I mostly work with HTML and CSS, and I've learned some Java, but starting a project in it feels pretty verbose. I'd like to make small command line programs and keep getting distracted by the search for the perfect language.
What would you recommend trying, and what makes programming fun for you?
Pick one language and make something small before comparing any more. A command line habit tracker or a tool that renames files could be enough to get started.
The fun often comes from breaking the idea into little problems, getting each piece working, and seeing the whole thing come together. You'll learn concepts you can carry into another language later, so this choice doesn't have to be permanent.
I'd try Python for command line projects. Its syntax is relatively approachable, and you can get a small program going without as much ceremony as Java. Pick a task you actually care about, even if it's just sorting a text file, and learn what you need as you build it.
There isn't one universal source of joy here. For some people it's tracking down a stubborn bug. For others it's designing how the pieces fit together or having a useful tool at the end. You don't have to love every minute of writing code for the project to be worthwhile.
You could also build on the website work you already enjoy. JavaScript lets you add behavior to a page, which gives you another way to practice programming without abandoning HTML and CSS. That doesn't rule out command line projects either. Try whichever idea makes you curious enough to start.
If Nim, Lua, Ruby, or Dart caught your eye, try a tiny program in one of them. Choose based on whether you enjoy using it and can find the learning resources you need, not on whether other people think it's the right choice. You can always switch later.
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b82~ferriswheel_416:
Keep the first version tiny. A tool that does one thing is easier to finish and improve than a big project with ten planned features.