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\\\\n\\\\nYou know what I really hate?\\\\n\\\\nTechnical articles aimed at programmers that explain why<\/em> you should do something where the author doesn\u2019t draw on any personal experience<\/em>.\\\\n\\\\nSeriously \u2014 how can you trust someone who has never been in the trenches, fought the war, or come home battle-scarred but victorious?\\\\n\\\\nI took a different approach when putting together this article and wrote something I believe other programmers like myself would want to hear:\\\\n\\\\nSeven real, personal stories<\/strong> about the Python programming language and how it helped me in my career.<\/em>\\\\n\\\\nI\u2019m not here to evangelize for Python.\\\\n\\\\nI\u2019m not here to tell you that Python is the \u201cbest programming language\u201d (whatever that means).\\\\n\\\\nI\u2019m not even going to tell you to \u201ctry\u201d building your next project in Python because I have no idea<\/em> what your next project is and whether or not Python would be a good fit for it.\\\\n\\\\nInstead, my goal is to relate to you as a programmer. I\u2019m going to share some personal stories from my career as a programmer and I hope that you\u2019ll see why you should learn Python.\\\\n\\\\nIf you stick around and read through the rest of this article, I think you\u2019ll come to the same conclusion I did years ago \u2014 Python is going to make an impact on your future, whether you realize it or not. So I hope you’ll see why you should learn Python.<\/em>\\\\n\\\\nWith that said, let\u2019s dive in.\\\\n\\\\n<\/p>\n \\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\nI remember when I started my journey to becoming a software developer<\/a> over 15 years ago.\\\\n\\\\nI was just a kid, maybe 13 years old at most.\\\\n\\\\nAndrew, a childhood friend of mine, introduced me to the world of computers and showed me how they could do much more than just connect to the internet and access websites.\\\\n\\\\nHe showed me the basics of HTML and how websites were actually built <\/em>using \u201ctags\u201d and a basic markup language.\\\\n\\\\nFrom there on, I was addicted.\\\\n\\\\nThe unbridled level of control. The freedom of a creator. The canvas of an artist. I was a programmer in the making.\\\\n\\\\nThe next morning I pleaded with my mom to drive me to the local library, so I could learn more about computer programming.\\\\n\\\\nPerhaps unsurprisingly, the first book I reached for had the word \u201cBASIC<\/em>\u201d in the title. For a beginner, the name alone pulls you in.\\\\n\\\\nOver the summer (and with the help of Andrew), I used that book to learn the fundamentals of programming, basic control structures, and how to organize a program.\\\\n\\\\nBut at the end of the day, I felt sorely disappointed \u2014 and I almost gave up programming altogether come the start of school in autumn.<\/em>\\\\n\\\\nHow come?\\\\n\\\\nI couldn\u2019t do anything \u201ccool<\/em>\u201d with BASIC \u2014 the language, by its very nature, was extremely limiting and constrictive (ironic, since I now use Python, named after a snake that squeezes and crushes its prey before eating it).\\\\n\\\\nI couldn\u2019t access low-level system resources.\\\\n\\\\nI couldn\u2019t load and manipulate images.\\\\n\\\\nAnd any type of statistics or computational analysis?\\\\n\\\\nForget about it.\\\\n\\\\nI spent all that time learning how to program<\/em>, but I didn\u2019t really have anything to show for it.\\\\n\\\\nAll that said, I forged ahead. I realized my programming \u201ccareer\u201d didn\u2019t have to stop at BASIC.\\\\n\\\\nDuring my freshman year of high school, I moved on to C\/C++. It was a much harder language that took me a while to become proficient at. I also really enjoyed the freedom that C gave me, even if it meant shooting myself in the foot from time-to-time.\\\\n\\\\nAfter C\/C++ I moved on to Java and object oriented programming. That was fun, but it felt like it took an eternity<\/em> to get anything done.\\\\n\\\\nBy the end of my sophomore year of high school, I had tried scripting languages for the first time: specifically, Python.