Does the choice of programming language affect problem solving skills?

Absolutely, the language can impact your work. While you can do a lot with JavaScript, certain tasks are better suited to languages like C or Rust, especially for performance-sensitive applications. But for hobbies or learning, what matters most is your comfort with the language. Just remember, the application you're building will often dictate the best language for the job.

The basics of problem solving are pretty much the same across all languages. Changing languages won’t necessarily make you a better problem solver. What’s important is that you stick with a language you enjoy. If you constantly switch languages, you might end up confusing yourself and lose motivation, which is a common reason for struggling in programming.

While language choice does influence your coding style, you can usually find a way to solve any problem in any language. JavaScript and Python are both great for quickly tackling challenges on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank. Just keep in mind that these sites only cover certain aspects of programming; real projects require different skills.

Choose the language you're most comfortable with. At the end of the day, understanding fundamentals matters more than the specific language. However, I find coding in JavaScript on HackerRank a little tricky sometimes. You might want to try different languages if you feel it's necessary!

Keep in mind that the context of what you're building matters too! If you're making an iPhone app, you'll want to use Swift. For databases, languages like C or Rust can be ideal. But if your focus is purely on data structures and algorithms, the language is less of a concern.