In the intricate tapestry of the digital era, coding languages stand as the master weavers, crafting the threads that form the fabric of our technological landscape. Each language serves as the building blocks that empower developers to create digital solutions that shape our world. The allure of programming languages is undeniable, fueling a projected 22% annual growth in the market until 2030.
In the landscape of 2024, a career in software development and engineering is a prevailing choice. Yet, the question lingers—what are the primary coding languages to master this year, ensuring the most lucrative returns for aspirants?
We have curated a comprehensive list catering to beginners, intermediate coders, and seasoned experts alike.
Table of Contents:
- Introduction
- Python
- Mojo
- Go
- Java
- TypeScript
- C and C++
Python
Developer Level: Beginner
Python stands out as one of today’s most popular programming languages, known for its simplicity and wide appeal to beginners. This language effortlessly integrates with web services, simplifies data handling, and can create desktop applications with ease. If you need to automate a process to reduce repetitive tasks, you can do so with Python’s built-in scripting code.
It’s not just for beginners; Python is also a top choice for advanced technologies like machine learning. Its emphasis on readability makes coding straightforward, allowing developers to achieve more with less code than other languages like C++ or Java. In essence, Python is your go-to for a user-friendly, versatile coding experience.
Key Facts about Python:
- Developers earn average annual salaries of about $109,092.
- Nearly 50% of all developers worldwide used Python in 2023.
- Used by popular websites like YouTube, Quora, Pinterest, and Instagram.
- Can build a wide range of different 2D and 3D data visualizations, like line and bar graphs, pie charts, histograms, and 3D plots.
Mojo
Developer Level: Beginner
Mojo officially launched in 2023, making it the newest programing language on the list. Often drawing comparisons with Python, Mojo distinguishes itself by seamlessly blending Python’s user-friendly aspects with the performance capabilities reminiscent of C. This unique combination unleashes unprecedented programmability for AI hardware and enhances the extensibility of AI models.
Mojo is recognized for its speed, surpassing Python in performance. The key differentiator lies in the fact that Mojo is a compiled language, undergoing conversion into machine code before execution, providing a notable speed advantage over the interpreted nature of Python. This compilation process contributes to Mojo’s efficiency and accelerated execution. Mojo’s goal is to simplify AI development by providing a high-performance language.
Key facts about Mojo:
- Can import and utilize any Python library, ensuring complete interoperability.
- 35000x faster than Python.
- Supports concurrency that works with parallel processing and improves the performance of speed.
- Auto memory management features speed up code performance and reduces time spent on managing the memory bank.
Go
Developer level: Intermediate
Go is an open-sourced programming language developed by Google in 2007 for APIs and web applications. In recent years, Go has surged in popularity, earning a reputation as one of the fastest-growing languages in the development landscape. Its rise is attributed to a blend of simplicity and robust capabilities, particularly for cloud-based services.
The language’s lightweight nature and efficiency also contribute to its use in microservices architecture, game development, and emerging areas like data science and machine learning. Overall, Go’s versatility, ease of use, and performance have led to its widespread adoption in various industries and application domains.
Key facts about Go
- Companies using Go as their programming language include Google, Uber, Twitch, and Dropbox, among many others.
- 13.24% of all developers worldwide used Go in 2023.
- Go is also gaining in popularity among data scientists because of its agility and performance.
- Has gained popularity among many large IT companies thanks to its simple and modern structure and syntax familiarity.
- Go developers can earn an average annual salary of $141,654, and hit up to $261,000.
Java
Developer Experience: Intermediate
With over 3 billion devices running devices with jJava applications, Java remains one of the most used programming languages in modern times.
Java stands out as a versatile and widely adopted general-purpose programming language, distinguished by its object-oriented structure and renowned Write Once, Run Anywhere (WORA) capabilities. This attribute allows Java applications to run seamlessly on diverse platforms such as Mac, Windows, Android, iOS, and more.
The language boasts a robust community of millions of developers globally, fostering collaborative problem-solving and supporting various learning avenues. This reference provides in-depth resources on how Java developers can network and build their presence within this niche community.
Java is widely used in web and application development as well as big data. Java is also used on the backend of several popular websites, including Google, Amazon, Twitter, and YouTube. It is extensively used in hundreds of applications. New Java frameworks like Spring, Struts, and Hibernate are very popular. With millions of Java developers worldwide, there are hundreds of ways to learn Java. Also, Java programmers have an extensive online community and support each other to solve problems.
Java is a more complex language to learn, but experienced developers with Java coding skills are in high demand.
Key Facts about Java:
- The average Java developer earns around $109,225 each year.
- Used by 30% of programming language developers worldwide in 2023.
- Serves as the backend foundation for major websites like Google, Amazon, Twitter, and YouTube.
- Accessible on all platforms: Web, Mobile, Desktop.
TypeScript
Developer Experience: Intermediate to Advanced
Typescript was developed in 2012 by Microsoft and is a typed version of JavaScript that is well-suited for large code bases. TypeScript is used to create JavaScript-based projects with typing in both client-side and server-side development, making it useful for catching errors and preventing systemic issues.
The language’s readability and maintainability are improved with additional tooling and IDE support, making it easier to navigate and understand code. TypeScript is widely adopted due to its backing by Microsoft, an active open-source community, and support from major front-end frameworks like Angular.
Typescript addresses challenges in large codebases, offers a scalable development environment, and is compiled into JavaScript for broad browser compatibility. TypeScript’s popularity is further bolstered by its strong tooling ecosystem, making it a preferred choice for modern web development projects.
Key facts about TypeScript:
- TypeScript developers typically earn an annual average of $75,199.
- Nearly 39% of all program language developers worldwide used Typescript in 2023.
- Basic knowledge of JavaScript is required beforehand.
- Best used for large-scale projects.
C and C++
C – Intermediate to Advanced
C++ Beginner to intermediate
Rounding out this list at number 5, C has been regarded as one of the most essential coding languages since the 1970s. And as we enter 2024, this still rings true.
While some developers directly delve into C++, others recognize the foundational importance of learning C first. Both languages play pivotal roles in computer science and programming, offering broad applicability. Developers proficient in C and C++ benefit from versatile compilers compatible with numerous platforms, ensuring the portability of applications. Renowned for high performance, these languages find extensive use in critical domains, including client/server applications, commercial products like Firefox and Adobe, and the gaming industry.
Key Facts about C and C++ Developers:
- Developers earn an average of $118,366 each year.
- 22% of all language developers in the world used C++ in 2023. 19% Used C.
- Serves as the precursor to other popular languages like C#, Java, and JavaScript.
- C is function-driven, making it a procedural programming language.
- C++ is a powerful, efficient, and fast object-oriented programming language.
Conclusion
In 2024, these programming languages are not just tools; they are the driving force behind innovation in the tech world. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer, these languages offer more than just syntax—they provide a gateway to the forefront of digital transformation. In a world that is being overtaken with code, embrace the journey, one algorithm, one innovation at a time.
