What Programming Languages Should You Learn in 2019?

What Programming Languages Should You Learn in 2019?

Aug 7, 2019
Chelsea Kaufman

Knowing how to code has become a highly beneficial skill, and it will become a necessary skill across many occupations in the nearest future. Regardless of your experience writing code, you should know at least one language discussed in this article.

Over time, these languages have become incredibly popular and are being used by a lot of developers. These languages have a lot of job opportunities, quality online resources and can be applied to different software development areas.

JavaScript

JavaScript also known as ECMA (European Computer Manufacturers Association) Script is one of the most in-demand programming languages in 2019. Created in 1995 by Brendan Eich, JavaScript has become the language of the web, as it runs on all major browsers and is the undisputed king of client-side web development.

JavaScript is however not restricted to client-side development, with the existence of Node JS, JavaScript can now run on servers.

It is a common sight to see web applications built with only JavaScript and no other language. Such web applications use Node JS on the server-side and frameworks such as React on the client-side.

JavaScript has made it easier to become a full stack web developer as you can choose from the popular MEAN (MongoDB, Express, Angular, Node) or MERN (MongoDB, Express, React, Node) stacks.

Use Cases

JavaScript can be used for developing different kinds of software, but its strengths lie with web development. JavaScript is the king of client-side web development, and this will be the case a long time from now as it doesn’t look like it will change any time soon.

Angular, React and Vue are JavaScript frameworks that make client-side development easier. Node JS also integrates seamlessly with these frameworks to make a complete web application.

JavaScript can also be used for 3D graphics development on the web, data analysis with the help of data visualization frameworks and recently for embedded systems software development.

Reasons

Javascript is incredibly popular, and you’ll find people using it for almost all kinds of software development these days. JavaScript’s popularity means it has a large user community, so if you have issues at any point, you have a lot of people to reach out to who can help you.

A lot of jobs are out there for Javascript developers, and you could land yourself one if you become good at coding in JavaScript. Since JavaScript can also be used to write cross-platform mobile applications, there are also JavaScript jobs in the mobile development field.

There are also a lot of good tutorials and resources out there which you can use to learn how to code in the language, making it a less daunting task to become comfortable writing code in JavaScript.

Javascript while being the language in vogue today is also the language of the foreseeable future. A lot of libraries are being created to make it useful in other fields of technology such as embedded systems, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.

Python

Like Javascript, Python is also an incredibly popular programming language. Python was created in 1989 by Guido van Rossum, and today the language leads the Data Science and Machine Learning space.

Python is a general-purpose programming language that is capable of functional and object-oriented programming. You will often see Python being used for developing web applications, writing automation scripts, software for embedded systems, and AI-driven software.

Python is incredibly easy to use and has a strong relationship with the C++ programming language. C++ libraries have a lot of Python bindings, making it easier to use those powerful libraries in the language’s clean syntax.

Use Cases

The most popular use case for Python is for Data Science projects and server-side application development. There are a lot of libraries in the PyData space that makes Python usable for data analysis, data engineering, machine learning, and even deep learning tasks.

For server-side web development, Python also has powerful libraries and frameworks such as Django and Flask. The language also works smoothly with databases as there are libraries meant for querying, updating and deleting data in databases.

For desktop application development, Python is also quite applicable. The language has libraries such as PyQt and PySimpleGUI that you can use to build feature-filled desktop applications.

Python is also a strong language when it comes to all kinds of automation tasks. Through Selenium, Python can be used for test automation and is also a key language for Site Reliability or DevOps Engineers.

Reasons

There are many reasons for you to learn Python this year. You can easily pick up Python in a couple of weeks as a beginner to programming, or probably a week. Thanks to its easy to learn and use syntax, Python is a joy to work with.

Python also has a large user community just like JavaScript, and this is clear to see during the annual Python conferences across different parts of the world. Python developers will always be around to help you when you are stuck.

While the language is weak in the mobile application development field, it is very strong in others such as Data Science, Web Development, Cybersecurity, and DevOps. So with the knowledge of a language like Python, you can tackle a wide range of problems.There are a lot of jobs out there for developers skilled in Python; all you have to do is to be good at it, and you’d stand a good chance of landing a well-paying job.

