I recently started using Linux and it has sparked an interest in programming. I have several hobby projects in mind, but I only have time to focus on one language for now. My ideas include simple terminal applications such as a tide calendar or a weather comparison tool; a screenless note-taking device using a small USB keyboard and a single-board computer; a bike-movement detector that sends email alerts; a GPS-based device that combines location data with iNaturalist information; automation scripts; and eventually a simple text-based game.
I'm considering Rust because it seems useful for embedded devices, terminal interfaces, and games. C also interests me because it could teach important computer science and systems concepts, although I'm unsure how practical it would be for user-interface projects. Python seems well suited to automation, APIs, and single-board computers, but I'm wondering whether it would provide enough grounding in fundamental programming concepts.
Which language would be the best starting point for these projects, and what trade-offs should I consider?
3 Answers
C would be an excellent choice if your main goal is understanding how computers work. You’d learn memory, pointers, compilation, and operating-system interfaces, and libraries such as ncurses can be used to make terminal applications. The downside is that networking, APIs, embedded hardware, and general application development will usually take more effort than they would in Python.
Python is probably the most practical first choice for this particular list. It works well for automation, web APIs, email, GPS data, and single-board computers, and you can build terminal interfaces with libraries such as Textual. It also lets you get to the fun parts of a project quickly instead of spending most of your time managing low-level details.
Don’t feel obligated to choose one language for every future project. Pick a small project and use the language that makes it easiest to finish. Python is a strong general-purpose starting point here, while Rust can be a great second language once you want safer systems or embedded programming. A beginner course followed by a small project will teach you more than trying to predict the perfect language in advance.
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