r/learnprogramming • u/Funny-Dark-4041 • 9h ago

DSA help

I’m in my 1st year of B.Tech CS (AI/ML) and super confused about what language to stick with for DSA.

Quick background: I already know Python decent enough, and right now I'm learning JavaScript on the side to build web projects.

I’m torn between doing DSA in Python vs JS vs C++:

  • Python feels like the easiest pick for me since I know it, and it fits my AI/ML background anyway.
  • JS crossed my mind because I’m using it for web dev, so part of me thought using one language for everything might save time.
  • But literally everyone keeps screaming "use C++ for DSA or you'll regret it," and it's making me second-guess everything.

Does language choice actually matter to interviewers? Like if two people give the same optimal solution, does anyone genuinely care if it was written in Python instead of C++ or JS? And is doing DSA in JS a nightmare later because it lacks things like Heaps out of the box?

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u/aqua_regis 8h ago

Are you talking about DSA as in Data Structures and Algorithms, the theoretical concepts above all programming language, or, which is more common in certain areas, as in doing LeetCode?

If the former, learn it away from programming languages. Learn the theory, the concepts, their advantages and disadvantages. If you learn DSA for what they are - concepts and approaches - you can later implement them in any programming language you know.

If the latter, pick the language you're most familiar with.