Today, we will talk about the top programming languages, and which ones you should add to your skillset.
The year is quickly drawing to a close, and the software development industry is booming across the globe at a higher rate than ever before. So much so, in fact, that the global revenue for enterprise application software is expected to surpass 300 billion U.S. dollars in the near future, paving the road for an even more lucrative playing field for dev teams and individuals alike.
In such a lucrative industry, however, success is never a guarantee, as the competition becomes stiffer by the day. If you are an aspiring developer or if you’re a seasoned dev looking to future-proof your career, then you have to stay on top of the latest trends. Concretely, you need to keep up with the in-demand programming languages in order to become indispensable to clients and dev companies in the modern market.
After all, the software market is constantly changing, so it’s important to enrich your skillset with both the tried-and-true and the innovative languages in the software development sector.
What are the top 7 programming languages you should use?
Python
Python is, quite literally, the most popular programming language in the world right now, and it has been for some time. In fact, statistics show that Python consistently ranks number one in several major ranking indexes, making it one of the top choices for developers, but also a prime choice for clients.
Whether it’s for Android or iOS app development, or for building desktop applications, clients will nowadays hire software developers that specifically offer Python as a leading software-building language. This should come as no surprise, because Python brings numerous benefits to the table - and it’s a top-tier all-purpose language.
One of the biggest selling points of Python is that it’s relatively easy to learn, and it also speeds up development times, which is why the clients love it so much. But for you as the developer, Python also has the added perks of being open-source and having a vibrant online community. This means that you can get guidance and support whenever you need it.
The fact that Python is so popular means that there isn’t a shortage of talent in this field, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t learn this full-stack language. Keep in mind that Python can be slower than some other languages such as Kotlin, and it’s not native to mobile devices, and it can cause high memory consumption in apps.
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Kotlin
There are many reasons why every modern software developer should learn Kotlin, but if there’s a single selling point here, it’s that Google loves it. In fact, Kotlin has been Google’s preferred software development language since 2017, meaning that apps and solutions built with this language get all kinds of perks before everyone else.
Google prioritizes innovative features and functionalities for Kotlin-based apps, and developers can stay ahead of the competition easily simply by coding in this easy-to-use language. Most importantly, you can use Kotlin as one of the WordPress coding practices and build beautiful WP websites or develop android apps, servers, and more. The best thing is that you can use Kotlin wherever Java is used, because it is interoperable with this popular language.
If those reasons are not enough to make you start learning Kotlin and even teach your kids to code in this language, here are some more reasons why you should. Kotlin is reliable, the app source code is easy to maintain, and the language itself is clean and compact.
This makes it fairly easy to learn and even master with time, and needless to say, Kotlin also cuts down development times significantly through better team collaboration and efficiency.
JavaScript
Among the top programming languages to use out there, you also have JavaScript, which has become the industry leader in desktop software, web-based applications, and even apps for mobile phones. You might be thinking right now that you’ll need to learn every language we mention today in order to become a successful developer, and the truth is that the more languages you have under your belt, the better the chance you’ll kick-start a thriving career.
This is because nowadays dev teams and companies in general are hiring developers with a wide array of skills, and JavaScript is just one of them. The good thing is that you can code almost anything in this language. It is particularly popular in the E-commerce industry for coding precise shipping apps and other backend and customer-centric applications. In fact, eBay was built with Node.js, a JavaScript runtime.
All of this goes to show that JavaScript is a valuable skill to have. Its concrete benefits include speed, versatility, and reliability, but it’s also important to note that it is accessible and affordable. Its popularity also makes it easy to learn, as you’ll have access to a huge online community.
C++
C++ has risen over the years to become a go-to programming language for analytics and research purposes, but nowadays it is one of the primary languages for in-game development. This is partly because C++ is the primary scripting language for the Unreal Engine, which we all know is one of the most popular game engines in the world that offers stellar performance, physics, and industry-defining visuals.
If for no other reason, it’s important to learn C++ in order to become a competitive developer in the gaming industry. That said, the language is extremely useful for system software development, as well as integrating project management methodologies into PM apps and proprietary software for businesses. The language supports object-oriented programming as well as multiple other programming paradigms, which makes it highly-versatile, and it’s easier to learn than some other coding languages.
The only thing that you may find annoying at first when working in C++ is that there is no automated garbage collector, meaning that you need to get rid of useless data manually. The built-in friends function and global variables might present some minor security risks, which you can avoid by carefully managing access points.
Golang
Golang first appeared in 2009, but it’s considered to be a fairly new language that has been making waves in the software development community in recent years, both in the front and back end. Golang is made by none other than Google itself, and its main purpose is to take functional programming forward - basically it has many of the features that, for example, C should have. These include a garbage collector, better memory safety and management, structural typing, and more.
This makes Golang a great choice for a variety of proprietary software dealing in sensitive information, such as billing software for SMBs as well as large enterprises that need robust tools to manage financial transactions and data. Now, Golang does have a steeper learning curve, but it’s important for aspiring developers to add it to their resumes if they want to be a part of future-oriented web and app development.
Given the fact that it’s open-source, though, you have plenty of opportunities to master this language fairly quickly. Modern clients and users have a need for simple and intuitive applications, and Golang is all about code efficiency, simplicity, and security.
Dart
Following the threat of new-ish programming languages developed by Google, Dart is quickly rising in the industry as a simple coding language, following the C style syntax. This means that it’s fairly easy to learn and that it has a wide range of applications in multi-platform and cross-platform development.
As a software developer, you need a language that you can use to code apps for a variety of platforms. For example, given the fact that wearables change our lives in many ways and that they have to be connected with other devices, you have to ensure seamless interoperability of apps on these different platforms. This is something that Dart allows you to achieve, as you can use the language to build apps for any and all electronic devices.
Learning Dart is not a necessity, but it does provide several advantages over learning a more traditional language like JavaScript. By all means, if you’re a serious developer you should know JavaScript, but it’s important to note that Dart is easier to learn with a simpler syntax. This makes it a valuable asset in any developer’s arsenal, especially in a time when fast development and output are the norm.
Corona, Now Solar 2D
Finally, Solar 2D (formerly Corona) is a software development toolkit built exclusively for developing mobile games. Given the fact that mobile games are getting more popular by the day, it should come as no surprise that in the US alone, the mobile gaming content market worth more than 121 billion by 2022. Needless to say, now’s the time to get into android and iOS game development.
With that in mind, Solar 2D might just be the programming toolkit you need to bring mobile games to life quickly. It is only 2D based for now, but that should not be a challenge as 2D apps are some of the most popular types of android and iOS games on the Play Store. The great thing about Solar 2D is that it uses the powerful Lua scripting language, popularly used in games like Warcraft, Angry Birds, and Civilization.
Over to you
The software development industry is growing at a rapid pace across the globe. It is, therefore, important to stay on top of the most popular coding languages in order to build a thriving career in this competitive industry.
This article was written by Nina Petrov
Nina Petrov is a content marketing specialist, passionate about graphic design, content marketing, and the new generation of green and social businesses. She starts the day scrolling her digest on new digital trends while sipping a cup of coffee with milk and sugar. Her white little bunny tends to reply to your emails when she is on vacation.
