New Programmer and Python

[Roy Smith]

luismg at gmx.net (Neuruss) wrote:
> Python is an excellent choice not only as a first language, but as
> "the" language.

I think it's silly (and, from a career advancement point of view, rather 
dangerous) to think of any language as the only language you'll ever 
need.  Every new language I've ever learned has taught me something new 
about programming, because it's shown me a different way of doing 
things.  Sometimes I like what I learn, sometimes I don't, but all 
knowledge is useful.

>From a purely "can I find a job" point of view, knowing only one 
language is professional suicide.  Choice of language may be one of the 
least important decisions one makes when starting a large project, but 
the fact remains that when looking for employees, the number one 
question recruiters always ask is, "Do you know language X?".  If you 
say, "no", you won't even get past the initial phone screen.

So, absolutely learn Python as a first language.  But, don't stop there.