As a programming newbie, when should you consider learning a new language?

Question

So far I have mostly concentrated solely on Python and have done some of the other Sololearn courses just out of general interest. I haven't practiced with any other languages either really but it strikes me that understanding multiple different languages is good for development of problem solving in general. I don't want to get distracted by learning another language too early but I'm not sure at what point I should seriously think about starting it either.

Answer 1

HonFu I use basic functions a lot but I was meaning the more complex stuff like generators, recursion and the like. It is difficult but I will no doubt get better over time if I practice ☺

Answer 2

HonFu That's a good point and doing it that way seems like a sensible idea. I've found that classes and OOP are much easier to understand in the other courses I've done because I spent so much time trying to grasp it in Python

Answer 3

HonFu On the flip side, I should probably spend more time learning functional programming in python. I suck at that

Answer 4

If you wait with the second language until you know the first, you'll forever only speak one language. Because really: When will you ever know it fully? Every programming language is huge, and also evolving, and there might always be some white spots.

In order to start something new while avoiding confusion I have tried this and it seems to work well enough :

When you start a new language, only study the areas of the new language that you have a firm grasp of in your first language!

For example if you know your input and output and functions, but are still confused about classes, learn input and output and functions of the new language, but not yet about classes.

Answer 5

I've seen you writing functions in your codes, so what level of functional programming do you suck at?

Are your functions not pure enough? Or do you want to learn lambda clusters ('oneliners')?

Myself I have trouble with recursion, but I am confident that this will resolve when the time is right.

Answer 6

Is there a certain time to when you should learn a new language? If so I would say it is after you got a grasp on your current language

Answer 7

Rob Bailiff, It was the same for me. For quite a while, classes made no sense to me, but when that issue resolved, finishing the other courses was a bit like yeah, yeah, click, click (you don't really learn them like that though).