Why Is Java So Much Harder Than Python? Here's the Truth

The Steep Learning Curve: Why Java Feels Like a Mountain

Well, let me tell you something: if you're just starting out with programming and you’ve dipped your toes into both Java and Python, you’ve probably felt the stark difference. Honestly, it's like comparing a complicated board game to a simple card game. And guess what? Java is the board game.

The thing about Java is that it’s strict. You can’t just write a few lines of code and expect the machine to figure out the rest. You need to define the structure, be meticulous about syntax, and everything has to be in its place. It demands a lot of boilerplate code, like needing to declare every single variable type (e.g., int for integers, String for text). This structure-heavy nature can make Java feel like you’re wading through mud at times, especially if you’ve just been playing around with Python, where things are much more flexible.

I remember the first time I tried learning Java, I spent hours just figuring out how to set up a simple "Hello, World!" program. In Python, it’s just one line: print("Hello, World!"). In Java? Well, you need to create a whole class, set up a method, and then print out that message inside it. It felt a little overkill, to be honest.

Syntax Differences: The Frustrations of Java’s Verbosity

Java’s Verbose Syntax

One of the main reasons Java feels harder than Python is its verbose syntax. Everything in Java has to be spelled out, whereas Python is designed to be minimalistic and readable. You’ll spend a lot of time typing in Java, and even small tasks can require several lines of code. In Python, it's all about efficiency and readability.

I recently had a conversation with my friend Mark, a Python lover, and he summed it up perfectly: “In Python, I feel like I'm writing poetry; in Java, I feel like I'm drafting an essay." He wasn’t wrong. Python lets you focus on solving the problem, whereas Java sometimes feels like it's forcing you to follow a ton of rules before you even get to the fun part.

Case in Point: Simple Tasks, Big Differences

Let’s take something as basic as sorting a list. In Python, it’s as easy as calling .sort(), and bam—your list is sorted. In Java? You’ll need to import a utility class and use something like Collections.sort(list) to achieve the same result. It’s not necessarily difficult, but it’s way more involved, especially for beginners who just want to get things done.

Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) in Java: The Must-Know Concept

OOP Complexity: Java’s Foundation

Okay, here’s where things get really tricky for newcomers. Java is fundamentally object-oriented, which means almost everything you do in Java revolves around creating and manipulating objects. While Python supports OOP too, it doesn’t force you to embrace it the way Java does. In Python, you can easily get by with simple functions and scripts without ever touching classes or objects.

But in Java? Every program needs to be inside a class. And even though you can technically get by without deep OOP knowledge, if you want to be good at Java, you need to master classes, inheritance, polymorphism, and all that jazz. It's easy to feel like you're drowning in concepts like "interfaces," "abstract classes," and "access modifiers."

Honestly, I’ve stumbled so many times trying to understand when to use public, private, or protected—and don’t even get me started on the dreaded static keyword. That’s when I realized, okay, Java really isn’t here to make things easy for you, huh?

Error Handling: Java's Strict Approach vs Python's Flexibility

Java's Exception Handling: A Tougher System

Here’s another major difference that I’ve had to wrestle with: error handling. In Python, if you make a mistake, Python usually gives you a simple error message that tells you exactly where the problem is. Java, on the other hand, is much more rigid about how it handles errors.

In Java, you need to explicitly declare which methods might throw exceptions, which makes the language a bit more demanding. While it does make your code more predictable and robust, it also means you’re spending time worrying about try-catch blocks and handling exceptions in ways that can sometimes feel unnecessary.

One time, I spent over 30 minutes figuring out why my Java program wouldn’t run—turns out, I just forgot to catch an exception, and Java was being its usual "you need to do this right" self. I’ve definitely spent more time debugging Java errors than I care to admit. In Python, things are a lot more forgiving. You don’t have to declare exceptions explicitly, so it feels a lot less daunting.

Java vs Python: Which One Should You Pick?

The Verdict: It's Not Just Harder—It's Different

At the end of the day, Java isn’t objectively harder than Python. It’s just a different approach to programming. Java’s structured, type-safe, and object-oriented nature forces you to learn things in a certain way. Python, however, prioritizes simplicity and ease of use.

If you're new to programming, you might find Python more accessible and quicker to get into. But if you stick with Java, you'll get a deeper understanding of how programming languages handle things like memory management, type safety, and complex structures. Plus, let’s face it—Java is everywhere in large-scale enterprise systems, so learning it is a solid investment for your career.

But hey, I won’t lie. If you’re starting out, don’t be afraid to dive into Python first. It’s like dipping your toes in the water before jumping into the deep end, right? But once you get the hang of programming basics, stepping up to Java will feel like a natural progression.

In conclusion, Java is harder than Python, sure. But it’s also more powerful and intricate. Once you get over the initial frustration, you’ll realize just how rewarding it can be to master its depth.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.