Learn python
 

How long does it take (roughly) to get good at Python? Is it really that much easier to learn/use than, say, C++?

Also, is object-oriented programming all it's cracked up to be?

Well, you're going to get a lot of differnt responses. Python is much easier to learn than C++. A lot of things that need to be done in C++ Python already does. THe Python syntax is very clean and easy to pick up. I got an ok handle on the langauge in about a month, and here I am a year or two later still learning the langauge, but that's what will come about with any language you learn.

But I think everyone here would agree Python is much easier to use and program in than C++.

There is also a lot of mixed feelings on object-oriented programming. A lot of people like the power, and the control it gives, and a lot of people hate the idea and just see it as another obstical between them and the code. I must admit though, OOP in Python is not dificult at all.

I think that OOP is more or a programmers prefernce though. Hope this answeres some questions :)

Python is easier than C++ to use and learn.

OOP provides levels of abstraction, polymorphism, inheritance and such that is needed for optimal code reuse... due to the abstraction it is easier to visualize and solve complex problems via OOP methods.

I agree, Python is much easier to learn than C++ and will kick C++ when it comes to sound and graphics. After that comes a mild problem, Python is an interpreted language, and when you want to pass your code to friends and perhaps real paying customers, you got to pass the whole Python package with it.

Though if you want to create a program, you can use programs like Freeze or Py2Exe or cx_Freeze to bundle your python code into a program. Then you don't have to ship the entire python package with your program.

Cheers,

b01c