Why does nobody talk about how much time you waste trying to pick the 'right' first language?

Nina Singh · 2026-04-01T11:35:04.821296+00:00

I spent 6 months bouncing between Python and JavaScript until a friend in Chicago asked to see a single finished project. I had zero. What's a project a total newbie can actually finish in a weekend?

davidwright5mo ago

Make a tiny text adventure game. It's just print statements and simple if/else choices, but you actually finish something you can show people. That first win is what gets you hooked.

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benwilliams5mo ago

Been there, done that, got the analysis paralysis t-shirt. Build a simple webpage that shows the weather or a to-do list. You'll learn more finishing that than six months of tutorials.

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aaron8455mo ago

My buddy did the text adventure thing like davidwright said, but his had a sentient toaster. The real win was showing it to his mom. She still asks if he can make it print a recipe.

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