What Was Your First Programming Language? Would You Choose It Again Today?

Every developer likely has a starting point that brought them into the world of programming. Some start by typing Hello, World!following their teacher in a classroom. Some begin by trying to modify code on a website. Some want to build their own games, while others might start with HTML and CSS because they are curious about how the websites we browse every day are built. Therefore, each person's first language might be Python, JavaScript, C, C++, Java, PHP, Scratch, or other different languages. But after programming for a while, an interesting question might not just be “What was your first programming language?”, but might also include the question, “If you could go back and start over today, would you still choose the same language?”

This article doesn't intend to judge which language is the best. Instead, I want to invite everyone to look back at their own starting point and explore how our first language influenced our journey as a developer.

Our First Language Might Not Have Started From Our Own Choice

When talking about the first programming language, many people might not have started by sitting down and comparing the pros and cons of each language before learning. We might have started because that language was in the curriculum, because a friend recommended it, from the first video tutorial we found, or because a project we wanted to do required that language. This means that our first language doesn't always reflect what field we want to work in the future, but rather it reflects the opportunities, tools, and environment we had access to at that time. Some people start with one language but end up working with another, while some continue using their first language until it becomes their core expertise.

Neither path is right or wrong, because programming languages are tools, and the right tool naturally depends on the problem we want to solve. The computer science curriculum guidelines CS2023, created by ACM, IEEE Computer Society, and AAAI, explain that each programming language differs based on programming paradigms and problem types, but they also share many fundamental concepts. Understanding these concepts helps in learning new languages faster and choosing the right language for the job more effectively.

Therefore, what is more important than starting with the “best” language might be getting to start learning how to think, how to solve problems, and how to translate thoughts into instructions that a computer can execute.

Does Starting with HTML Count as a First Language?

This is a question that frequently arises when talking about first coding experiences. Many people build their first webpage with HTML and CSS before even knowing about variables, conditions, functions, or programming language concepts. So, can we call HTML our first programming language?

Technically, HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language, which is a language for defining the structure and meaning of web content. CSS is a language for defining the presentation style, while JavaScript is a programming or scripting language used to create behavior and interactivity on web pages. Therefore, if strictly asked what a “first programming language” is, HTML and CSS would not be categorized in the same group as JavaScript, Python, or Java. But if the question is “What did you start coding with?”, answering HTML or CSS is not wrong at all. For many people, seeing the text, images, buttons, or layout they wrote appear on the screen might be the moment that sparks a serious interest in web development, and that can certainly be considered a meaningful starting point.

Which Language Should You Choose if You Start Over Today?

This question doesn't have a single answer that fits everyone. The first language should correlate more with what we want to build rather than just following trends alone.

The Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2025 report found that Python usage among respondents increased by 7 percentage points from the previous year. The report linked this growth to jobs in AI, Data Science, and Back-end Development. However, this survey measures the languages respondents have actively used over the past year; it doesn't measure which language is the best starting language for everyone. Popularity can be a piece of information for decision-making, but it shouldn't be the sole reason. Before choosing your first language, try starting with the question: “What do we want to build with programming?”

Want to Build Interactive Websites

JavaScript is one of the languages that matches this goal because it's a programming language used to create interactive capabilities on web pages, such as button functionalities, form data validation, content updates, animations, and various functions on websites. Furthermore, JavaScript can also run outside the browser through environments like Node.js.

Starting with JavaScript is therefore suitable for those who want to see their results on a webpage and want to pursue a path in Front-end or Web Development.

Want to Practice Fundamentals, Automate Systems, or Work with Data

Python is another language often used as a starting language. Python's official documentation explains that Python is an easy-to-learn language with high-level data structures and supports both scripting and various forms of application development. However, the term “easy to learn” doesn't mean learners won't face challenges. Understanding variables, conditionals, loops, functions, data structures, and problem-solving methods still requires practice, just like any other language.

The advantage of Python for beginners is that we can apply foundational knowledge to experiment with building various types of projects, from small programs and automation tasks to further studies in data and Back-end Development.

Want to Build Android Apps

For those who have a clear goal of wanting to develop Android apps, Android Developers' documentation recommends Kotlin for modern Android development, and there are even specific courses for those with no prior programming experience.

Therefore, starting with Kotlin might be more meaningful than starting with a language that is said to be easier to learn, if what motivates us to keep learning is actually building real Android apps.

Want to Build Apps for Apple Platforms

If the goal is to build apps for iPhone, iPad, Mac, or other Apple platforms, starting with Swift is a path that aligns directly with that goal. Apple states that Swift is the programming language for Apple platforms and provides learning resources for beginners, including Swift Playgrounds, which allows learners to experiment with writing code and see interactive results.

