If you’re wondering which programming language to learn so you can land a software development job, this article can help you make a more educated decision.
As technology advances rapidly, the demand for software engineers continues to grow. From tech giants and growing startups, to IT departments of financial institutions, automotive companies and energy plants, coding skills are required and well-rewarded. So, if you’re thinking of joining the software development community, there’s never been a better time.
That said, there’s an overwhelming amount of information on where to start so we created this post to help you figure that out, and learn about the most in-demand programming languages today.
So if you’re curious what programming language to learn first and why, then this is for you.
There are dozens of rankings, surveys and reports that evaluate coding languages according to the ease of learning, number of users, coverage developers’ love, and more. Since we’re focusing on the best choice for beginners, Microverse recommends choosing the classic ones. They’re reliable, well-covered languages, with vast communities and well solved problems, and they have hundreds of software cases explored. What’s most important is though, is that they’re still in high demand in the job market. So here’s our list of recommended programming languages to start learning when beginning your software engineer journey.
According to Stack Overflow, JavaScript (JS) is used by more than half of all software engineers. Now let’s get technical - object-based, dynamic and beginner-friendly, JS is the pillar of multiple tools, extended with extra functionality by fans over time. Being a front-end language, JavaScript is also used on the server-side through Node.js. Applied to an HTML document, JS will add interactivity to the website - ie. response to button clicks, games, styling, animation and more. Proficiency in JS will enable you to create games, 3D graphics, database-driven apps and much more.
Built using it: Countless websites’ front-end; (ex. PayPal, Uber)
Jobs currently available (monster.com): 30,000+
Python is the most popular programming language for people without a coding background. It’s easy to learn since Python is pretty close to conventional English. If you’re interested in making a career in back-end development, this language is a great first choice. Python is a general-purpose language, so you will get impressive software development coverage with Python only. It supports multiple platforms and systems, and has an active and supportive community.
Built using it: scalable web apps; (ex. YouTube, Instagram)
Jobs currently available (monster.com): 39,000+
If you’re wondering which to learn between these two - JavaScript or Python - here’s some more things to take into account...
Even with all this info, we recommend researching the field you’re interested in and browsing other expert opinions before making your decision on Python or JavaScript.
Another popular choice among beginners is Java. Java is one of the highest paying and most in-demand programming languages. Its slogan explains why - ‘Write once, work everywhere’. Java is portable and works with all platforms, operating systems and devices. It is commonly used by large organizations to build enterprise-level web apps, but you can also use it for Android app development. Yes, learning Java (and keeping the knowledge up) is demanding, but with the right level, you can easily get employed.
Built using it: Enterprise apps, Android apps; (ex. Gmail, Telegram (Android version))
Jobs currently available (monster.com): 66,500+
When it comes to choosing which to start with - Java or JavaScript - know this, they’re very different. By looking at your programming goals, you’ll quickly know which you need. Interested in web-browser programming? You’ll need JavaScript. Thinking about building Enterprise-scale apps? Opt for Java.
Of course, if you learn one language then switch to the other, it makes it easier for you to grasp the second. That’s true for almost every further programming language you learn.
Widely used and supported by all browsers, HTML is popular with beginner web developers, as it’s both easy to learn and use. However, being easy to learn, HTML and CSS (they’re usually required together) are not compensated as well as other languages on our list. It’s also worth noting that CSS is not a programming language but rather a style language. Still, if you see yourself as a front-end web developer, HTML and CSS are necessary skills you’ll need to master. Once you’ve mastered them, we’d suggest complementing those skills with another language, for example JavaScript.
Built using it: The front end of web pages
Jobs currently available (monster.com): 28,500+
Beginner-friendly, Ruby supports multiple programming paradigms and is mostly used for startups and projects that require a short time to the market. In web application development, you’ll use Ruby with the framework called ‘Ruby on Rails’, which has been around for 15+ years. In 2018, a new version of Ruby was released with improved performance, and Ruby on Rails improved with it. With a very large GitHub community, this framework is one of the most mature and regularly updated.
Built using it: MVPs; (ex. Airbnb, GitHub, Kickstarter)
Jobs currently available (monster.com): 12,000+
General-purpose, high-performance and flexible, C++ is always in demand. However, it’s more complicated than the languages above. It’s used for performance-intensive applications, from those that require real-time mathematics, to games and serious 3D graphics. To be specific, you’ll need C/C++ for low-level programming.
The difference between C and C++ lies in the additional features of the C++. It is object-oriented programming, exception handling and has a richer library. Overall syntax, code structure and basic grammar, are similar in both languages.
Built using it: operating systems, hardware; (ex. Microsoft Windows, Google Chrome, Amazon)
Jobs currently available (monster.com): 23,500+
That concludes our list of the top programming languages to learn when starting your software developer journey. At Microverse, we help you develop a full understanding of these languages, through learning online with peers and completing multiple projects using them. Almost all our students tried learning these languages on their own before joining Microverse. If you decide learning on your own is not for you, we’d be happy to have you join our community of hundreds of students and alumni that have made 2-10x their previous salaries.
And, if you have a specific field in mind or already have some programming knowledge, then our post on Niche Programming Languages is for you.
Ariel is the founder & CEO of Microverse, an online school for software engineers. Read more about Microverse and how it can help you.
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