Growing up, we learn that language is one of the most important tools humans can use throughout their life. Language is what helps the world go round and move forward, allowing humans to communicate with each other, share ideas, develop innovative concepts, and advance as a species.

Through the millennia, we have gone from paintings on the walls to structured ancient languages, to Braille, Morse code, and eventually, to coding. Programming languages have been around for quite some time, and despite being toddlers when compared to spoken and written languages of the world, they may as well be the most important form of communication humans have achieved so far: our only way of communicating in detail with computers.

A programming language is a truly remarkable tool that not only allows humans to communicate with their computers, but allows us to alter how these computers behave, and what results that behavior brings forth. When a developer writes code, regardless of the programming language they use, they are -in essence- negotiating with the computer on whatever goal they wish to see accomplished.

If the computer is happy enough with the code provided, the result is operating and can serve its purpose, all in the while being subject to constant refinement.

But enough with philosophy on languages and communication. In today’s blog, we are checking some of the “hottest” programming languages out there and present them in an attempt to assist prospective software developers in choosing what programming language they should learn!

Java, the one everybody knows

“Born” in 1995, Java is by far the most popular programming language in the world. Proof of that is the fact that even people who have no idea how coding works have heard the word Java, and many have even seen it on their computers during the 90s and early 2000s.

Now in the hands of Oracle, Java is an object-oriented programming language, serving developers that build server-side, enterprise-level apps. Combining security with portability, Java is used by huge corporations such as Amazon, Twitter, and Google.

Python aka How to Teach Machines

Imagine a programming language that combines the three following elements: free, readable, applied to Data Science and Machine Learning. Exciting right? This is Python, the programming language of both the present and the future.

An open-source programming language that is readable, making it one of the easiest programming languages to learn, used in fields where mankind is bound to invest heavily in the not-so-distant future, such as Machine Learning. Not only that but Python also includes strong modules for building GUI-based applications. Oh, and did we mention it’s free and easy to learn?

Kotlin or “An Attempt to Refresh Java”

If you start high, you can only go higher, say the people, and that’s what Kotlin is trying to achieve. Released in 2016, this is a programming language that wanted to enter the market and outperform Java. Widely used for development in Android, Kotlin is heavily supported by Google, Pinterest, and Coursera, among others.

This is one of the programming languages that actually “require” you to know another one before approaching them since it is suggested that you know Java before learning Kotlin. You can of course start from 0 with Kotlin, but it will probably take you twice the time it would have if you first learned the basics of Java and then enter the world of Kotlin. Allegedly the programming language of the future in mobile development.

Swift, the Apple “kid”

Unlike Kotlin which has yet to look Java in the eyes and take its place, Swift has managed to do exactly that with Objective-C. Swift was released in 2014 with the purpose of becoming the successor of the legendary programming language behind the world of Apple.

Quickly or… swiftly if you will, Swift managed to “replace” Objective-C and is now being used by Firefox, SoundCloud, WordPress, and many others, for their iOS apps. It is the official programming language for both iOS and macOS development and has managed to become that in less than 10 years.

C#, the legend

Things that work and keep working never change, and it should be like that. C# is a prime example of that since it’s one of the oldest and most legendary programming languages in the world. Developed by Microsoft, C# is THE programming language when it comes to Windows development and anything based on the .NET platform.

Not only is C# around for so long that its consistency is worth countless applauds, but it is also shaping the future, being used in the popular Unity game engine, making C# a very important programming language for the gaming industry.

Tags: C#, Java, Kotlin, programming, programming language, programming languages, Python, Swift