There are a huge number of directions in IT: from creating games and applications to developing robots that completely replace human labor. There is no programming language that is equally fast at solving problems for any of these areas. Therefore, it is important to understand that any lists of the best programming languages are subjective and usually based on how popular, versatile and comfortable the language is.
What programming languages there are
Before moving on to the top 5 programming languages, let’s find out what languages there are and what tasks they solve. For this purpose, we have chosen 10 languages that are not similar to each other and we will tell a little about each of them. The sequence in this list is random – it is not yet a ranking. After that we will tell you which languages from the list are the most popular among programmers.
The language Java
A general-purpose programming language that consistently ranks high in popularity ratings. Applications in Java can run on any computer, for this purpose is created a virtual Java-machine. Mobile applications for the Android operating system are actively being developed in Java.
C Language
The C language is used to develop operating systems, real-time applications. It’s also used as an intermediate language in compiling higher-level languages.
The C language is complex and contains things you can easily go wrong in, it makes for a messy and far from safe code. It has become obsolete over 40 years, and that greatly reduces its usefulness today.
The Python Language
Python is easy to learn and is very often used when teaching children programming – for example, at the Skysmart online school. Python programs are close to a natural language, so it’s great as a first language for a beginning programmer.
It is a very common language and a large number of projects have been implemented in it. Python is used extensively at Google and much of the source code for YouTube is written in it. It’s also often used in creating robot machines.
The C++ language
This language is one of the most popular, it is widely used for software development. Programmers use it to create operating systems, a variety of application programs, device drivers, applications for embedded systems and games. C++ syntax is inherited from the C language.
The Go language (golang)
The youngest language on our list: its development began in 2007 within Google as a replacement for C and C++. Go’s popularity has grown in the past few years, it occupies a high place in the ratings of the most used programming languages.
C# language
The name of the language reads “C Sharp”. It was developed between 1998 and 2001 within Microsoft to create applications.
C# belongs to the family of languages with a C-like syntax, of which it is closest to C++ and Java. That is why C# has a rather complex syntax, which is considered a disadvantage.
The Fortran language
It is an example of a highly specialized language. It is widely used for engineering calculations. Many programs and libraries of subroutines are written in Fortran, such as those for matrix algebra, differential equations, integral equations, mathematical statistics and other disciplines. Such packages have been developed over the years, and some of them are still popular in the scientific field.
The JavaScript language
Do not confuse it with Java – they are different and completely different languages.
JavaScript is used for graphics, for mobile and web applications, and in browser-based operating systems. It’s very versatile and easy to learn.
The RNR language
Widely used to create web applications, the leading application to create dynamic websites. PHP has undergone a rapid evolution and has become a popular among programmers. However, it is often criticized by programmers for inconsistent syntax.
Scratch Language
This language is designed for children and teenagers who are just beginning to get acquainted with programming. It can be used to create simple applications and games. The online school Skysmart has a course on Scratch – on it children learn to develop their own 2D games and cartoon.
According to 37% of the forums, JavaScript is at the top of the list in terms of popularity. Python is quite a bit behind it – 26% among the first places – but 37% of IT sites put it in second place, so it was second in our ranking as well.
Java is third most popular language according to 26% of forum visitors, but it could compete with Python for second place. Several languages fought for the fourth place, but C# received 16% of the votes. Among the fifth place, PHP had the highest percentage.