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Welcome to HN! Ruby is a good idea for webdev but keep in mind that Python is also dominant in other domains of computing in particular scripting and scientific

Welcome to HN! Ruby is a good idea for webdev but keep in mind that Python is also dominant in other domains of computing in particular scripting and scientific computing. So in my opinion for a beginner Python is more future proof than Ruby [activate language-flamewar-prevention-daemon] and if you later add a system-language (e.g. C) and a modern general purpose language (e.g. Haskell or Scheme/LISP) to your repertoire you are in a very good position to tackle most kinds of software development problems.

Stubb 12y ago
> So in my opinion for a beginner Python is more future proof than Ruby Which is more future proof: Python v2 or Python v3? I figured that I was least likely to regret Ruby for a green-field data analysis project. So far it's been a delightful experience.
- BuckRogers 12y ago
  Either. They're not really that different from the other. I use 2, but I've used 3.. no issues. It will be an easy move as an enduser programmer when Python3's time in the sun arrives (and it may never).
- marcosdumay 12y ago
  The differences are very small. Whatever you learn, you'll be at home in both.
eru 12y ago
If you pick a Lisp, pick Racket or Clojure. All else being equal, they are the most modern and pleasant variants to work with.
- baddox 12y ago
  Or Emacs Lisp, if you don't have a specific project in mind and/or aren't already heavily invested in a text editor. As a programming language in and of itself, it's not a greap lisp, but it's a great practical way to learn lisp while you're customizing your text editor.
  - eru 12y ago
    The only thing going for Emacs Lisp is its killer application named Emacs. As a compromise, you might want to start people on edwin (https://www.gnu.org/software/mit-scheme/documentation/mit-scheme-user/Edwin.html https://www.gnu.org/software/mit-scheme/documentation/mit-sc...) instead, if you want to teach them programming. But that's probably even less useful in practice.
- dobbsbob 12y ago
  or blackhat it up with tinyScheme http://philosecurity.org/2009/01/12/interview-with-an-adware-author http://philosecurity.org/2009/01/12/interview-with-an-adware...

Stubb 12y ago

> So in my opinion for a beginner Python is more future proof than Ruby Which is more future proof: Python v2 or Python v3? I figured that I was least likely to regret Ruby for a green-field data analysis project. So far it's been a delightful experience.

BuckRogers 12y ago
Either. They're not really that different from the other. I use 2, but I've used 3.. no issues. It will be an easy move as an enduser programmer when Python3's time in the sun arrives (and it may never).
marcosdumay 12y ago
The differences are very small. Whatever you learn, you'll be at home in both.

eru 12y ago

If you pick a Lisp, pick Racket or Clojure. All else being equal, they are the most modern and pleasant variants to work with.

baddox 12y ago
Or Emacs Lisp, if you don't have a specific project in mind and/or aren't already heavily invested in a text editor. As a programming language in and of itself, it's not a greap lisp, but it's a great practical way to learn lisp while you're customizing your text editor.
- eru 12y ago
  The only thing going for Emacs Lisp is its killer application named Emacs. As a compromise, you might want to start people on edwin (https://www.gnu.org/software/mit-scheme/documentation/mit-scheme-user/Edwin.html https://www.gnu.org/software/mit-scheme/documentation/mit-sc...) instead, if you want to teach them programming. But that's probably even less useful in practice.
dobbsbob 12y ago
or blackhat it up with tinyScheme http://philosecurity.org/2009/01/12/interview-with-an-adware-author http://philosecurity.org/2009/01/12/interview-with-an-adware...