According to the experts on Quora, there are about 256 programming languages today. Some of them are pretty obscure. There’s Legoscript. Yes, it’s exactly what you think it is. There’s also Pizza which is a superset of Java. So, not all 256 languages are widely used. Still, even if you remove all of the obscure languages, you’re left with a pretty big list. If you’re interested in a career as a developer, you’ve got to choose which ones to learn. More to the point, which languages will benefit you the most, right now, in 2019? Here are a few that really stand out.
1. Languages to Get Your Career Started
If you’re new to all of this, consider picking up one or two languages that can serve as a bit of a foundation for you. By mastering these, you’ll learn the basics of coding, and have some seriously in-demand skills.
JavaScript
JavaScript has emerged as the most popular language among developers over the past few years. If you are on the lookout for a language that is in high demand, and offers a path into a variety of development careers, study JavaScript. It’s used to develop powerful, interactive websites, and is widely seen as the most important language for developers to master.
Python
Think of Python as a bit of a utilitarian language. If you know Python and have the right tools, there’s not much you can’t accomplish. Companies that are hiring developers to work in data analysis, scientific applications, web development and more, often require Python skills. This is a great language to learn if you want to work for a software company, or if you would prefer to freelance.
Java
Java and JavaScript are two different languages. Java is an older language that is more similar to C. In fact, it was developed as a less complicated alternative to that. It’s used in website backend development as well as desktop and mobile apps. This is a great language for coders to pick up because of its portability. Java can be used to develop on a variety of platforms. It’s also the development language used on Android.
C++
C++ isn’t an easy language to learn. In fact, it’s known for being a bit esoteric. Still, if you can master it, there’s not much you can’t do. The C languages are all very portable. You’ll find them used in gaming, mobile apps, business software, and many other places. It’s a cross-platform language as well. C++ software and apps tend to be very ‘high performance’. This is why it’s very commonly used in game development.
2. Languages For Branching Out And Growing as a Developer
What if you’ve mastered the languages above? Next, you can think about specializing. This might include venturing into different kinds of development, or positioning yourself to work on legacy systems
Matlab
Not all development jobs are in the commercial sector. Jared Williams, help desk supervisor at Trust my Paper says, “Many coders find themselves working for universities, research facilities, and businesses instead. There they work with scientific applications, data analytics, and other similar disciplines. If this is a path that interests you, consider learning Matlab.”
Swift
Swift is the language you need to learn if you want to develop apps for Mac and iOS. It’s also quite easy to pick up. The language was designed for beginners, and developed with the goal of helping newer coders avoid the mistakes that are quite common in more complex languages. If you have some great ideas for iOS apps, and want to get productive quickly, start learning Swift.
PHP
80% of websites use PHP in some capacity. It’s in especially high demand in content management systems. All of those must be updated and maintained. There’s also plenty of new development happening in PHP. Both of these things make learning PHP a pretty solid choice, especially if you live and work in an area where legacy developers are in high demand.
GO
Google developed GO, so as you might imagine it’s a very functional and popular language. It was created to have the performance capabilities of a C language, but to be as easy to use as Python. If you are a developer with a solid skill set who wants to learn a language that is likely to be in high demand in the future, consider learning goal this year.
Final Thoughts: Resources And Tools
Chances are, you’ll find at least one or two languages here that will be of value to you. The next step is finding the best way to master them. Fortunately, if there’s one skill that you can learn on your own time, at little to no cost, it’s programming. Check out free online learning resources, your local community college, or hit up your employer for on the job training.
