If you want to get into programming or development or just want to learn about tech in general, it’s important to have some overview of what lies underneath. There are dozens of competing code languages out there, each with its own pros, cons, and specialties. We’re going to look at an overview of three of the biggest, both today and in the future.
JavaScript
In short, JavaScript is the heart of just about any more advanced website or web-based software, and the vast majority of things you can do from a browser these days are thanks to JS. Some industries, like the online casino industries, are practically built entirely on the language. Everything has roots in JavaScript, from their interactive websites and payment platforms to their games from the Plinko gambling game, to the wide variety of live titles.
While it isn’t considered ‘programming’ in the same ways as languages used for dedicated programming, it is, for all intents and purposes, the only real option for web building. The best part is that it is, at least relative to other languages, easy to pick up for the essentials. Even the software and website examples above are simpler than most tasks in wider coding.
C
It is fair to say that no language has been quite as widespread across the development industry as C. It has provided the backbone of software development for almost 50 years, having been first implemented back in the mid-1970s. Along with its most popular extension, C++, and various major languages like Java that it heavily inspired.
C has a thousand uses, most notably as the base for major operating systems such as Windows or iOS, but also as a core part of database software, graphical software and animation systems. This popularity is in part due to the language’s age, which gives it vast libraries of ready-made resources that can be quickly plugged in. It is also seen as the most stable of all the languages out there, and it receives rolling version updates every three years or so.
Python
By comparison to C and its various derivatives, Python is a slightly newer language, although it still goes back to the 1990s. One of the longstanding criticisms of C is that, for newer or amateur developers, the complexity makes it difficult to learn or implement even simple solutions. Python is the other end of the scale, designed for intuitive and simple usage.
Far from only being used for simple tasks, however, Python is increasingly popular for many high-end tasks such as AI development, machine learning and financial analysis. There is an ongoing and apparently never-ending debate amongst programmers as to whether Python can stand up to C in terms of overall functionality, but its user base is growing rapidly each year.
While these are likely the three most prominent languages out there right now, each programmer you ask will likely debate the importance and usefulness. If you’re looking to start coding for yourself, put some time in with each, and you’re sure to fit one that fits your style best.
