Best programming languages to learn based on your career goals
by Daniela Meier
If you're new to the field of programming, it's difficult to decide which programming language you should start with. There are so many different languages, each with its advantages and disadvantages. With our new blog article, we want to help you navigate the different programming languages and decide which one you should learn based on your career goals.
Maybe you already know which direction you want to go. Front-end development, back-end development, game development, mobile development, application development, etc. Let's take a look at the most popular languages and find out which one is the best for you to get started!
Maybe you already know which direction you want to go. Front-end development, back-end development, game development, mobile development, application development, etc. Let's take a look at the most popular languages and find out which one is the best for you to get started!
Which programming language should I learn?
C/C++
C is probably the oldest widely used programming language and forms the basis for other languages such as C#, Java, and JavaScript. C++ is an improved version of C, which both are widely used in computer science and programming. C and C++ developers can use compilers for a variety of platforms, making applications developed in these languages largely portable. Both C and C++ are viewed as high-performance languages. As such, they are often used in the development of applications where performance is important, such as client/server applications, commercial products like Firefox and Adobe, and video games.
C#
C# (pronounced C Sharp) builds on the fundamentals of C. The language was originally developed by Microsoft as part of its .NET framework for Windows application development and is part of the object-oriented programming language family. As a general-purpose language, C# is becoming increasingly popular for developing web and desktop applications. It is considered one of the most powerful programming languages for the .NET framework. As with other popular languages, C# has a large community that provides support for new learners. In addition, C# is ideal for developing increasingly popular mobile applications and games.
JavaScript
JavaScript is one of the most popular programming languages. However, it is best known as a language for the web and client web browsers. Since it is essential for creating web pages, for many it is also the first programming language they learn. Over the years, it has evolved into not only a client-side language but also a server-side language with Node.js. JavaScript requires virtually no prior knowledge of programming. Once you start learning it, you can start practicing and playing with the language right away.
Java
Java is one of the most widely used and sought-after programming languages in use today. Java is a universal and object-oriented programming language. In object-oriented programming, developers create objects that contain functions and data that can then be used to structure programs and applications. Java is popular for a reason, as this language is relatively easy to learn and use, offers incredible security, and can handle large amounts of data.
Python
Python is one of the most widely used programming languages today and is easy to learn, even for beginners, due to its easy readability. It is an open-source programming language with a large number of support modules and community development, easy integration with web services, user-friendly data structures, and GUI-based desktop applications. It is a general-purpose programming language that allows developers to use different programming styles when creating programs. As one of the easiest languages to learn and use, Python is suitable for beginners and experienced programmers alike.
Swift
If you're interested in mobile app development, Swift is a good place to start. As an open-source programming language that is easy to learn, Swift supports almost all the features of the Objective-C programming language. Swift requires less programming knowledge compared to other programming languages and can be used with IBM Swift Sandbox and IBM Bluemix.
Ruby
If you want to start with a language that is relatively easy to learn, consider Ruby. Ruby was designed to have a more human-friendly syntax while being flexible, as its object-oriented architecture supports both procedural and functional programming notations. One framework for web applications implemented in Ruby is Ruby on Rails ("RoR"). Ruby developers praise this language for being easy to write and for its relatively short learning curve. These characteristics have led to a large community of Ruby developers and a growing interest in the language among aspiring developers.
PHP
PHP is an open-source programming language that was developed in 1990. For many web developers, learning PHP is essential, as this language is used to create more than 80% of websites on the Internet, including sites like Facebook and Yahoo. Programmers use PHP primarily to write server-side scripts. However, developers can also use this language to write command-line scripts, and programmers with good PHP skills can use it to develop desktop applications. PHP is considered a relatively easy language to learn for novice developers. For PHP experts, there are several dedicated online communities where you can easily get support and answers to questions.
C# (pronounced C Sharp) builds on the fundamentals of C. The language was originally developed by Microsoft as part of its .NET framework for Windows application development and is part of the object-oriented programming language family. As a general-purpose language, C# is becoming increasingly popular for developing web and desktop applications. It is considered one of the most powerful programming languages for the .NET framework. As with other popular languages, C# has a large community that provides support for new learners. In addition, C# is ideal for developing increasingly popular mobile applications and games.
JavaScript
JavaScript is one of the most popular programming languages. However, it is best known as a language for the web and client web browsers. Since it is essential for creating web pages, for many it is also the first programming language they learn. Over the years, it has evolved into not only a client-side language but also a server-side language with Node.js. JavaScript requires virtually no prior knowledge of programming. Once you start learning it, you can start practicing and playing with the language right away.
Java
Java is one of the most widely used and sought-after programming languages in use today. Java is a universal and object-oriented programming language. In object-oriented programming, developers create objects that contain functions and data that can then be used to structure programs and applications. Java is popular for a reason, as this language is relatively easy to learn and use, offers incredible security, and can handle large amounts of data.
Python
Python is one of the most widely used programming languages today and is easy to learn, even for beginners, due to its easy readability. It is an open-source programming language with a large number of support modules and community development, easy integration with web services, user-friendly data structures, and GUI-based desktop applications. It is a general-purpose programming language that allows developers to use different programming styles when creating programs. As one of the easiest languages to learn and use, Python is suitable for beginners and experienced programmers alike.
Swift
If you're interested in mobile app development, Swift is a good place to start. As an open-source programming language that is easy to learn, Swift supports almost all the features of the Objective-C programming language. Swift requires less programming knowledge compared to other programming languages and can be used with IBM Swift Sandbox and IBM Bluemix.
Ruby
If you want to start with a language that is relatively easy to learn, consider Ruby. Ruby was designed to have a more human-friendly syntax while being flexible, as its object-oriented architecture supports both procedural and functional programming notations. One framework for web applications implemented in Ruby is Ruby on Rails ("RoR"). Ruby developers praise this language for being easy to write and for its relatively short learning curve. These characteristics have led to a large community of Ruby developers and a growing interest in the language among aspiring developers.
PHP
PHP is an open-source programming language that was developed in 1990. For many web developers, learning PHP is essential, as this language is used to create more than 80% of websites on the Internet, including sites like Facebook and Yahoo. Programmers use PHP primarily to write server-side scripts. However, developers can also use this language to write command-line scripts, and programmers with good PHP skills can use it to develop desktop applications. PHP is considered a relatively easy language to learn for novice developers. For PHP experts, there are several dedicated online communities where you can easily get support and answers to questions.
Conclusion
Above we have summarized the most popular programming languages used in Frontend and Backend development, mobile development, game development, and more.
Now it’s your turn to decide which one to start with or learn next. We can help you get started with Python programming in our 6 weeks part-time course and teach you the fundamentals of Python or if you want to learn the hottest tools and technologies to become a Full-Stack Developer, check out our 12 weeks (full-time) or 22 weeks (part-time) Full-Stack Bootcamp.
Now it’s your turn to decide which one to start with or learn next. We can help you get started with Python programming in our 6 weeks part-time course and teach you the fundamentals of Python or if you want to learn the hottest tools and technologies to become a Full-Stack Developer, check out our 12 weeks (full-time) or 22 weeks (part-time) Full-Stack Bootcamp.
