Is it worth learning C/C++ before learning Python?

Question

I want to learn python, but I feel I should learn C or C++ to get a solid base to build on. I already know some C/C++ as well as other programming languages, which does help. So, should I master C/C++ first?

Solution 1

In my opinion it's better to start learning Python.

I found it easier to learn then C or C++. It has libraries to do virtually anything you might need, and can do essentially anything.

The only reason to use a more difficult language like C/C++ is if you need the performance or are writing code for an embedded system. They are not, however, what you should be learning initially.

C# is a fine language, but nothing beats Python for ease of use.

The scope of Python is quite broad, here are some examples:

• Create a website (Django, etc.)
• Create scripts to do tasks ranging from image manipulation to server maintenance
• Create GUIs (Tkinter, etc.)
• Create games (pygame)
• Scientific computing (SciPy)

Python can interact directly with arbitrary C code, meaning anything which can be done in C, can be done in Python with a little work. Python is popular enough that an interface has been created for virtually everything already.

For a better look at what can be done with python out of the box, take a look at the standard library which comes with python: http://docs.python.org/library/

In short, if it can be done with a computer, and doesn't require the speed of C/C++, it can be done with Python.

Solution 2

I would say it depends on what you want to achieve (cheesy answer...)

The truth is, learning language is a long process. If you plan on learning a language as a step toward learning another language, you're probably wasting your time.

It takes a good year to be proficient with C++, and that is with basic knowledge of algorithms and object concepts. And I only mean proficient, meaning you can get things done, but certainly not expert or anything.

So the real question is, do you want to spend a year learning C++ before beginning to learn Python ?

If the ultimate goal is to program in Python... it doesn't seem worth it.

Solution 3

Real mastery of a language takes time and lots of practice .. its analogous to learning a natural language like French . you have to do a lot of practice in it. but then different languages teach you different programming methodologies.
python and c++ are all object oriented languages so you will be learning the same programming methodology The order in which you learn languages doesn't really matter but starting from a lower abstraction to higher one makes understanding some things easier..

Solution 4

In my opinion you should defiantly learn Python before attempting to learn C or C++ as you will get a better understanding of the core concepts, C++ is mush lower level than Python so you will need to make more commands to do something that you can do in one line in python.

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Comments

[Matthieu M.]

Why French ? (pure curiosity)

[Rajeev]

U forgot to mention about Pygtk

[Steve Jessop]

@Matthieu: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prototype_theory ? French is canonically "foreign", unless you're you ;-)