\\\\n\\\\nI was amazed.\\\\n\\\\nThe code was easily readable <\/em>\u2014 almost like writing rudimentary English or simple abstract mathematics.\\\\n\\\\nThere was also an object oriented flavor to the code itself. Not to an extreme like in Java, just enough of a sprinkle to make me feel like it was an old friend \u2014 there when I needed it.\\\\n\\\\nPerhaps most surprising was how elegant<\/em> my code looked.\\\\n\\\\nThe use of whitespace ensured my code was organized coherently into tidy little blocks. And by following basic coding standards and suggestions, I was writing beautiful looking, easily maintainable code by the end of my first day using the language.\\\\n\\\\nIn retrospect, I wish I could have started with Python.\\\\n\\\\nSure, BASIC taught me the fundamentals of programming, but Python can do that, too, in the same, simple manner.\\\\n\\\\nIf I had to turn back the clock, I would have skipped BASIC altogether and gone right to Python. I would have enjoyed the experience more, gotten a better investment return on my time, and been better prepared to learn C\/C++ and Java.\\\\n\\\\nSo if you’re trying to decide on the\u00a0best programming language to learn<\/a>, Python deserves a serious look.\\\\n\\\\n<\/p>\n \\\\n\\\\n\\\\n\\\\nI\u2019ll admit it:\\\\n\\\\nWhen I first started writing web applications, I wasn\u2019t using Python \u2014 I was using PHP.\\\\n\\\\nIn fact, I was so fond <\/em>of PHP that I wouldn\u2019t even consider<\/em> the possibility that another programming language might be better for web development.\\\\n\\\\nI was wrong.\\\\n\\\\nDead wrong.\\\\n\\\\nIt wasn\u2019t until my friend Patrick showed me the Python web framework Django<\/a> that my mind changed for good.\\\\n\\\\nWhat once took me hours<\/em> in PHP could be done in minutes<\/em> using Python.\\\\n\\\\nNot to mention the fact that my code was a lot<\/em> faster and more stable.\\\\n\\\\nFrom Django, I moved on to Flask<\/a>, another web framework, but tiny and built for customizability.\\\\n\\\\nOnce I started working with Django and Flask, I never looked back to PHP.\\\\n\\\\nWhile the majority of websites still run on PHP, many new<\/em> web applications are being built using Python.\\\\n\\\\nIf you\u2019re planning on doing any web application development, give Python and Django\/Flask a try. I think you\u2019ll be quite impressed.<\/span>\\\\n\\\\n<\/p>\n \\\\n\\\\nSuccess in startup companies does not come overnight.\\\\n\\\\nInstead, it comes from a series of iterations<\/em> that often look like this:\\\\n\\\\n<\/p>\n \\\\n <\/p>\n \\\\n <\/p>\n \\\\n <\/p>\n \\\\n<\/ol>\n \\\\n\\\\nThis process allows startups to \u201cstair step\u201d their way to success. Start with an idea, then refine the idea and product until you\u2019ve \u201cmade it.\u201d\\\\n\\\\nIn the online world, Python is ideal for this process.\\\\n\\\\nThe language allows you to code quickly<\/em>, building complex applications with minimal lines of code (5x less than Java and 10x less than C++).\\\\n\\\\nGoing from idea to implementation<\/em> quickly is critical<\/strong> in the startup world, so if you are interested in working with startup companies, I highly suggest you learn Python.\\\\n\\\\nPersonally, I\u2019ve been working in startup companies since I was 18 years old.\\\\n\\\\nWhether the particular product was web-based, mobile, or enterprise, Python eventually<\/em> found its way into the company, either as part of the core product or as a supporting utility. I have no doubt this trend will continue in the future.\\\\n\\\\n<\/p>\n \\\\n\\\\nIn a 2016 developer salary study created by indeed.com and published by codementor.io<\/a>, it was found that the average Python developer salary was $107,000 USD:\\\\n\\\\n \\\\n\\\\nFive months ago a gym buddy of mine introduced me to his son, Sean.\\\\n\\\\nSean had just graduated from high school and was heading off to the University of Chicago come the fall semester.\\\\n\\\\nCurious about his major, I asked Sean what he was planning on studying.\\\\n\\\\nHis response?\\\\n\\\\nCyber security.\\\\n\\\\nIt\u2019s a great field to be in and there\u2019s lots of money to be made.