Why learning C first helped me code better than my Python pals

I learned C first and it forced me to understand memory management. Now when I use Python, I appreciate what's happening under the hood.

3 comments

3 Comments

the_seth1mo ago

Ever notice how Python devs who started with something like JavaScript get totally lost when garbage collection gets weird? I read this analogy once where someone said coding in Python without understanding pointers is like driving automatic without knowing what a transmission does, you're fine until you need to figure out why it's jerking. Starting with C is like getting your manual license first, everything else feels easier because you know what the computer is actually doing under all those layers. That low level pain teaches you to write cleaner code in any language later.

roberts.aaron1mo ago

Ever try to fix a manual with no clue how gears work?

phoenix5491mo ago

Wait you really think manual cars are still the normal way to learn?? lmao that's wild, most people I know have only ever driven automatic. That whole comparison feels kinda old now. I get the point about low-level stuff being helpful, but saying you HAVE to start there is a big stretch. Some of the cleanest code I've seen came from people who started with Python and just learned the hard stuff when they needed it.