Most in Demand Programming Software Development Languages for 2022

The Results Might Surprise You

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I’m really interested in software engineering from a meta trends perspective. There’s a natural selection that goes on in code and the evolution of software engineering that I find just so fascinating. This is simply my take and just another listicle for programming aspirants.

As the software development industry is rapidly evolving, the industry is demanding its professionals to acquire the knowledge of more lucrative tools and applications and get a deeper understanding of the latest top programming languages.

But should you choose the language you focus on in terms of pay grade, preference or the specialization that will be most lucrative in the future? That’s entirely up to you. What follows is only my opinion, and I have zero background in the field.

• Choosing a language is a big decision: you will likely spend months learning a programming language and years refining your skills.
• Think about the crucial factors to consider when choosing a language include whether it is used and whether that language will help you get a job. Languages in greater demand are more likely to offer more lucrative job prospects.
• Another important factor is whether the language has a strong community from which you can source answers to questions or seek help.
• You are advised to stay on top of the industry by keeping tabs on what grows in popularity.

So in general you should also strive to monitor the industry trends. For instance:

• Job openings that mention a particular language, based on job openings data from LinkedIn.
• Use on GitHub, according to data from GitHub on the number of repositories that use the languages we study.
• Community activity, based on data collected from Stack Overflow’s question pages.

Follow the Microsoft Trends

Try to follow LinkedIn, GitHub, and Stack Overflow to learn more about in-demand programming languages. (two of these companies are owned by Microsoft).

But even data on top jobs on LinkedIn or top languages used on GitHub may not paint the entire picture.

Because GitHub is such a widely used resource by developers, finding data on how many repositories there are for each language is useful. A repository refers to a project hosted on GitHub.

All that being said no listicle on this will do the topic justice and each list will be slightly different.

Stack Overflow

Stack Overflow can be used as a unofficial barometer for community support you will get while trying to navigate the language.

I write a Newsletter on Substack called Data Science Learning center which you are welcome to join for free. https://datasciencelearningcenter.substack.com/p/coming-soon

So let’s get into it.

1. Java Script

• JavaScript, often abbreviated JS, is a programming language that is one of the core technologies of the World Wide Web, alongside HTML and CSS.
• JavaScript is a high-level programming language that is one of the core technologies of the World Wide Web.

Over the years, several languages have come and faded but JavaScript is one of the most renowned languages that has been in high demand.

It has been ranked under the top 10 programming languages consistently for several years now.

Companies like Google, Facebook, Uber, etc, all use JavaScript. But what makes this programming language so prominent?

JavaScript?often referred to as JS, is a scripting language originally known for?adding responsive components to web pages.?It has a wide range of applications in?game development, mobile app development, web development, and much more.

What this language is used for:

• Web development
• Game development
• Mobile apps
• Building web servers

Think about it:?Java developers create web applications, software, and programmes. They are involved throughout the entire development life cycle of a product. The good thing is that you can code almost anything in this language.

2. Python

• Python is an interpreted high-level general-purpose programming language.
• The use of considerable indentation in its design philosophy promotes code readability.
• As one of the more easy-to-learn and -use languages, Python is ideal for beginners and experienced coders alike.

The ever-increasing importance of data in businesses has led to a rapid rise in the demand and popularity of Python.

It is used in server-side development and has a wide collection of tools, libraries, and frameworks that make it a necessity in the fields of Data Science and Machine Learning. Python is incredibly versatile along with its outstanding data handling capabilities.

In the past few years, various packages have been created for the purpose of?data analysis and machine learning?with the help of Python.

These packages include NumPy and Pandas that allow users to understand and modify data; TensorFlow using to code ML algorithms and PySpark, an API for operating with Spark- a structure for seamlessly working with massive data sets.

What this language is used for:

• Back end development
• Data science
• App development

3. Kotlin

• Kotlin is a cross-platform, statically typed, general-purpose programming language with type inference.
• Kotlin is general-purpose programming, statistically-typed language that supports both functional and object-oriented programming.
• It is highly compatible with Java and all Java libraries. The language is easy to learn and can be used to build online and Android applications.