\\\\n\\\\nThink about it \u2014 being involved in cyber security has many parallels to operating a business designed around morgues and funeral homes.\\\\n\\\\nIt may be macabre, but people will continue to die; there\u2019s no chance of funeral home businesses stagnating unless we magically find the elixir of life.\\\\n\\\\nSimilarly, there will no shortage of cyber attacks. There\u2019s even speculation that the next World War will be won and lost in cyberspace rather than through the actions of troops on the ground.\\\\n\\\\nSean told me about his high school\u2019s programming classes, how he took two years of Java, object oriented programming, and software design.\\\\n\\\\nWhile I was impressed that his training even had<\/em> two years\u2019 worth of programming courses, I was a little saddened to hear they weren\u2019t teaching any scripting languages.\\\\n\\\\nOver Christmas break I caught up with Sean and asked him how he was enjoying the University of Chicago.\\\\n\\\\nHe was doing great.\\\\n\\\\nHe was rocking all his computer science classes.\\\\n\\\\nHe joined the school\u2019s cyber security team\u2026\\\\n\\\\n…and he even learned Python along the way.<\/em>\\\\n\\\\nGrinning, because I already knew the answer, I asked him: \u201cWhat made you learn Python?\u201d\\\\n\\\\nHe replied back, \u201cIt\u2019s just so easy, man! You can do literally anything<\/em> with Python. When I first joined the cyber security team, I was writing penetration testers with Java. It took me hours to code what my peers were doing in minutes.\u201d\\\\n\\\\nSean had realized the power of scripting languages.\\\\n\\\\nWhile you may sacrifice some execution speed, you gain more flexibility, facility in writing code, and \u2014 best of all \u2014 the ability to experiment faster<\/em>.\\\\n\\\\nMy opinion is that Python includes the best of all these worlds. If you haven\u2019t tried it yet, you really should.\\\\n\\\\n<\/p>\n \\\\n\\\\nThe Python programming language is currently fueling scientific programming, but this wasn\u2019t always the case.\\\\n\\\\nFor years<\/em> academic scholars and private researchers were using the MATLAB language for scientific research.\\\\n\\\\nThat all started to change with the release of Python numerical computation engines such as NumPy<\/a> and SciPy<\/a>, allowing complex calculations to be done by a single \u201cimport\u201d statement followed by a function call.\\\\n\\\\nSlowly but surely, Python started to take over as the preferred language for computer science research.\\\\n\\\\nIn fact, I wrote all<\/em> of the code used to gather results for my Ph.D. dissertation in Python.\\\\n\\\\nBy the time I graduated with my bachelor\u2019s degree, even non-computer science students had started to teach themselves Python and use it to power their own research. Computational biology is a great example of where you\u2019ll see non-computer scientists leveraging Python.\\\\n\\\\nThese days I spend much<\/em> more time writing scientific Python code than I do anything else, so I\u2019m clearly biased, but I can tell you this:\\\\n\\\\nPython is the future of Artificial Intelligence.<\/em>\\\\n\\\\nGiven the flexibility of the language, its speed, and the machine learning functionality delivered by libraries such as scikit-learn<\/a>, Keras<\/a>, and TensorFlow<\/a>, we\u2019ll continue to see Python dominate the machine learning landscape.\\\\n\\\\nThere is no doubt in my mind: if you are even remotely interested<\/em> in doing computer science research, you should learn Python.<\/strong>\\\\n\\\\n<\/p>\n \\\\n\\\\nOver this past summer I set up my first 401k.\\\\n\\\\nI chatted with my financial advisor on a number of occasions, discussing various investment vehicles and strategies, and different methods to allocate my portfolio.\\\\n\\\\nNo matter how the conversation started, it always ended up in the same place:\\\\n\\\\nManaging my risk, and more specifically, how to minimize it.<\/strong><\/em>\\\\n\\\\nIn the investment world, this simply boils down to \u201cnot putting all your eggs in the same basket.\u201d If you drop your basket, you crack all your eggs.