What Are the Top Languages You Should Learn Moving Forward?

A lot has changed in the past few months, but the popularity of programming languages like Python and Java is one of the few things that has remained steady.

That said, there is an ongoing changing of the guard. Companies like Google and Apple are pushing newer languages, Kotlin and Swift respectively, to replace legacy languages for their mobile platforms, namely Java and Objective-C.

If you are looking to learn a new language in 2020, consider one of the following: 

Python

Python is one of the most frequently used coding languages these days, partly because it is a simple language to learn with a high degree of readability. Python is a free, open-source language with considerable support modules and a massive community. It also features easy integration with web services, is user-friendly and there are graphics-based desktop applications dedicated to it use.

Python is also popular because it is commonly used for teaching purposes.

Java 

Commonly used in web and application development, Java has famously powered the backend of many popular websites, such as Amazon, Google, Twitter, and YouTube. The legacy programming language has also seen a renewed interest due to its use in Big Data.

Java has many popular frameworks, such as Hibernate, Spring and Struts. Learning these frameworks is critical and there are many texts dedicated to learning them, as well as hundreds of books on the language itself. Java programmers number in the millions and many are actively involved in online forums. The result is a massive community that can be a great deal of support for new users.

Kotlin 

While Java ranks high on many ‘languages to know’ lists, Google very much would like mobile programmers to embrace Kotlin as their go-to language. Exhibit A is the search giant’s new learning course: Android Basics in Kotlin. The course is intended to provide mobile developers of all experience levels with essential tools for building killer apps.

After taking that course, new users can take Kotlin Bootcamp for Programmers and Android Kotlin Fundamentals. Google also offers courses for more advanced users.

Swift 

Apple also has a legacy language for mobile that it would like developers to drop like a sack of bricks: Objective-C.

The decades-old programming language functioned as the foundation for Apple’s sprawling app ecosystem. But now, Apple would like developers to switch to Swift, which has turned into a much more powerful language even though its release was in 2014. Fortunately for people who are totally unfamiliar with Swift, there is a great deal of free information on its various arrays, functions, strings, and structures.

On many ‘must know’ lists, Swift is overtaking Objective-C. Meanwhile, there is a considerable gap between Kotlin and the wildly popular Java. Given Java’s enormous amount of legacy code and millions of users, that sea change could take many years.

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