From creating website pages and building applications from scratch to automating tasks and solving complex problems, programming is an indispensable aspect of business operations. While coding can be an enjoyable hobby for personal amusement, it can also pave the way for high-paying, challenging, and fulfilling career opportunities.
If you’re interested in becoming a programmer and establishing a career in development, discover the most popular coding languages in 2024 and learn their unique benefits, use cases, and applications in various businesses. As a business, find out which coding languages can help optimize your development process and effectively stay relevant within your industry.
Python
Level: Beginner
Use cases: Web development, game development, data science, AI/ML
Top benefits: Flexibility, accessibility, active community
Created in 1989 as a hobby project, Python unexpectedly became one of the most popular and well-known coding languages worldwide. This object-oriented programming language has an easy-to-learn syntax and a wide array of use cases, making it a favorite among developers and programmers.
Python can be used to solve a variety of problems, cementing its reputation as a highly accessible and versatile option for web development, game development, and other areas. The language’s substantial library and active community also support its expansive applications. Python can be used in cyber-security, AI/ML, and script-writing, allowing businesses to enhance almost all areas of their operations.
Due to the extensive use cases and low-entry barrier, Python has an exceptionally large talent pool, enabling businesses to easily hire skilled developers to build and maintain a diverse range of projects.
Java
Level: Beginner - Intermediate
Use cases: Mobile operating systems, financial applications, IoT apps, AI
Top benefits: Powerful IDEs, vast libraries, versatility
Another object-oriented coding language that is suitable for a wide selection of tasks is Java. With Java, developers can create high-performance and robust applications, ranging from mobile apps and operating systems to AI and IoT software.
Although this language is relatively easy to learn, it has rich libraries that greatly enhance its functionality and versatility. These libraries provide pre-built methods and classes that enable developers to complete complex tasks without being required to write code from scratch.
Java’s versatility can be summarized with the “Write once, run anywhere (WORA) principle, a slogan that was originally created in 1995 to showcase the language’s cross-platform benefits. As opposed to many other programming languages, Java code can be developed on one system and run on any other that has the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) without adjustments or re-compilation. This capability allows developers to save time when creating applications, while businesses can benefit from reduced development costs and consistency in user experience.
JavaScript
Level: Beginner
Use cases: Web servers, game development, VR, interactive web pages
Top benefits: Wide applicability, interoperability, fast implementation
JavaScript is often the top choice for web development-related tasks, allowing developers to improve online user experiences and create dynamic, responsive, and interactive user interfaces. JavaScript is already used as the client-side programming language for over 98% of all websites and has solidified its status as an integral aspect of the internet experience.
JavaScript’s applications extend to search engines, CMS systems, social media platforms, e-commerce websites, and mobile apps, which understandably places it as one of the most powerful and useful languages. With JavaScript, businesses can further connect with their audiences and customers by delivering a high-quality, tailored, and sophisticated online experience.
For developers, JavaScript is well-known for being beginner-friendly, making it an optimal first language to learn. Various opportunities related to front-end and back-end development can simplify the learning curve for developers transitioning between different project areas, while the vast applications of this language put Javascript developers in high demand across almost all industries.
HTML
Level: Beginner
Use cases: Web page development, data entry, internet navigation
Top benefits: Simplicity, efficiency, substantial resources
HTML is the foundation of website development, and learning it has become a fundamental skill for developers. Created in 1993 and updated to HTML5 in 2021, this language provides the essential “building blocks” of any website.
Developers can easily learn the basics of HTML in as little as a few weeks and primarily use it for creating web pages. Other HTML applications include supporting online data entry and interacting with native APIs.
Although the uses of HTML cannot be denied, it’s technically considered a markup language rather than a programming language, due to not having the ability to perform operations or possessing control flow capabilities. However, in the broad interpretation of programming, HTML can be viewed as a programming language, but opinions will vary among developers. Regardless, HTML plays a crucial role in the creation and maintenance of businesses’ online presence. From building the backbone of websites to supporting data entry and interactive web page features, HTML serves as a powerful tool for businesses to engage in digital marketing and online customer engagement strategies.
C#
Level: Intermediate
Use cases: Task automation, web applications, cloud APIs, mobile development
Top benefits: Scalability, flexibility, ease of use
As one of the top general-purpose coding languages, C# is used for an expansive array of applications, including automating tasks, building desktop applications, and developing web services/applications. It was developed in 2000 by Microsoft to run on any platform and share close similarities with Java. Both languages are statically typed and object-oriented, but C# is component-oriented white Java is class-based.
C# gained its popularity from being simple and readable, as it was developed to innovate useful aspects of other languages, such as Java and C++. The language is open-source, allowing anyone to provide feedback and contribute to its development. Although C# is considered as an intermediate language, its learning curve is still modest, allowing seasoned developers to quickly master it.
Businesses can utilize C# to build applications that run on multiple platforms and scale these applications as user demand increases. With this scalability and accessibility, C# is a viable option for both smaller start-ups and large enterprises that want to develop complex, flexible, and maintainable applications.
Connect With Top Programming Talent at TeamEx
With the global developer population expected to reach 28.7 million in 2024, businesses have plenty of choices when selecting new talent to join their tech teams. However, this wide selection can dilute the talent pool, extending the hiring process and resulting in incompatible matches.
At TeamEx, we value optimal connections between tech talent and businesses, which is why we’ve refined the hiring process with advanced AI software. Our AI makes accurate matches to ensure your new hires are not only exceptionally talented and experienced but can also easily integrate within your existing team due to their compatibility.
Join our platform today as a client to find suitable developers for your available roles or as talent to showcase your coding skills and land exciting work opportunities.