Java

Next is Java, undoubtedly one of the most powerful programming languages ever. Java is a general-purpose, object-oriented programming language released by Suns Microsystems in 1995.

Java is not platform dependent and can be used to build different kinds of applications across various platforms. Java has a “write once, run anywhere” paradigm which shows its portability across multiple platforms.

While on about the same level of efficiency with languages like C and C++, Java is an excellent tool for building mobile, web, desktop applications and is also great for data engineering purposes.

Use Cases

The most popular use case of the Java programming language is for developing mobile applications to run on the Android Operating System. Java is the native language for building Android applications and does the job well.

For server-side application development, Java is also a capable programming language. There are Java web frameworks for this purpose, such as Spring for building the backend logic of a web application. Through Spring you can take advantage of Java’s efficiency and create incredibly fast web applications.

Java is also a popular language for building data pipelines in the ever-evolving big data industry. Data engineers take advantage of Java’s strengths to handle and process large amounts of data before being used for analysis or machine learning purposes.

For desktop application development, you can use Java to build desktop applications across different platforms such as Windows and Linux.

Reasons

If you are looking to have a good grasp of a powerful, fast, and efficient programming language, then Java is a great option. With Java, you can practice a lot of computer science concepts and also implement various design patterns naturally.

Aside from being a great language, you can use it for different kinds of software development projects and also do software testing. Java is a general-purpose programming language and is applicable across different fields.The Java user community is quite large, and there are a lot of Java job opportunities out there. So you can work with a great language, develop great products and have a nice time in the process.

Ruby

Simplicity. That’s one word that perfectly describes the Ruby programming language. Ruby was developed by Yukihiro Matsumoto in 1995 and is incredibly popular for being one of the most friendly programming languages ever.

Ruby is an interpreted, high-level programming language that can serve various purposes from being a scripting language for working with servers to being a powerful tool for building web applications.

When it comes to building web applications for startups, Ruby remains a darling language as it makes coding easier and reduces development time. The Rails framework popularly known as Ruby on Rails (RoR) is one of the most powerful web development frameworks. Rails makes it easy to move from idea to product in little time.

Use Cases

The most popular use case of Ruby is web development using Rails. However, it is also a popular language amongst Site Reliability or DevOps Engineers. Ruby makes it easier to write scripts for Linux servers and automate tasks using its clean syntax.

Just as Ruby is great for building dynamic web applications, it is also as powerful when used to build static web applications. With the help of a static site generator, Jekyll, you can build mind-blowing static sites in less than an hour.

Reasons

There are many reasons for you to learn Ruby this year. Ruby is pretty easy to learn and has powerful frameworks such as Rails in place to make development an enjoyable process.

Quality documentation, tutorials, and online resources are also available which you can utilize when learning this amazing language. Ruby also has a large user community, so you can find many Ruby driven programs, meetups and mentors to help you succeed.Ruby is growing yearly, and there are many jobs evolving which require the knowledge of writing code in Ruby; some of these jobs are DevOps, SRE and Backend web development roles.

C#

C# pronounced as C-Sharp is a modern object-oriented programming language with paradigms and methodologies similar to that of Java. C# was developed in 1999 to serve as a complement to Microsoft’s .NET framework.

Just like Java, C# is also a C family programming language and can be used for general-purpose application development. C# can be used for server-side application development through the .NET framework, cross-platform mobile application development and desktop application development, etc.

Use Cases

There are many use cases for the C# programming language. While a lot of people consider it to be a Windows-based programming language, it can, in fact, be used for writing software that runs outside the Windows operating system.

C# is very applicable in the computer graphics field for applications such as Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, 3D modeling, and even computer games. You can also use C# to build mobile applications across different operating systems using Xamarin.

C# is very popular for web application development through the .NET framework, and it does well with server-side development even on Linux servers.

As a plus, C# is gradually growing in the Artificial Intelligence development field as there are a lot of frameworks for building AI applications such as Accord .NET.

Reasons

While being a C-family language, C# is not as difficult to learn as C. C-Sharp has a large user community and lots of online tutorials, so you can always find someone to help you out when debugging your code.

C# can be applied in different fields, so you won’t be pigeon-holed to some aspect of software development. You can easily use it for web, mobile, desktop, artificial intelligence development as C# is quite capable.

