Help Me Choose My First Programming Language

You want to learn to code but the first decision, which language, stalls you before you start. This compares the beginner-friendly options against your goal and weekly hours: how approachable each is, what you could build with it, and which fits where you want to end up. A reasoned pick instead of whatever a random forum shouted loudest.

I want to start learning to code but I don't know which language to begin with. My goal is {GOAL} and I have about {HOURS_PER_WEEK} hours per week to study. I have no prior programming experience.

Please compare the top beginner-friendly languages (Python, JavaScript, Scratch, Ruby) for someone with my goal. For each language, tell me:
- How beginner-friendly it is and why
- What kinds of projects I could build with it
- How in-demand it is in the job market
- What free resources exist to learn it

Then give me a clear, reasoned recommendation for which single language I should start with, and explain what I should learn first in that language during my first two weeks.