\\\\n\\\\nYour goal, therefore, is diversification<\/em>: put a chunk of your money into large company stocks, another (smaller) chunk into small\/mid-size company stocks, then another chunk into bonds, and finally any remainder into foreign markets, precious metals, etc.\\\\n\\\\nMakes sense, right?\\\\n\\\\nIf you put all <\/em>your money into stocks and the market crashes again like in 2008, your retirement portfolio would be entirely crushed. By diversifying, you minimize your risk.\\\\n\\\\nBelieve it or not, the programming world isn\u2019t so different.\\\\n\\\\nOver the past decade, it\u2019s become increasingly valuable to have a programming specialization, but you have to be careful not to pigeonhole yourself as \u201cthat Java guy\u201d or \u201cthat C++ guy.\u201d\\\\n\\\\nWhile it\u2019s extremely important to have a niche and speciality, you also need to make yourself marketable.<\/em><\/strong>\\\\n\\\\nFor example, I\u2019m a programmer, and I specialize<\/em> in computer vision and machine learning.\\\\n\\\\nHowever, I\u2019m not<\/em> just a \u201cPython guy\u201d or an \u201cOpenCV guy.\u201d\\\\n\\\\nI\u2019ve used Java to build large-scale enterprise and government applications.\\\\n\\\\nI\u2019ve utilized C++ to work on real-time applications.\\\\n\\\\nI\u2019ve even custom built PHP applications to scale to hundreds of thousands of users.\\\\n\\\\nMy point is this: my resume and curriculum vitae are diversified<\/strong><\/em>.\\\\n\\\\nI have a niche and know my niche well, but I can also take on just about any other task.\\\\n\\\\nIf you don\u2019t have Python under your belt, consider adding it to your repertoire and increasing your diversification and marketability as a programmer.\\\\n\\\\n<\/p>\n \\\\n\\\\n#1. First time programmer? Learn Python quickly.<\/h2>\n
#2. Python is used for web development.<\/h2>\n
#3. Iterative, Agile Design.<\/h2>\n
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#4. High Salaries.<\/h2>\n
![\"python\"](\"https:\/\/simpleprogrammer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/2016_dev_salary.png\")
\\\\n\\\\nBased on this study, Swift, Python, Ruby, C++, and Java will make you the most money (with PHP rounding out the bottom).\\\\n\\\\nGiven the monetization of mobile applications, perhaps it\u2019s unsurprising to see Swift at the top of the list, as it\u2019s typically used for developing iOS and macOS applications.\\\\n\\\\nBut just below Swift is Python and Ruby: the only two scripting languages in the top five.\\\\n\\\\nWhile Ruby is a general-purpose programming language and is used for a good many applications, when polling a set of Ruby developers, more times than not you\u2019ll find that they are using Ruby for web development.\\\\n\\\\nPython on the other hand is different: it\u2019s more diverse.<\/em><\/strong>\\\\n\\\\nDon\u2019t get me wrong, you\u2019ll undoubtedly see many programmers using Python for web development, but you\u2019ll also see Python powering scientific applications as well.<\/em>\\\\n\\\\nDrawing from my own personal experience, I can tell you that I followed this exact totem pole of salaries.\\\\n\\\\nWhen I was working as a PHP developer, I was making the least amount of money in my career.\\\\n\\\\nI then moved on to Java and enterprise development where I enjoyed a significant bump.\\\\n\\\\nBut the real change<\/em> for me didn\u2019t happen until I started working in the computer science Python community.\\\\n\\\\nWhile this is strictly an anecdotal opinion, I truthfully believe<\/em> that Python opens more doors than Ruby does, especially from a scientific standpoint<\/strong><\/em>.\\\\n\\\\nMy prediction is that given the rise of Python as not only a general-purpose programming language but also as a scientific programming language<\/em>, we\u2019ll soon see Python take over Ruby in terms of higher salaries.\\\\n\\\\n<\/p>\n#5. Python Security.<\/h2>\n
#6. Python is the future of AI and Machine Learning.
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/simpleprogrammer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Untitled-3-1.png\")
<\/h2>\n#7. Diversity and Flexibility.<\/h2>\n
What now?<\/h2>\n