Developing mobile games, AR and VR applications can be fun and if you feel the same way, C# is one viable route to go through. As you may have noticed with the other languages in this list, there are a lot of job opportunities for C# developers. However, most jobs that require C# developers are enterprise companies, but you will be well paid, especially if you know your onions.

PHP

Unlike Ruby, PHP generates mixed reactions in the software development community. While some developers do not hide their displeasure with the language, it remains one of the most powerful server-side languages.

Created in 1994, PHP which is an acronym for Hypertext Preprocessor is purely a server-side programming language. PHP can be considered to be the opposite of client-side programming language Javascript.

PHP supports functional and object-oriented programming and is a powerful tool for web developers and system administrators.

It is said that PHP powers 75 percent of websites on the internet, and that shows the language is trusted for server-side development and is quite popular for this.

Use Cases

The major use case of PHP is for building all kinds of server-side applications. The language can be used to build social media sites, blogs, e-commerce, and content management sites.

WordPress, which is a powerful content management system, is built on PHP. Knowledge of PHP is needed to extend the functionality of WordPress by creating plugins to make the web application more powerful.

Reasons

Despite some developers disliking PHP, it still has a large user community and a lot of quality tutorials online. PHP is not difficult to learn and makes it easy to work on web applications.There are lots of web development jobs opportunities for PHP developers. A lot of companies understand that PHP helps with building robust web applications; hence, the reason for a large number of job openings.

Extras

Learning languages like Javascript, Python, Ruby can make you more valuable to your employer this year, or perhaps even make you a better person. There are a couple of “languages” you could learn in addition to these programming languages.

These languages are not programming languages, but they will definitely complement your knowledge of programming languages, especially when developing web applications.

They are:

  • HTML: HyperText Markup Language is the language used to create the structure of web pages. You will need to know this if you intend becoming a client-side software developer.
  • CSS: Cascading Style Sheets is the language used to add styles to web pages after you create them using HTML. Javascript, when combined with HTML and CSS, is then used to add interactivity and sleek animations to web pages.
  • SQL: Structured Query Language is the language of databases. SQL is important to server-side developers using frameworks like Rails, Spring, Django as it helps the application interact with databases.
  • Markdown: Markdown is a lightweight text-formatting language that can be helpful to anyone, as it can be used for formatting your documents easily. In fact, some frameworks require a markdown file to structure pages such as Ruby’s Jekyll.

Conclusion

There are a lot of programming languages out there. While some are esoteric and you simply can’t do any meaningful project with them, others are gradually on the decline. On the contrary, the programming languages you’ve learned about in this article are on the rise, have a large user community and have high-paying jobs.The languages discussed in this article will put you in a better position to become a full stack web developer, mobile application developer, machine learning engineer, etc. However, you should now have a better picture of top programming languages this year  and should be able to make a better decision on what language to learn.

Back to all posts

Frequently Asked Questions

Below you will find answers to the most common questions you may have. If you are interested in receiving updates on our future cohorts please join our waitlist!

A woman presenting and a woman listening.

Can I work while attending LEARN academy?

We have had students hold part-time jobs while attending the coding bootcamps at LEARN academy. They tell us that it’s not too bad if your work is on the weekend, but working more than one night per week is really tough. It is tough but possible.


What is the class schedule?

LEARN academy’s 4 month bootcamp is Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm.


What do you mean by "full-time"?

LEARN academy’s full-time course is Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. Students spend the first 12 weeks working in the online classroom and the final 4 weeks in their remote programming internship.


What is the background of the typical LEARN Student?

There isn’t really a typical student at LEARN academy. Most have not taken computer science classes in college, although some have. Some have not gone to college at all, but many have undergraduate degrees in something other than computer science. Past graduates have been in the entertainment industry, waitresses, massage therapists, in the military, and just about anything else you can think of.

Can I call you or drop by to talk?

Absolutely! We love chatting with potential partners and students. It is always best to make an appointment first so we can make sure someone is available to answer your questions. You can email us hello@learnacademyorg.


Is there any required prep work?

