Hey, Tea Lovers! Today let’s talk about the programming languages that beat others in popularity i.e most popular programming language in 2022. According to one estimate, there are more than 700 Programming Languages (some say 9000). Out of which 170+ are widely used. But a handful of them is ruling the world, like these 8 (+ bonus) I will be talking about.
Why this many, you may ask. Well, every programming language is built to focus on something specific. Such as specializing in a programming paradigm (object or functional), platform-specific, overcoming the limitations of others, being faster, being easier, enhancing the experience, and many more. There is no single answer to it.
But don’t overwhelm yourself too much that you only know two or three. The main focus is to not learn as many languages but to select one that helps you solve your problem.
I added a bonus list to the main list. You can start learning them if you like. Ok, now without any delay let’s just jump right into it.
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Keep in Mind
Before starting, Let me clear up a few things. The popularity doesn’t mean that one programming language is better than the other. And never define your goal using this index only. Every programming language solves the problem in its unique way. The selection should always be decided on the problem or requirement at hand.
Also, this list is not in any particular order. It’s purely based on my knowledge and what I have observed. But one thing is for sure, whatever you chose from the list, there always be demand for that. Just believe in yourself, be confident, and always be humble toward learning. You give this highly recommended post a read: 6 Biggest Developer’s Mistakes That Must be Avoided
TL;DR
Want to quickly finish the post? Here is the video format for the post: 8 Programming Languages that beat others in popularity. But the video is a short version read the post if you want to read it in more detail.
Python
Well, It was obvious, wasn’t it? It’s Python-Python everywhere. First appeared in 1991, almost 31 years ago, is one of the most popular programming languages in the world. It has become the defacto language to get started with. The reason is its easy-to-understand and human-readable nature.
The journey to AI starts with python (*easiest way). The boom in the AI sector has pushed this to the top of the list. The Computer Science syllabus starts with this language nowadays.
If you are just starting your programming journey, Python is the highly recommended language.
JavaScript or NodeJS
Published in 1995, the language is used in almost 97% of websites nowadays. Indeed, since then it has come a long way and is always a go-to choice for beginners and professionals alike. The introduction of NodeJs has made it “One for All“. Meaning, using JS only, you can build both the backend and front. Isn’t it cool?
If you want to work purely on the backend just use node.js, if you want to build only front-end applications, use React.js (or similar). Trust me, there is no shortage of libraries for JS ecosystems. On the contrary, you will see a new library or framework pop up every other day (or maybe multiple a day).
If you want to be a full-stack developer, JS is a technology you MUST learn.
Go, Lang
Created by Google, the Go Lang offers high performance like C and C++ but with a faster learning curve than C or C++. Did you know that the primary motivation behind designing the Go Lang was their shared dislike of C++? I mean how frustrated they would be to create their language? But As I said in the beginning, every programming language, one way or another, is built to overcome the challenges of another. So don’t just go and shame other programming language users.
Back to Go Lang. Due to its high performance, Go Lang is used in many applications. Such as Docker, Kubernetes, DropBox, ConckroachDB, and many others.
Go Lang Developers are high in demand but low in supply. So you might get a pretty high salary.
The icon of Go Lang is cute though.
Java
27 years old and still ruling the world. People always say Java is dying, but popularity says otherwise. Recent updates are making it even stronger. Enterprises love Java there is no doubt about it. As you can guess by the number and type of articles I post on CodersTea, I am a Java Developer.
What makes Java so popular? Well, first of the stability, the sheer number of resources available, a mature language, and ease to debug due to its statically typed nature among many others.
The Learning Curve of Java is easy-to-moderate, but if you are just starting the programming journey I would suggest looking for Python or JS.
Kotlin
Popular among Android Developers, it’s stealing the thunder from Java. Created by Jetbrains, once you use this, you don’t want to go back to Java. Less code, more work. The power of Kotlin is its compatibility with Java. You can use Java code or a library without any issues. And if you are a Java developer who wants to try Kotlin, then just go for it. It’s a really beautiful language to work with.
Kotlin is not only used for core business logic like Java but also DSL or Domain Specific Languages. For example, the Gradle build file can be written in Kotlin.
If you want to develop a Native Android application, then Kotlin is a very good option for that.
Swift
The First language for any of Apple’s OS, such as iOS or macOS is Swift. Swift is an easy-to-learn and interactive language. If you want to make an iOS app with high performance, go for Swift.
To develop the iOS application one needs Apple devices such as iPhone and macOS (MacBook or iMac). Due to this requirement, you may not come across many iOS developers as Apple’s devices are expensive. This results in high demand and low supply. So might get a Job easily as an iOS developer.
But if you using it for something else, do let me know in the comments.
C++
The King. No matter what decade, this language rules them all. C++ is always sitting on the throne when it comes to performance. But with a steep learning curve, it’s a little more difficult to learn than other languages, especially for beginners. If the primary concern for your application is a performance just go for C++.
C++ is used in Gaming, Applications with 3D rendering, or any other application which needs to be performant. C++ allows us fine-grain control over the memory.
Bonus
Yes, these were my top 8 picks for 2022. These languages I talked about are proven their worth and are now too big to fail*. These are, In my opinion, the best languages you can pick either as primary or secondary. But as I said earlier there is always a language that fixes the issue of another.
Even though the market is filled with the abovementioned languages, the list should also include the following programming language. So I added them to the bonus.
Ruby and Ruby on Rails
Ruby is a general-purpose language used in many scenarios. Like applications, servers, data processing, and even automation. The syntax is more human-readable.
Ruby on Rails is a framework built on Ruby is a popular framework to build a stand-alone web server. Ruby on Rails has contributed a lot to making Ruby a very popular language. The primary focus of it is the productivity and happiness of developers. Well, enough reasons to pick the language, ain’t they?
Scala
“Scala, Scala, tera hi bol bala 🎶” (Scala, Scala, you are the talk of the town).
Bult on top of JVM, Scala is a mix of Object-oriented and functional programming paradigms. Published in 2004, it’s neither new nor old. If you are a Java developer and started using Scala, there is no going back to Java. It’s the modernization of Java (well of course it’s on JVM).
Similar to Java, it can be used on applications, stand-alone, or web servers among many others. If you want to explore functional programming but want to stay in the Java ecosystem, you can give Scala a chance ( or Kotlin).
Rust
Rust programing language is used to build reliable and efficient software. It generates a very performant application as there is no run-time garbage collection. It can run on embedded devices or integrate with another language easily.
Rust is gaining popularity in recent years. It is being used in Firefox, Dropbox, and Cloudflare.
Conclusion
That’s it for this post. hope you liked it. Let me know if you want to add another language to the list or if I missed something.
See you in the next post. HAKUNA MATATA!!!
I would be happy to connect with you guys on social media. It’s @coderstea on Twitter, Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
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