There are a lot of programming languages out there. Heck, there are thousands. But it can be hard to figure out which programming language is the best for your situation. Are you interested in web development? Or maybe you’re looking to work with software development?
Either way, this article will help you make the right choice when selecting a language to learn! I’ll share some that are my favorite, as well as others that could be especially good for beginners that are looking into coding.
JavaScript
JavaScript is another language which is in high demand at the moment, but it is not to be confused with Java! Java is a programming language while JavaScript is a scripting language. It is relatively easy to learn but perhaps not as easy as something like Python. It runs on every single platform and is already in your browser for you to start learning which means you do not need to install it. If you want to build anything for the web then JavaScript must be on your list of programs to learn.
You can start using JavaScript straight away to start building websites and games for the web. It is one of the fundamental technologies which the web we know of today is built on. It is dynamic and is flexible to use on object-oriented programming. It derives much of its syntax from The C Language (discussed below).
Learn JavaScript here
Python
Python is one of the most widely-used high-level programming languages. This is mostly because it is simple, readable and you can use fewer lines of code to express a concept than you would have to with other languages. It is a scripting language which allows you to produce a lot of code in short periods of time.
It is opensource and free and there are a lot of tools and documentation available for learning Python. There are some great official tutorials which are easy to follow and there is less of an emphasis on syntax which would suit beginners. It is a good stepping stone for moving on and learning other object-oriented languages.
Python continues to be one of the best programming languages every developer should learn this year. The language is easy-to-learn and offers a clean and well-structured code, making it powerful enough to build a decent web application.
Python can be used for web and desktop applications, GUI-based desktop applications, machine learning, data science, and network servers. The programming language enjoys immense community support and offers several open-source libraries, frameworks, and modules that make application development a cakewalk.
For instance, Python offers Django and Flask, popular libraries for web development and TensorFlow, Keras, and SciPy for data science applications.
Though Python has been around for a while, it makes sense to learn this language in 2021 as it can help you get a job or a freelance project quickly, thereby accelerating your career growth.
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Java
Java is one of the most popular programming languages in the world. Java 1.0 was released in 1995 on the principle of ‘Write Once Run Anywhere’. It is a class-based, object-oriented language which is designed to be portable which means that you can find it on all platforms, operating systems and devices.
Java has been used for so long that there is lots of information about it on the web. This is ideal for beginners because this means that almost certainly any question you have has already been asked and answered by someone else in the Java community. It has an incredible toolset and great editors which let you know straight away if you have any errors. Java programming is a highly sought after skill and knowledge of it opens a lot of doors in terms of employment.
Learn Java here
Elm
One of the youngest languages on our list, what began as a Harvard student’s thesis has now grown to become a point of passion for front-end developers around the world.
Elm web architecture was the intellectual inspiration for Redux, the state-management library taught here at Fullstack.
Elm compiles to JavaScript, making it ideal for building fast-executing UIs with zero errors at runtime. Elm is a functional programming language, allowing developers to create client-side interfaces without the declarative trappings of HTML and CSS.
Kotlin
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Kotlin is a general-purpose programming language with type inference. It is designed to be completely interoperable with Java. Moreover, from the time Android announced it as its first language, Kotlin offers features that developers ask for. It effortlessly combines object-oriented and functional programming features within it.
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The effortless interoperation between Java and Kotlin makes Android development faster and enjoyable. Since Kotlin addresses the major issues surfaced in Java, several Java apps are rewritten in Kotlin. For instance, brands like Coursera and Pinterest have already moved to Kotlin due to strong tooling support.
As most businesses move to Kotlin, Google is bound to promote this language more than Java. Hence, Kotlin has a strong future in the Android app development ecosystem.
Kotlin is an easy-to-learn, open-source, and swift language for Android app development that removes any adoption-related barriers. You can use it for Android development, web development, desktop development, and server-side development. Therefore, it’s a must-learn language for programmers and Android app developers in 2021.
Ruby
It is similar to Python in that it is simple and readable. It is usually focused on web-based applications. It is the language that powers their framework, Ruby on Rails, which is behind websites such as Twitter, Groupon and GitHub.
Ruby is a dynamic, object-oriented scripting language that is used in the development of websites and mobile apps.
It is easy to learn with a helpful 20 minute quick start guide on the official Ruby website. It is straightforward and easy to read with a large community behind it of programmers willing to answer questions. There is a lot of documentation available as well as great resources which will help you to grasp Ruby from the very beginning.
Learn Ruby here
TypeScript
TypeScript, a superset of JavaScript is an object-oriented language that was introduced to extend the capabilities of JS. The language makes it easy for developers to write and maintain codes. TypeScript offers a complete description of each component of the code and can be used for developing large applications with a strict syntax and fewer errors.
Further, it is well-structured and easy to learn. Its extended toolbox makes application development quick. Owing to the benefits it offers, TypeScript is expected to supercede JS in 2020, making it one of the most sought-after programming languages in the future.
Go
If you have your eyes on California, Go is probably your go-to. Maybe due to its origins and the fact it is backed by Google, it is widely used by startups in Silicon Valley. Should you wish to join a Valley-based startup specialising in core systems, you should master Golang.
A Stack Overflow survey reveals that Go is the fifth most preferred language among developers today. This is because, Go solves issues like slow compilation and execution in large distributed software systems.
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This speed advantage has made Go a critical component of cloud infrastructure. So, if you are planning to work in a serverless ecosystem, Go is the language for you.
Swift
Swift is a general-purpose compiled programming language developed by Apple that offers developers a simple and cohesive syntax. It is deeply influenced by Python and Ruby that’s fast, secure, and easy-to-learn. Owning to its versatility and practical applications, Swift has replaced Objective-C as the main language for Apple-related applications.
Further, since Swift is promoted by Apple, its popularity and community support is increasing. In fact, a study of the top 110 apps on the app store showed that 42 percent of apps are already using Swift.
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Coders with little or zero experience can use Swift Playgrounds to learn the language, experiment with complex codes, and work on native iOS and macOS apps. Swift is the premiere coding language that helps developers create iOS apps within a short time. The programming language opens several opportunities for new programmers, allowing them to make it big in the world of app development.
There is a giant market out there for iOS and you definitely want to be a part of it. If you are eyeing this burgeoning market, Swift is the language you should learn in 2021.
Conclusion
As a newbie in this era of fast-paced technology advancement, choosing the right programming language for our software development projects is important to creating a project with higher chances of success. With usually months usually given days to complete the project , which programming language we choose can determine whether or not we hit our deadline and ship a quality product.