Why I've changed from C/C++ to Python for my "creativity work"

I've learned C/C++ during my graduation, and this is my favorite programming language since than. I don't have much experience with Java, and I don't feel really confortable programming using Java.

This was the situation until I learned to program in Python.

Python allows you to "break the fifth wall" on programming. With tons of libraries - from data structures to machine learning, graphs, plotting and much more - you could transform programming into a really funny thing. Of course, Python isn't a heaven of the programmers. If you want performance, stay with C and Assembly, because Python is an interpreted language, like Java.

There is a "Virtual Machine" and the code is turned on bytecode. Very very similar! With the similarities, same problems come together. At least the garbage collector works very well ;D!

My first experience was with graph theory programming tasks. For that, I've used a library named NetworkX - there is a couple of posts talking about graph theory mixed over the blog. At the first time a weakly-typed language scares a lot at first, and you keep searching those primitive types (int, char, bool, etc) and the brackets to functions. Python don't use any of those, anything can be a vector, a list, a number, a symbol, you choose.

This freedom costs, but it's very worthy for fast programming facilities. Python is like a very large cloth hanger, where you append a lot of ready-to-use "clothes"(libraries) and start using. The only thing you have to do is install python, install whatever thing you want to solve your problem and start using it.

Many begginner's courses on computer programming are using Python instead another classic language because of this. Results comes way faster and it's more rewarding to a the user. Besides this, the learning curve is very fast when you adapt your vision to more straight-forward solutions and smarter functions that hides the dirty work from you.

But, everything has a but, if you know what I mean. Python is not a solution for every problem in the world. In my opinion, it's a great language for accelerate development throughput and a real motivational language to users that use classical languages.

For new programmers, maybe. I think C have a well-behaved syntax that helps to develop algorithmic knowledge and helps to discipline your mind when treating a problem. Python have to much ready-to-use facilities and if you don't use an IDE to help you, it's very difficult to maintain an order over lines and lines of code.

Well, if you want to learn programming Python this is my recommendations:

- READ THE MANUAL : No one reads the manual for nothing, but documentation is a really great source for solving problems. Google for Python Doc and be happy.
- Learn using examples : There is nothing more rewarding than programming with a greater objective in mind. Take a time to search for great applications (a game, for example) and learn the language to achieve your goals.
- Use an IDE : You want to be a hardcore coder? It's your problem. If you want to improove your code organization, use an IDE (NINJA-IDE is my recommendation). If not, at least use a text editor with syntax highlighting (gedit, Notepad++, Notepad!).
- "Don't worry about a thing, cause everything is gonna be alright"

Hope you enjoyed! If you liked, share!