Students who are accepted and enrolled in the 4 month bootcamp are required to attend and participate in a workshop, called Jumpstart, offered by LEARN academy prior to the first day of the program. These workshops are free for students and included in the price of the tuition for the bootcamp. LEARN academy offers multiple workshops leading up to the start of class that students can sign up for.


I don't live in San Diego, can I still apply?

Yes! LEARN academy’s live-remote courses allow students to take our courses from just about anywhere in the United States. However, we are not able to support International students at this time.


How long should my application be?

One of the things we look for in an application is – did we get to know you? It’s almost impossible for us to get to know a candidate if each of the essay answers is only two sentences long. It doesn’t need to be a novel, but before you submit, check to make sure your personality is coming out in your writing.


How old do I have to be to attend LEARN academy?

Code school students must be 18 years old by the date of the first class as we are not legally able to accommodate minors.


What does the application process look like at LEARN academy?

Once you have submitted your application, the team at LEARN academy will review it and be in touch within a week of your submission date. If we feel it is a good fit we will ask you in for an interview. It is an informal interview. A chance for us to get to know you and for you to ask any questions you might have about the coding course. We know that it is vital to your success to find the course that is best for you and your learning needs. We use the interview to find out if we are the best fit for you! If at that point we both agree that it is a good fit we will invite you to secure a seat in the class of your choice.


How old do I have to be to attend LEARN academy?

Code school students must be 18 years old by the date of the first class as we are not legally able to accommodate minors.


What does the application process look like at LEARN academy?

Once you have submitted your application, the team at LEARN academy will review it and be in touch within a week of your submission date. If we feel it is a good fit we will ask you in for an interview. It is an informal interview. A chance for us to get to know you and for you to ask any questions you might have about the coding course. We know that it is vital to your success to find the course that is best for you and your learning needs. We use the interview to find out if we are the best fit for you! If at that point we both agree that it is a good fit we will invite you to secure a seat in the class of your choice.


Can I work while attending LEARN academy?

We have had students hold part-time jobs while attending the coding bootcamps at LEARN academy. They tell us that it’s not too bad if your work is on the weekend, but working more than one night per week is really tough. It is tough but possible.


What is the class schedule?

LEARN academy’s 4 month bootcamp is Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm.


What do you mean by "full-time"?

LEARN academy’s full-time course is Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. Students spend the first 12 weeks working in the online classroom and the final 4 weeks in their remote programming internship.


What is the background of the typical LEARN Student?

There isn’t really a typical student at LEARN academy. Most have not taken computer science classes in college, although some have. Some have not gone to college at all, but many have undergraduate degrees in something other than computer science. Past graduates have been in the entertainment industry, waitresses, massage therapists, in the military, and just about anything else you can think of.

Can I call you or drop by to talk?

Absolutely! We love chatting with potential partners and students. It is always best to make an appointment first so we can make sure someone is available to answer your questions. You can email us hello@learnacademyorg.


Is there any required prep work?

Students who are accepted and enrolled in the 4 month bootcamp are required to attend and participate in a workshop, called Jumpstart, offered by LEARN academy prior to the first day of the program. These workshops are free for students and included in the price of the tuition for the bootcamp. LEARN academy offers multiple workshops leading up to the start of class that students can sign up for.


I don't live in San Diego, can I still apply?

Yes! LEARN academy’s live-remote courses allow students to take our courses from just about anywhere in the United States. However, we are not able to support International students at this time.


How long should my application be?

One of the things we look for in an application is – did we get to know you? It’s almost impossible for us to get to know a candidate if each of the essay answers is only two sentences long. It doesn’t need to be a novel, but before you submit, check to make sure your personality is coming out in your writing.


How old do I have to be to attend LEARN academy?

Code school students must be 18 years old by the date of the first class as we are not legally able to accommodate minors.


What does the application process look like at LEARN academy?

Once you have submitted your application, the team at LEARN academy will review it and be in touch within a week of your submission date. If we feel it is a good fit we will ask you in for an interview. It is an informal interview. A chance for us to get to know you and for you to ask any questions you might have about the coding course. We know that it is vital to your success to find the course that is best for you and your learning needs. We use the interview to find out if we are the best fit for you! If at that point we both agree that it is a good fit we will invite you to secure a seat in the class of your choice.


Still have questions?