At the heart of dev work, you’ll see a team of developers who utilize critical thinking, creative approaches, and technical know-how in designing products that can bring your company closer to its end-goals. Thus, it’s crucial that you have a team of developers who are dedicated to updating their skill sets based on current trends, tools, and technologies. That said, here’s a list of programming languages that your developers need to know, so they can stay ahead of the learning curve.
Java
Java, now two decades old, remains one of the most useful programming languages today. For one, it’s what developers use to create apps for Android devices. Statistics say there are more than 2 billion Android devices being used monthly all over the world. Profound expertise in Java can give your software engineers considerable advantage in developing mobile games and applications for Android users.
Apart from Android communities, there are other markets where Java is a good fit, including banks and insurance companies. Through Java, your developers will be able to create back-end solutions for these types of businesses and scale them for your or your clients’ website, software, or IT systems.
Python
The growth of software demand in the fields of artificial intelligence and data science is a good opportunity for devs to branch out into new-generation technologies. Specifically, programmers with knowledge in using Python can transfer their skills in machine learning as well as web or software development.
Python’s popularity has spiked over recent years. In fact, Reddit, DropBox, and NASA are only some of the most popular organizations that are using Python to run their website, projects, or services.
Python also plays nice with Raspberry Pi, which is a line of single-board computers that are used to teach basic computer science skills among children in developing countries.
JavaScript
Not to be confused with Java, JavaScript is commonly known as the grandfather of programming languages. Although JavaScript codes are able to create only browser-based applications, about 70% of software developers and 90% of websites prefer using JavaScript because it uses less memory. This feature makes it ideal for front end web development, which pertains to what people see when they open a browser.
Having front end developers who are adept at JavaScript can help you build interactive websites or applications that have a user-friendly look, design, and functionality. Some of the most notable sites that are built with JavaScript include, Google and Microsoft.
C Programming
C Programming covers the C, C#, and C++ languages. Among these languages, C and C++ are the more well-known syntaxes. The C language is widely used for system programming, with UNIX OS becoming the first operating system to be written in the C language. Equipping your developers with knowledge in C programming language will also make them eligible for creating hardware apps and chip design.
Meanwhile, hardcore developers are known for their ability to use C++ to develop software, gaming apps, and other interactive applications that perform well in terms of speed. C++ programs are also used for networking and server-side applications. Its complexity notwithstanding, the more experienced developers like the versatility of C++ across different platforms, including Mac, Windows, and Linux.
PHP
PHP is a scripting language, which has useful applications for server-side website programming. If you have clients that require this type of project, your web developers can use PHP to create dynamic websites for them, referring to how servers produce a customized interface for users. This is possible since PHP can interact with MySQL databases to gain access to users’ personal data. This is in contrast to a static web page, which delivers the same format or content regardless of user identity and other factors.
One of the widely used applications of PHP extend to shopping carts. Shopping carts are designed to show customers what items they can check out later on during their site visit, since they have previously made a request to the website to reserve a particular item for them.
Scala
Some programmers describe Scala as a better alternative to Java because it offers a way for developers to write better codes and improve how a particular program performs. Developers who support Scala say this particular programming language has less restrictions and is less tedious to use, potentially reducing your developers’ frustrations when working on dev projects. Scala is also said to be the programming language of choice among several tech companies, including Apple, LinkedIn, Netflix, and Twitter.
Perl
Perl is a family of script programming languages – including Perl 5 and Perl 6 – both of which are considered high-level, general-purpose types of programming languages. Developers can use Perl in system administration, web development, network programming, and development of Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs).
Perl is not officially an acronym, but the term has been used to mean Practical Extraction and Report Language. This makes Perl ideal for synchronizing large sets of data from different sources and compiling them into reports. For example, your developers might need to use components of both the C programming language and UNIX OS, with Perl acting as a language that would glue those parts together.
Final Words
The best developers know that the future of technical support lies in empowering everyone who has a stake in using technology. Thus, developers need to constantly upgrade their knowledge and skills by studying how various programming languages work. Their clear understanding of the programming discipline will ultimately allow them to turn out products or services that are never too complicated or overwhelming for the average user.