What Was Your First Programming Language — And Why Did You Start With It?

There’s something special about the first programming language you learn. For many developers, it becomes a nostalgic memory — one tied to discovery, frustration, creativity, and the thrill of solving problems for the first time. Whether it was the blinking cursor of a BASIC interpreter, a Python “Hello, World,” or writing HTML in a notepad file, that first step into code often shapes how we see technology and continue to learn it. So, let’s talk about it: What was your first programming language, and what got you started with it? Maybe it was a class assignment, a YouTube tutorial, a book someone gave you, or pure curiosity. Some of us started with languages that are now considered “old school,” while others dove in through newer, high-level languages designed to be beginner-friendly. Some were drawn in by game modding, others by web development, and some just wanted to automate tedious tasks. And how do you feel about that first language now? Was it a good starting point? Would you recommend it to beginners today, or do you wish you’d started with something else? Share your story in the comments below. I’d love to hear what language kicked off your programming journey!

Jun 2, 2025 - 00:20

What Was Your First Programming Language — And Why Did You Start With It?

There’s something special about the first programming language you learn. For many developers, it becomes a nostalgic memory — one tied to discovery, frustration, creativity, and the thrill of solving problems for the first time. Whether it was the blinking cursor of a BASIC interpreter, a Python “Hello, World,” or writing HTML in a notepad file, that first step into code often shapes how we see technology and continue to learn it.

So, let’s talk about it:
What was your first programming language, and what got you started with it?

Maybe it was a class assignment, a YouTube tutorial, a book someone gave you, or pure curiosity. Some of us started with languages that are now considered “old school,” while others dove in through newer, high-level languages designed to be beginner-friendly. Some were drawn in by game modding, others by web development, and some just wanted to automate tedious tasks.

And how do you feel about that first language now? Was it a good starting point? Would you recommend it to beginners today, or do you wish you’d started with something else?

Share your story in the comments below.
I’d love to hear what language kicked off your programming journey!