What are the best ways to predict programming language trends?

2 Technology trends

Another way to predict programming language trends is to look at the technology trends that are shaping the future of software development, such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, web development, or mobile development. These trends often require or favor certain languages that have specific features, capabilities, or frameworks that suit the needs and challenges of the domain. For example, Python is a popular language for data science and machine learning, because it has a rich set of libraries and tools that simplify the tasks of data analysis and modeling. By following the technology trends, you can anticipate which languages will be in high demand or offer new opportunities.

3 Developer surveys

A third way to predict programming language trends is to look at the developer surveys that gather the opinions and preferences of programmers from different backgrounds, experiences, and interests. These surveys can provide valuable insights into the current state and future direction of programming languages, such as what languages developers love, hate, want to learn, or use for different purposes. Some of the most well-known developer surveys are conducted by Stack Overflow, JetBrains, SlashData, or HackerRank. By analyzing the results of these surveys, you can understand the motivations and expectations of developers, and how they affect their language choices.

4 Industry standards

A fourth way to predict programming language trends is to look at the industry standards that define the best practices and requirements for software development in various sectors, such as finance, healthcare, education, or gaming. These standards often dictate or recommend the use of certain languages that have proven to be reliable, secure, efficient, or compatible with the specific needs and regulations of the industry. For example, Java is a widely used language for enterprise applications, because it offers high performance, scalability, portability, and interoperability. By following the industry standards, you can identify which languages have a solid reputation and a loyal customer base.

5 Innovation potential

A fifth way to predict programming language trends is to look at the innovation potential of various languages, based on their design, features, flexibility, or expressiveness. These aspects can influence how easy or enjoyable it is to program with a language, how well it can solve complex or novel problems, how much it can improve the quality or productivity of the code, or how much it can inspire new ideas or paradigms. For example, Kotlin is a modern language that aims to improve the Java ecosystem, by offering concise syntax, null safety, coroutines, and multiplatform support. By following the innovation potential, you can discover which languages are pushing the boundaries and creating new possibilities.

6 User feedback

A sixth way to predict programming language trends is to look at the user feedback of various languages, based on the reviews, ratings, comments, or testimonials of developers and users who have used or tried them. These sources of feedback can provide honest and personal opinions on the strengths, weaknesses, advantages, or disadvantages of different languages, as well as the satisfaction, frustration, or enjoyment they generate. For example, Ruby is a language that is praised for its elegance, readability, and expressiveness, but also criticized for its performance, scalability, and concurrency issues. By following the user feedback, you can learn from the experiences and perspectives of others, and how they affect their language preferences.