Languages — Programming Language Fundamentals
Status: Active Last Updated: 2026-08-29 Category: Programming Languages Prerequisites: kb/basics/ — Linux fundamentals, command-line basics, text editing Tags: typescript, python, rust, go, cpp, php, languages, programming
Summary
Language-level fundamentals for the languages used in this stack and beyond. Each language guide covers syntax, tooling, ecosystem, and when to reach for that language. Assumes no prior knowledge of the specific language — only general programming concepts from programming-fundamentals.
🎯 Learning Philosophy
Match the Tool to the Job:
Project uses: Bun (JavaScript/TypeScript runtime)
AI/ML work: Python (ecosystem, libraries)
Systems: Rust or Go (performance, safety)
Integration: PHP (legacy, WordPress, quick scripts)
📚 Learning Path
Prerequisites: kb/basics/ + programming-fundamentals
↓
┌────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ PHASE 1: TypeScript / JavaScript │
│ ├─ TypeScript fundamentals │
│ ├─ Types, interfaces, generics │
│ └─ Tooling (tsc, tsconfig) │
└────────────────────────────────────────┘
↓
┌────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ PHASE 2: Python │
│ ├─ Python fundamentals │
│ ├─ venv, pip, virtual environments │
│ └─ Common stdlib + ecosystem │
└────────────────────────────────────────┘
↓
┌────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ PHASE 3: Go │
│ ├─ Go fundamentals │
│ ├─ Goroutines, channels, modules │
│ └─ go toolchain │
└────────────────────────────────────────┘
↓
┌────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ PHASE 4: Rust │
│ ├─ Rust fundamentals │
│ ├─ Ownership, borrowing, lifetimes │
│ └─ Cargo, crates │
└────────────────────────────────────────┘
↓
┌────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ PHASE 5: C++ │
│ ├─ C++ fundamentals │
│ ├─ Memory, pointers, build systems │
│ └─ CMake / make │
└────────────────────────────────────────┘
↓
┌────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ PHASE 6: PHP │
│ ├─ PHP fundamentals │
│ ├─ Composer, modern PHP features │
│ └─ When to use PHP │
└────────────────────────────────────────┘
📖 Articles in This Directory
🟢 Phase 1: TypeScript / JavaScript
- typescript-basics — TypeScript from the ground up
- Types, interfaces, generics, keyof, infer
- tsconfig options and what they mean
- Type narrowing and guards
- Prerequisites: Basic programming concepts, JavaScript familiarity
- Time: 4-6 hours
🟡 Phase 2: Python
- python-basics — Python fundamentals for scripting and AI work
- Syntax, data structures, functions, classes
- venv, pip, requirements.txt
- Common stdlib modules (pathlib, json, subprocess)
- Prerequisites: Basic programming concepts
- Time: 4-6 hours
🟡 Phase 3: Go
- go-basics — Go fundamentals
- Syntax, slices, maps, structs, interfaces
- Goroutines and channels
- go mod, go test, go toolchain
- Prerequisites: Basic programming concepts
- Time: 4-6 hours
🟠 Phase 4: Rust
- rust-basics — Rust for systems programming
- Ownership, borrowing, lifetimes
- Pattern matching, Option/Result
- Cargo, crates.io, build.rs
- Prerequisites: Basic programming + understanding of memory concepts
- Time: 6-10 hours
🔴 Phase 5: C++
- cpp-basics — C++ fundamentals
- Memory model, pointers, references
- Classes, templates, STL
- CMake, make, build systems
- Prerequisites: Memory concepts, compiled language basics
- Time: 8-12 hours
🔴 Phase 6: PHP
- php-basics — Modern PHP
- PHP 8+ features, composer
- Namespaces, traits, attributes
- When PHP makes sense vs alternatives
- Prerequisites: Basic programming concepts
- Time: 2-4 hours
🔗 What Comes Next?
After a language fundamentals article:
- kb/runtime/ — How Bun/Node execute JavaScript/TypeScript
- kb/backend/ — Building servers with those languages
- kb/containers/ — Packaging language apps in containers
📝 Change Log
2026-08-29
- Created languages/ directory scaffold
- Defined 6-phase learning path
- Established template from containers/ pattern