Indeed there is no denying the fact that Android is the highest-selling and commonly used operating system worldwide. And Kotlin has been declared as the primary language for Android development by Google.

Hence for programmers who are looking to jump into the world of Android development, Kotlin is the one for you. It is a general-purpose cross-platform programming language that is fully interoperable with Java.

Also, the use of Kotlin is growing in areas like?data science, web, cloud, and server-side development.?Therefore, earning this language will take you a long way in advancing or beginning your career as a programmer.

Think about it:?Kotlin has been Google’s preferred software development language since 2017.

4. Go

Golang, famously known as Go is an open-source programming language used to build simple, reliable, and efficient software.

It was developed by Google in 2007 as an alternative to C, C++, and Java.

Projects like?Blockchain, Docker and Kubernetes use Go to support the?concurrent running of processes?and multi-threading effortlessly.

Developed at Google in 2007, Go is a top-tier programming language. What makes Go really shine is its efficiency; it is capable of executing several processes concurrently.

Go is the best programming language for beginners because of its speed, simplicity, and increasing popularity. It is lightweight and great for?writing network applications.

What this language is used for:

• System/network programming
• Audio/video editing
• Big Data

Think about it:?Given the fact that it’s open-source, though, you have plenty of opportunities to master this language fairly quickly.

5. Scala

• Scala is an extension of Java, a language associated strongly with data engineering, with interoperability thanks to Java bytecode compiling and running on Java Virtual Machine.
• Built as a response to perceived problems in Java, it’s a newer, more elegant language.
• The programming language’s static types help control and avoid bugs in complex applications and provide access to several libraries.

Scala is a general-purpose coding language that promotes both functional and object-oriented programming standards. It comes with distinctive features like string interpolation, lazy computation, type inference, and many more.

Additionally, the Scala code can be transformed to byte codes and executed on Java Virtual Machine.

Numerous tech giants like?LinkedIn, Netflix, Twitter, eBay, etc. are using this language for their own products and platforms.

6. C#

• Perhaps one of the most shocking answers that one can expect in this article is C++. C++ finds use in analytics, research as well as in-game development.
• The popular game development engine — the Unreal Engine — uses C++ as the scripting language for all of the functionality one can define while building a game. C++ also finds extensive use in software development.

C# (C sharp) was inspired by the C language and was built by Microsoft in the year 2000. It was released in 2002 by Microsoft and stands today as a much-loved improvement on the C++ coding language.

It is more advanced than C and is fully integrated with .NET.

It is loved by game developers for making 2D and 3D games with the use of the?Unity game engine?(think Metaverse). It is also used for the development of desktop and mobile applications. Based on several reports, the demand for C# is surely going to scale.

There are many programming languages available today, but, before learning them, it’s important to know which of the languages are here to stay for a while.

If you’re planning to move up the ladder in your current position or want to shift your career, it is beneficial to upskill and learn one of the above 7 languages to excel in tech.

What this language is used for:

• Game development
• Desktop/web/mobile apps
• VR

Think about it:?If for no other reason, it’s important to learn C++ in 2022 in order to become a competitive developer in the gaming industry.

7. Rust

If you’re looking for faster compilation, better cross-platform capabilities or just better career prospects, Rust is a great language to pick up.

Rust is a multi-paradigm, general-purpose programming language designed for?performance?and?safety, especially?safe concurrency. Rust is syntactically similar to C++, but can guarantee memory safety by using a borrow checker to validate references.

What this language is used for:

• Operating systems
• VR
• Web browsers

Honorable Mention:

Also I recommend you consult the?TIOBE index?from time to time.

• Typescript
• PHP
• SQL
• Dart
• Assembly Language

Did I miss anything? Let me know in a comment below. What kind of a software engineer or datascientist can you envision as your future career?

I write a Newsletter on Substack called Data Science Learning center which you are welcome to join for free. https://datasciencelearningcenter.substack.com/p/coming-soon