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Unit 9 — Programming Languages

Reading: Top 10 Most Popular Programming Languages
©

There are hundreds of programming languages in use

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today. How can you know which one to learn first? How do
you know which ones are the best for your IT field of choice? Well, I can't answer
that question for you. But why not start by learning one of the top 10 most popular
ones? That way you will always be able to get a job in the IT industry.

Learning a programming language is not easy, but it can be very rewarding. You
will have a lot of questions at first. Just remember to get help when you need it!
You can find out the answer to almost everything on Google nowadays.... so
there is no excuse for failure. Also remember that it takes years to become an
expert programmer. Don't expect to get good overnight. Just keep learning
something new every day and eventually you will be competent enough to get the
job done ;)

This article covers the top 10 most popular programming languages as ranked by
Tiobe.com in June 2009. I have added some general reviews and comments
about each language they listed. Remember these are my own personal opinions.
Other IT professionals might have different opinions.

1. Java
Java uses a compiler, and is an object-oriented language released in 1995 by
Sun Microsystems. Java is the number one programming language today for
many reasons. First, it is a well-organized language with a strong library of
reusable software components. Second, programs written in Java can run on
many different computer architectures and operating systems because of the use
of the JVM ( Java virtual machine ). Sometimes this is referred to as code
portability or even WORA ( write once, run anywhere ). Third, Java is the
language most likely to be taught in university computer science classes. A lot of
computer science theory books written in the past decade use Java in the code
examples. So learning Java syntax is a good idea even if you never actually code
in it.
Java Strengths: WORA, popularity
Java Weaknesses: Slower than natively compiled languages

2. C
C is a compiled, procedural language developed in 1972 by Dennis Ritchie for
use in the UNIX operating system. Although designed to be portable in nature, C
programs must be specifically compiled for computers with different architectures
and operating systems. This helps make them lightning fast. Although C is a
relatively old language, it is still widely used for system programming, writing
other programming languages, and in embedded systems.
Strengths: Speed
Weaknesses: Memory management can be difficult to master

3. C++
C++ is a compiled, multi-paradigm language written as an update to C in 1979 by
Bjarne Stroustrup. It attempts to be backwards-compatible with C and brings
object-orientation, which helps in larger projects. Despite it's age, C++ is used to
create a wide array of applications from games to office suites.
Strengths: Speed
Weaknesses: C++ is older and considered more clumsy than newer object-
oriented languages such as Java or C#.

4. PHP
PHP uses a run-time interpreter, and is a multi-paradigm language originally
developed in 1996 by Rasmus Lerdorf to create dynamic web pages. At first it
was not even a real programming language, but over time it eventually grew into
a fully featured object-oriented programming language. Although PHP has been
much criticized in the past for being a bit sloppy and insecure, it's been pretty
good since version 5 came out in 2004. It's hard to argue with success. Today,
PHP is the most popular language used to write web applications. Even English 4
IT, the program you are currently using, is written in PHP ;)
Strengths: Web programming, good documentation
Weaknesses: Inconsistent syntax, too many ways to do the same thing, a history
of bizarre security decisions

5. VB ( or Visual Basic ) Visual Basic is an interpreted, multi-paradigm language

developed by Microsoft Corporation for the Windows platform. It has been
evolving over the years and is seen as a direct descendant of Microsoft's old
BASIC from the 1970's. Visual Basic is a good language for scripting Windows
applications that do not need the power and speed of C#.
Strengths: None.
Weaknesses: Only runs in Windows

6. Python
Python is an interpreted, multi-paradigm programming language written by Guido
van Rossum in the late 1980's and intended for general programming purposes.
Python was not named after the snake but actually after the Monty Python
comedy group. Python is characterized by its use of indentation for readability,
and its encouragement for elegant code by making developers do similar things in
similar ways. Python is used as the main programming choice of both Google and
Ubuntu.
Strengths: Excellent readability and overall philosophy
Weaknesses: None

7 C#
C# is a compiled, object-oriented language written by Microsoft. It is an open
specification, but rarely seen on any non-Windows platform. C# was conceived as
Microsoft's premium language in its .NET Framework. It is very similar to Java in
both syntax and nature.
Strengths: Powerful and pretty fast
Weaknesses: Only really suitable for Windows

8. JavaScript
JavaScript is an interpreted, multi-paradigm language. A very strange one too.
Despite it's name, it has nothing whatsoever to do with Java. You will rarely, if
ever, see this language outside of a web browser. It is basically a language meant
to script behaviors in web browsers and used for things such as web form
validation and AJAX style web applications. The trend in the future seems to be
building more and more complex applications in JavaScript, even simple online
games and office suites. The success of this trend will depend upon
advancements in the speed of a browser's JavaScript interpreter. If you want to
be correct, the real name of this programming language is ECMAscript, although
almost nobody actually calls it this.
Strengths: it's the only reliable way to do client-side web programming
Weaknesses: it's only really useful in a web browser

9. Perl
Perl is an interpreted, multi-paradigm language written by Larry Wall in 1986. It is
characterized by a somewhat disorganized and scary-looking syntax which only
makes sense to other PERL programmers ;) However, a lot of veteran
programmers love it and use if every day as their primary language. 10 years ago,
Perl was more popular than it is today. What happened? A lot of newer
programmers and even old Perl programmers (such as myself) have switched to
other languages such as PHP, Python, and Ruby. Perl is perhaps still the best
language for text processing and system administration scripting. I personally do
not recommend it however as a primary programming language.
Strengths: text processing and system administration
Weaknesses: strange syntax, and perhaps too many ways to do the same thing

10. Ruby
Ruby is an interpreted, object-oriented language written by Yukihiro Matsumoto
around 1995. It is one of the most object-oriented languages in the world.
Everything is an object in Ruby, even letters and numbers can have method calls.
It's a great language to learn if you love objects. The only negative is that it's love
of object-orientation makes it a bit slow, even for an interpreted language.
Strengths: Perhaps the world's most object-oriented language
Weaknesses: its superior object model comes at a price... namely speed

Okay! Those are the top 10 programming languages in use today and some
personal comments about them. Remember that opinions are like noses,
everyone has one and they all smell ;) If you disagree, please feel free to email
me or write your own opinions on the forum.
Discussion Questions

Which programming languages do you already know? Which ones do you want to
learn? Why?

Which language do you think is best for making banking software? Web pages?
Games? Text processing?

Computer languages such as FORTRAN and COBOL were once very popular,
but not so much anymore. Why do you think they lost popularity? Which
languages in the top 10 do you think will drop in 10 years? Which one will gain in
popularity?