Is it bad to focus on too many languages at once?

Question

I find my self often spending 2 hours on one language and then 2 on another. On top of that I still try to find time to practice web development and learn Linux better. I am intermediate in most languages I'm learning. But should I focus on one or two for now and give the others a break? What do you guys think is it smart to make time to practice 4 languages at once? while also trying to learn Linux?

Answer 1

The important thing is to understand the difference between learning a language and learning to program. Learning most programming languages is relatively easy. Learning to program is hard. Learning to program is easier when you're familiar with the language, whichever language it may be. Stick to a single language until you're proficient not just in its syntax but in writing non-trivial programs with it.

A common trap new programmers fall into is to learn the very basics of a language, then move onto a new language when the first one starts to get difficult. They end up learning several languages but not knowing enough about how to program to actually do anything with them.

Answer 2

My opinion is that it is almost impossible to be good (really good) in more programming languages (you will forget). You should select a few (for different purposes, not for the same) and try to be as good as you can in those. It is much better then being newbie in multiple ones (if you really would like to create applications).

Answer 3

In my humble starter opinion, let the following saying be your guide... "Expert of everything, master of none." Stick to one, until you get every bit and pieces of it, then move to the next, and the next, and so forth...

Answer 4

You can do it to get an overview

Answer 5

OFCOURSE...! that thing like 🎢

Answer 6

I think it's important to stick to one or two languages and dig as deep as possible but also it's useful to understand basic concepts of other languages, it may help you in the future.

Answer 7

most important thing is that what Knowledge you are gaining from that if you are getting all your concepts clear than it is not bad to focus on too many languages at once 😀😀

Answer 8

it depends on what you want to do
if you want to do web development you need to learn HTML, CSS, JavaScript and one Server script languages like JSP/ASP/ PHP

if you want to do Android development, learn Core Java and Android

if you want to do AI, python is the lanaguage

For IOS, learn Swift

Work on few live Projects on one or two related languages, it will help you understand, Project Scope, Algorithms, Bug fixing, Performance issues, Security Aspects , change requests, moving to Production and maintenance. Then you can work on any language project

Answer 9

By definition, too much is always bad.

Answer 10

make your favourite language as high priority and master it..

Answer 11

Thanks guys for your advice its true that learning syntax and learning to program is not the same this helps me to look at it from a different angle while I can write intermediate programs it's better to be good in one than a noob in many as Tamas said

Answer 12

Well... People who learn C, will learn cpp and know both and they can use both at the same time. So, in some cases it benefits the programmer greatly

Answer 13

In my opinion this isn't so bad but if you want to be more efficient you obviously should target on ONE language at once. Except if you got enough memory and capacity to code with a lot of languages in a same time!
Just, don't be like me who's learning 6 different languages and fail everywhere x)

Answer 14

In my opinion, if you start to programming, you should focus on one single language. You should train your problem solving skills, learn the syntax and understand how this language works.
Well, when you finish this three points, you have strong bases to learn every language.

But the most important thing is.. train a lot 😉

Answer 15

depends on who you are and what you're capable of. it helps some ppl and hurts others. just find out what is best for you and do that.

Answer 16

I appreciate all the insightful answers given here, but I think some are looking at my question from the wrong perspective. As I stated earlier I am not a beginner, at the most I'd say I am intermediate. While I see the point some are trying to make with the " Master one language" thing, I was told by one programmer that you can never master a language as new versions are always being developed and you have to adapt and learn the new syntax every time
I think it's OK to handle 2 or 3 languages right? Most jobs I see don't usually have only one language as a requirement. They usually as for 2 at minimum(like how most web dev jobs ask for php, and JS and one more). So should I really spend years trying to be perfect in one language and limit my skill set. After reading a lot of advice here I have been thinking maybe to stick with Java and Python for now(and maybe one more) , before I was learning Python,java,js ,php,ruby,linux, and I was dabbling in Perl
The purpose to be a versatile programmer, but I do agree I should limit it to two or 3 for now and give the others a rest.

Answer 17

It depends on what languages . those that are similar in syntax and structure are fine . you don't have to memorize everything use documentations whenever you switch to another language .

Answer 18

For Some Time.

Answer 19

Well... Depends on the person actually... If you are already a programmer, then it might be an advantage to learn multiple languages simultaneously if you have time for them...
But if you're not a programmer already, then stick to one language, preferably an easy one like python or ruby ! Learn it very well and get really good at it... write a few programs in it... Then you are a programmer, congrats ! From there you can learn as many programming languages as you like...

Learning how to program is the hard part... But it is also the part that is very similar among almost all programming languages ! Learning how to code ( the language ) is very easy... but learning the language alone won't teach you how to use it !
In other words... Lets say you learned the vocabulary of a foreign language, that was kinda easy ! The hard part is learning how to put what you learned together to express yourself in meaningful sentences...
Same goes for programming languages !

Answer 20

As for learning linux... That's fairly easy (coming from an archlinux user who uses only linux these days ! )
I started using linux back in 2012 with backtrack 5 r2 then I used r3 ! That was an Ubuntu based OS with pentesting tools...
Then I used Kali which is a debian based OS with pentesting tools... It's the successor of backtrack !

After that I got more serious about linux and started using Ubuntu... And lately I got sick of ubuntu and moved to archlinux ! I think my next move would be to try out freeBSD... It is more unix-like than linux and also more stable...

I wouldn't say starting with linux was that easy for someone who has used windows ( the shittiest OS out there ) only and nothing else... I admit linux felt so confusing and I was a little overwhelmed at the beginning... But it didn't take me very long to get used to it... Now I'm more like a linux-Pro after 5 years since I first used it ! But I only ditched windows and moved to linux for good after I installed arch linux ! Before I installed arch, windows was powering my main machine and it was what I mostly used !
My piece of advice for you if you wanna learn linux... test out different distros and settle down for the one you like most ! But also try out arch linux because that teaches you real linux ! In my case I loved arch linux and settled down for it...
Another advice... don't use ubuntu ! It's a joke of a linux distro ! LOL...