y ago
It depends on what you're trying to do.
smt88 11y ago
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.
jardaroh 11y ago
My answer: Yes
dllthomas 11y ago
Where are you coming from, and where do you want to go?
mjp94 11y ago
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.
orionblastar 11y ago
https://www.codecademy.com/learn/python https://www.codecademy.com/learn/python https://www.khanacademy.org/computer-programming/python-programming/4682027490082816 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 http://hackr.io/tutorials/rust
- steveklabnik 11y ago
  Do you happen to remember what that startup's name was? I've never heard this story.
  - orionblastar 11y ago
    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.
prostoalex 11y ago
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.
esaym 11y ago
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/ https://us.pycon.org/
allenleein 11y ago
If you are a beginner,then YES.

6 points by ApplaudPumice 11y ago

And what about Rust?

analognoise 11y ago

It depends on what you're trying to do.

smt88 11y ago

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.

jardaroh 11y ago

My answer: Yes

dllthomas 11y ago

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

mjp94 11y ago

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.

orionblastar 11y ago

https://www.codecademy.com/learn/python https://www.codecademy.com/learn/python https://www.khanacademy.org/computer-programming/python-programming/4682027490082816 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 http://hackr.io/tutorials/rust

steveklabnik 11y ago
Do you happen to remember what that startup's name was? I've never heard this story.
- orionblastar 11y ago
  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.

prostoalex 11y ago

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.

esaym 11y ago

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/ https://us.pycon.org/

allenleein 11y ago

If you are a beginner,then YES.