These examples show that the right first language might not be the easiest language in every aspect, but rather the language that brings us closest to what we want to build.

Does the First Language Have to Be the Language We Work With Forever?

Not necessarily. The first language's role is to guide us into understanding the world of programming, but it doesn't bind us to using that language for our entire career. Once we understand concepts like variables, conditionals, loops, functions, problem decomposition, and data structures, learning a new language won't be starting completely from scratch, even though each language has its own syntax, tools, and specific concepts.

CS2023 states that throughout their careers, computer scientists and developers are likely to need to learn and work with multiple languages. Furthermore, understanding the fundamental principles of programming languages makes it easier to transition from one language to another. We might start with Python and then work with JavaScript or Go. We might start with Java and then pivot to learning Kotlin. We might start building websites with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript before moving on to Back-end, Mobile Applications, or Cloud systems.

Changing languages doesn't mean what was learned before is wasted. What stays with us is the way of thinking, the problem-solving experience, and the understanding of how software is built.

If You Could Go Back, Would You Still Choose the Same Language?

Some people might answer “I'd choose the same one” because their first language helped them understand the basics and led them to their current career path. Some might answer “I wouldn't choose it” because, knowing themselves better now, they found another language more suited to their goals. Some might feel that if they started over today, they would choose a language that helps them build things faster to stay motivated to learn. Meanwhile, others might still choose the same challenging language because the difficulty back then became an important foundation today. There is no single most correct answer, because we are using our current knowledge and experience to judge our past selves, even though our past selves didn't even know what field we would be interested in in the future.

What's more interesting than the answer of whether to choose it or not might be the reasons behind that answer. Did your first language make you love programming? Did it ever make you feel that programming was too hard? Was there a project that made you decide to keep learning? Or did you switch to another language when you discovered a path that suited you better?

These answers could be useful for people who are currently standing at the very same starting point we once passed.

The First Language Might Be Important, But Taking Action is More Important

Many beginners spend their time comparing whether Python or JavaScript is better, whether to start with a high-level or low-level language, and which language has the brightest future. Researching before making a decision is a good thing. But once a language that aligns with your goals is chosen, the important thing is to start taking action. You don't need to wait until you understand everything before building your first project. Your first project could just be a calculator, a to-do list program, an introductory website, a word-guessing game, or a small script that helps reduce repetitive tasks. Small projects will expose us to real problems, give us practice in finding answers, and show us how different pieces of knowledge connect with each other.

Therefore, a good first language doesn't have to be the most perfect language, but it should be a language that makes us want to turn on the computer and continue coding the next day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which programming language is the best for beginners?

There is no single best language for everyone. You should choose based on what you want to build, the tools you can access, and the learning resources that suit you. Languages like Python and JavaScript are common choices, but those wanting to build Android apps or apps on Apple platforms might start directly with Kotlin or Swift.

Is Python really suitable for beginners?

Python's official documentation states that Python is an easy-to-learn language that can be used in many ways, making it an attractive choice for beginners. However, learners still need to practice basic concepts and solve problems on their own, no different from learning any other language.

Is HTML a programming language?

HTML is a Markup Language used to define the structure and meaning of content on a website, not a programming language in the same sense as JavaScript or Python. CSS is a language for defining the presentation style of content. However, if HTML is the first set of code that brought you into the world of web development, you can certainly count it as the starting point of your coding journey.

Should I learn multiple languages at the same time?

For beginners, choosing one language and using it to build projects until the fundamentals are understood usually helps reduce confusion more than constantly switching back and forth between languages. Once basic concepts are understood, you can then expand to other languages based on the type of work you are interested in.

If I choose the wrong first language, should I start completely over?

There is no need to start completely over. Many foundational concepts can be applied across languages, even if the writing formats and tools differ. Learning a new language is therefore more about building upon an existing foundation rather than erasing everything and starting from zero.

Is the old language I learned still useful?

It is useful. Even if you no longer use that language for work, the experience gained from problem-solving, reading code, debugging, and understanding program structures can still be applied to other languages and technologies.

Conclusion

The first language is important because it's the tool that helps us begin to understand the concepts of programming. But the first language doesn't have to become our main language for the rest of our lives. If you had to start over today, you should prioritize choosing based on what you want to build. Want to build a website? You might start with JavaScript along with HTML and CSS. Want to experiment with programming, automation, or data tasks? Consider Python. Want to build an Android app? You might start with Kotlin. Want to develop apps on Apple platforms? Choose Swift. No matter which language we start with, the important thing is to understand the basics, practice problem-solving, and build actual projects. Because once the foundation is solid, we will be able to learn new languages and choose the right tools for the job much better.

So, if you could turn back time, would you still choose the same language? Come share your answers and stories with the Superdev Academy community!