Computer scientists and software developers are in high demand. New employees are being hired, and developers all over the world are being asked to reskill.
A solid understanding of the top programming languages is required for careers in computer science. So, if you’re looking to reskill, change careers, or simply learn something new, a new programming language is a good place to start.
When deciding on a language to learn, several factors must be considered, including the difficulty level, the average salary for that language, and how that language is used in the industry. With these considerations in mind, we examined the top 2021 tech trends and predictions to determine which programming languages are the best to learn in 2021.
The 6 Most Important Programming Languages
They are:
- Java
- Python
- Kotlin
- C/C++
- JavaScript
- Swift
Java:
Java is a well-known programming language that has been around for quite some time. It is still one of the most popular and widely used languages. Java is most commonly used in web development, app development, and big data, but it can be used in almost any field (especially distributed systems).
Java is required for enterprise-level web apps and microservices, which are expected to grow in popularity over the next year. Java will continue to dominate the banking sector and the Indian IT market in 2021.
Java is required for Android development because it provides efficient memory allocation and high performance. It can also be used on the backend of websites such as Google, Twitter, Amazon, and YouTube.
Almost every large organization will require Java skills, particularly in mobile development. Investment in Java frameworks such as Spring, Struts, and Hibernate increased in 2021.
The following are some reliable resources for learning Java development:
- CodeChef
- CodeGym
- Pluralsight
- Hackerrank
Python:
Python is a programming language that every programmer should be familiar with. Python’s syntax is not only intuitive and simple to learn but is also used in fields that are expected to grow in 2021, namely machine learning and artificial intelligence.
Python is the most popular language for machine learning and data science because of its popular ML libraries, such as Pandas and Scikit-learn. Anyone interested in a career in data science should be familiar with Python.
Machine learning jobs are expected to be worth $31 billion globally by 2024, with a 40 percent annual growth rate over a six-year period.
Python is also extremely adaptable. Backend development, mobile apps, software development, data science, and even system scripting are all done with it. Python for web development is expected to grow in 2021 as well.
Kotlin:
In today’s world, when it comes to Android app development, the name ‘Kotlin’ is unquestionably the first to come to mind! However, there has been a significant shift in developer preference for Kotlin since Google announced it as its preferred language for Android application development. According to the Stack Overflow survey, Kotlin is the fourth most popular programming language. In addition, the number of Kotlin users in the Github community is rapidly growing.
In a nutshell, Kotlin is a statically typed general-purpose programming language with object-oriented and functional programming features. The language’s best feature is that it is fully interoperable with Java and supports all Java libraries. Furthermore, the language is quite simple to learn, and it can be used for web development as well as desktop application development in addition to Android development. Javalin, KTor, and Vertex are some of the popular frameworks for Kotlin, and companies such as Pinterest, Uber, Netflix, and others are hiring Kotlin developers. Because it is well known that the Android market is not going away anytime soon, you can choose to learn Kotlin in 2021 for some worthwhile career opportunities in the future.
C/C++:
C/C++ are without a doubt some of the oldest programming languages available, but they have never lost their credibility or usability. In fact, both of these languages serve as the foundations for many of today’s advanced programming languages.
Both languages are necessary for any computer science or programming career. C and C++ developers can use compilers for most platforms, and because they are high-performance languages, they are used to build programs that require high performance, such as kernel development, client/server applications, and large commercial products (Adobe and Firefox).
C/C++ is also widely used in game development, computer graphics, and virtual reality, all of which are expected to grow significantly in 2021. Almost all major corporations seek C/C++ skills, so there has never been a better time to learn C.
The following are some reliable resources for learning C/C++:
- Udemy: C and C++ Programming: Step-by-Step Tutorial
- Udemy:Â C, C++, Java; A Programming MegaPrimer for Beginners
- Udemy: Mastering C++ Programming — From Zero to Hero
JavaScript:
JavaScript is a popular programming language, particularly for web development. In fact, it is widely regarded as the Internet’s standard programming language. Almost everything you see on the Internet is built on JavaScript. With web development expected to grow in 2021, it’s a good one to learn.
JavaScript can be used in both the front-end and back-end of a website to add dynamic functionality. It also serves as the foundation for the majority of web libraries and frameworks, such as React, Vue, and Node.
You must be familiar with JavaScript if you want to work for any company that creates web design.
Swift:
Swift language graphs have skyrocketed due to a rapid increase in the demand for iOS mobile developers. It was essentially introduced by Apple, and you can learn how to use it to launch a career as an iOS developer.
Swift is also simple to learn and supports nearly everything that Objective-C does, making it an ideal language for mobile developers.
It is also used with IBM Swift Sandbox, IBM Bluemix, and the majority of popular iOS apps such as WordPress, SoundCloud, and Mozilla Firefox.
Other top languages having demand:
There are many other languages that deserve to be heard. According to our research, the following languages will be in demand in 2021 but may not be as important for your upskilling/career change.
Golang: Golang is a Google language that is used to create projects such as Kubernetes, Docker, and Blockchain.
Scala:
Scala is an acronym that stands for Scalable Language. It is a programming language with multiple paradigms. The Scala programming language combines functional and object-oriented features. It is a language that is statically typed. Its source code is compiled into bytecode, which is then executed by the Java virtual machine (JVM).
R: R is used in data science and machine learning programming language that is useful for visualization.
PHP: Used for Backend web development.