Learning a Second Language (Ruby/React Project)

During our phase 3 project with Flatiron School, we had to transition from using javascript exclusively to adding another language in Ruby. I was always told that learning other languages became much easier than learning that first one. I didn’t understand how true that was until I started learning Ruby as my second language! Most of my software experience has been with Javascript and at the beginning of my software engineering journey with Flatiron, we focused on getting pretty good with Javascript and it’s framework React.

Starting the backend development portion of our program, we had to switch to Ruby and object oriented programming. After a couple days of getting used to the syntax of a new language, I was able to look back at the time when I started learning my first language. I knew it would most likely be easier to learn Ruby since I already created some projects with javascript but the difference in the time it took to adjust to the new language was staggering. The hardest part was that fact that we were using Ruby as an object-oriented programming language (OOP) vs Javascript, which can be used as an OOP but for the most part in our front-end was used differently.

I can only imagine how much simpler it will be to pick up another OOP like Python, or Java! Of course I hesitate to have “programming” and “simple” in the same sentence you know what I mean! We have been told that during our job search, we should apply to all jobs no matter the tech stack and now I understand why! At the beginning of my bootcamp search, I was hyper focused on what tech stack that was being taught but realized that stress was unneeded. It isn’t bad to want to learn a certain language but what I have gained in this experience with using 2 different languages, is now I am more willing pick the best language for a project vs picking a project based on one language!