I guess Python is easier, but would like to know what others think.
Java programmer here... I'm finding more and more that when I need to build something fast I've been reaching for Python.
To get started definitely Python. Once you get all the object oriented goodness and functional programming abstracts you can add verbosity and do the same in Java. (Python fan here, forced to learn Java years ago) As for me, I stick with Python.
Python is quicker to start with in my experience, maintaining that project over the years across many teams and Java in my experience is the one that shines with the least rewrites.
sue spence
Polyglot software developer, likes open source, unix of all sorts (even linux :-) ), systems programming, and devops
Asking this question is rather like asking "Is a rock wetter than water? Yes or no."