I've been wanting to get into programming for a while now but I have no idea where to start. I see there are tons of different languages and I don't know which one to pick to get going without making things too complicated. Is there one that's easier than the others for a beginner?
If you're the type who learns by doing rather than reading theory all day, Python is your way to go because it lets you write functional code without getting bogged down in annoying syntax details.
What nobody really mentions is that besides Python you need a decent editor or IDE (VS Code works great for you and it's free), because that makes the difference between getting frustrated right away or actually enjoying yourself while you learn.
Grab a small project that excites you, even if it's just a basic game or a tool you'd use yourself, because the motivation of seeing something you built actually work is what keeps you in this.
Don't jump straight into complicated languages like C++ or Rust, they'll frustrate you right off the bat.
Python is your best bet to start with because the syntax is clean and readable, almost like writing pseudocode, so you can focus on understanding the concepts without wrestling with weird brackets or crazy rules.
Once you've got Python down and you understand how variables, loops, and functions work, jumping to JavaScript or Java will seem like a breeze. You got this - once you get hooked on it, it's addictive!
What attracts you more, making visual things that look polished fast or really understanding how things work under the hood? Because depending on that, Python is still the most obvious choice to start with, but there are nuances.
Python works because when you write code it looks like what you were already thinking. You don't fight with syntax, and that leaves your brain free to understand actual programming concepts: variables, functions, loops, logic. After a couple weeks with Python, switching to another language becomes way less terrifying. What you learn about *how to think through* a program is what matters.
Now, here's the hack nobody probably told you about: instead of starting with boring exercises like "print numbers from 1 to 10," find a dumb project but something you actually care about. When I wanted to get started, instead of following generic tutorials, I made a script that counted how many kilometers I'd run in the week according to my notes in a file. It was silly, but I actually used it, kept adding features to it, and that keeps you motivated. The motivation of having something *that actually works* that you built yourself is way stronger than any textbook exercise.
When I started messing with code without knowing anything, Python saved me because you can see results almost immediately and you don't get bogged down in weird syntax; but my advice is to look for exercises on platforms like Codewars or HackerRank from day one, because spending all day reading tutorials without getting your hands dirty is the surest way to learn nothing and give up after a month.
The truth is that the "perfect language" to start with really depends on what kind of things motivate you to learn. It's not like there's one absolute winner, though of course some options make way more sense than others. What I will say is that everyone who's answered here is right on the basics: avoiding complicated languages at the start is the smart move, because you'll spare yourself unnecessary frustration.
Python is obviously the star option, but there's a detail that maybe hasn't been mentioned explicitly: once you master Python, migrating to other languages later is relatively easy because you'll have understood fundamental concepts (variables, loops, functions, data structures) in a much clearer way. It's like learning to drive in an automatic car before moving on to a manual one. But if what really attracts you is building things on the web (pages, applications that look nice), JavaScript could also be your entry point, though Python is still friendlier for understanding pure logic without distractions.
The important thing is that you start tinkering as soon as possible, that you do actual exercises instead of just watching tutorials, and that you don't get too obsessed with the choice. Any reasonably accessible language is going to teach you the basics of logical thinking, which is what you really need to learn. After that, switching tools is basically a matter of syntax.
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