Want to know where to start your programming journey? Here are 5+1 programming languages that companies look for in developer CVs today.
Programming is a skill that has become increasingly important in today’s world. From web development to machine learning, programming is used in almost every industry.
But with so many programming languages available, it can be difficult to know where to start. In this blog post, we will introduce you to some of the most popular programming languages and explore what makes each language unique.
Java, the hotshot
Developed by accident back in 1991, Java has quickly become the tongue of server-side development.
Sun Microsystems developers, James Gosling and Patrick Naughton wanted to create a language that can be widely used to support interactive TV services and portable programs. As it turned out, digital cable providers were not ready for such solutions yet, but the tech world was more than ready for Java.
It became the GOAT of object-oriented programming languages. 95% of large and medium-sized companies, including Amazon, eBay, LinkedIn, Google, Apple, and Facebook, use Java as their primary programming language. It’s also the default language for creating apps in Google’s operational system, and most banking projects are Java-based, too.
Why is Java so popular?
But Java is more than just a popular choice—it’s also one of the most trusted, secure languages, making it an ideal choice for industries focused on these qualities.
- It’s platform-independent
- It’s backwards compatible
- Easy to write
- Can be run anytime, anywhere – on servers, smartphones, and more
In constant development
Java is in constant development and most programmers like to use it. First of all, each new version of the language comes with significant improvements in line with the latest technological advancements and industry requirements. Secondly, because of the huge context built around it: countless lines of code and a number of apps have already been written in it.
So whatever problem you want to solve with it, there is a high chance someone has already created a solution for it – and it can be found on the web.
The rise of C#
C# (C Sharp) is a more advanced language than Java, in many respects, especially after two decades of continued development, Java falls behind by a lot.
C# was initially developed by Microsoft around 2000, basically as an act of defiance when they wanted to upgrade Java in the ’90s without permission.
This ended in court, and Microsoft decided to create their own framework. That’s how C# came to be.
A general-purpose programming language
As a general-purpose programming language, C# can be used anywhere. However, it has gained virtual dominance in Windows app and server-side programming. Since Microsoft is in the background, it’s at least as popular among companies as its buddy, Java.
C# in game development
Unity speaks C#, too, and it’s used for writing games like HearthStone or Subnautica. Game developers who choose C# can benefit from the language’s object-oriented nature, which makes it easier to create complex game mechanics.
C# in multi-platform mobile app development
C# is a big player in multi-platform mobile app development, too. Apps running on Android and iOS can be developed in C# with the help of Microsoft’s Xamarin system. This is a huge advantage for mobile app developers who don’t have to create the same app twice for different platforms.
Additionally, C# is fully open source, which means it can be used in any environment, not just on Windows.
There's no web without JavaScript and TypeScript
In the world of web development, HTML and CSS are often thought of as the foundational building blocks of a website. However, the language that genuinely brings websites to life and makes them dynamic and interactive is JavaScript.
Each website you’ve opened today uses it. It’s the universal language of the web. According to Stack Overflow, JavaScript is – after eight consecutive years – still the most widely used programming language in the world.
JavaScript is the only language that each and every browser knows and accepts, be it Firefox, Safari, Opera, or Chrome.
Easy to learn
Many programmers appreciate the ease of learning JavaScript, which uses simple language syntaxes and is built upon less rigid grammatical rules. Even those who are new to coding can quickly become proficient in JavaScript.
Always improving
But that’s not all – JavaScript is also a language that is constantly evolving and improving. In the past 6-7 years alone, the language has been enhanced with many new specifications and linguistic elements.
A big step forward with TypeScript
Later, the birth of TypeScript 0.8 meant another big step forward. It kept the syntax of JavaScript, but thanks to its strong object-oriented view, it made the development of large-scale frontend-oriented applications possible.
Today, Typescript is among the top ten most like programming languages worldwide. It became the official language of Google’s Angular and React too.
Python, friend of big data
There was a time when more people searched for Python on Google than for Kim Kardashian.
Created by Guido van Rossum in 1989, Python started as a pet project and was named after the British comedy show Monty Python. Despite its not-so-serious name, Python has become one of the fastest-growing programming languages, with around 40% of professional programmers using it.
Why Python is so successful
Python’s conquest began with Big Data. It was adopted by companies such as Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and Tesla for their data analysis projects. Python’s ability to handle vast amounts of data with ease, coupled with its readability and simplicity, made it a clear favorite in this field.
Then, Python continued to conquer the world of machine learning as well. Machine learning requires a programming language that can quickly manipulate large datasets, and Python fits the bill perfectly. Today, Python is the preferred language for developing machine learning models and neural networks.
SQL is all about the queries
SQL (Structured Query Language) is one of the most popular query languages in the world. Even though it’s not technically a programming language, it’s still essential for most programmers. The language is used for data entry, data queries, and modifications in the database.
History of SQL
SQL has been around since the ’70s, thanks to Edgar Frank Codd at IBM. Its popularity, however, was not always as high in the past. In the late 2000s, NoSQL databases emerged, and SQL’s dominance appeared to crumble. Instead of becoming less relevant, however, SQL found its rightful place, and most databases today still run on it. When there’s a more specified task – like handling massive amounts of unstructured data, for example – NoSQL databases take a more significant role.
What SQL can do
Server-side applications consist of two main parts: the application itself (written in programming languages like Java or C#) and the database, which stores information utilized while the application is in use.
The database part is responsible for everything related to data processing, from storing, collecting, systematizing, classifying, combining, modifying, or deleting hundreds or hundreds of millions of items as needed. This is where SQL comes in handy. For example, handling webshop users’ data, available items, and their properties in the databases where they’re stored.
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