I recently told a friend that I'm learning web development through The Odin Project, and he joked that I'm wasting my time because AI can already do most web development work. I'm not convinced AI can handle everything reliably, especially as projects become more complex, but I'm wondering whether web development will still be worth learning in the future.
He suggested that I switch to Python instead. I'm still a beginner, and I've enjoyed learning HTML and CSS so far. The course has also introduced me to practical tools like running Linux in a virtual machine, which I've found useful. Should I continue with web development, learn Python instead, or study both? I'd also appreciate recommendations for free Python learning resources.
3 Answers
Python is a great language, especially for automation, data work, scripting, and backend development, but it isn’t automatically a better choice than web development. Pick a project you’re interested in and learn the tools needed to build it. For free Python resources, the official Python tutorial, Automate the Boring Stuff with Python, and beginner courses from free educational platforms are good places to start.
Web development is a much broader field than just writing basic pages. Understanding how browsers, servers, databases, authentication, and deployment fit together gives you a foundation that AI tools can’t replace. HTML and CSS are worth learning even if you eventually focus on Python, since they help you understand how web applications are structured.
You don’t really have to choose between them. Python is commonly used for backend web development with frameworks such as Flask or FastAPI, while HTML and CSS teach you how the frontend actually works. I’d continue with your current course and add Python later when you have a reason to use it. Learning the fundamentals is still valuable because AI-generated code can be incorrect, insecure, or difficult to integrate into a larger project.
That makes sense. I was mainly worried that spending time on HTML and CSS would become irrelevant, but I do enjoy learning how they work.