Advice - Learning Python as 1st Programming Language

[Desmond DSouza]

I am advising a non-programmer on how to get started with programming. I
would like opinions about his learning Python as a 1st programming language:

- Would it be better from learning perspective than, say, Java or
Javascript?

- Is there any useful yet simple IDE available for Windows 98?

- Any way to embed Python in web pages, like JavaScript? Or would he have to
learn 2 languages?

- Any good libraries for web CGI-like calls to Python (don't really care at
this point if it uses CGI-like mechanisms or something more efficient)?

- Any good libraries for working with SQL databases?

- Any good libraries for building things like page template (e.g. ASP, JSP,
...)


If you email to me, in addition to the group, would be great.

Thanks.