My uncle told me to start with C++ and it was a disaster

He's a game developer and swore it was the 'only real language' to learn first. I spent two weeks in my apartment trying to set up a compiler and write a simple 'hello world' program, but I just got pages of scary error messages. I finally switched to a beginner Python course online and made a little number guessing game in one afternoon. Has anyone else gotten really bad first language advice from a family member?

3 comments

3 Comments

jakel363mo ago

My dad pushed Java on me for the same reason. Took a web dev class that used JavaScript and everything just clicked way faster.

-1

nancygrant2mo ago

My old guitar teacher INSISTED I learn on a steel-string acoustic. Said it built character. I got a cheap electric with thin strings and suddenly I could actually play songs. It's like forcing someone to use a sledgehammer when they need a regular hammer first. The basic job gets done either way, but one tool just fits the hand better when you're starting out.

allen.ivan3mo ago

Ever have that moment where you just get a tool? My old boss swore by these fancy digital manifold gauges, but I could never read them right. Grabbed my grandad's old analog set and suddenly diagnosing a bad TXV made sense.