What Programming Language Should I Learn in 2024? An Expert‘s Guide

So, you‘ve decided to learn to code. Congratulations! You‘re embarking on a challenging yet highly rewarding journey that can transform your career and open up a world of opportunities. But with hundreds of programming languages out there, you might be wondering, "Where do I even start? What‘s the best programming language to learn?"

The truth is, there‘s no one-size-fits-all answer. The "best" language depends on your goals, interests, and the types of projects you want to work on. That said, some languages are more beginner-friendly, versatile, and in-demand than others.

In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll break down the most popular and valuable programming languages to learn in 2024, backed by data and insights from industry experts. Whether you‘re a complete beginner or an experienced developer looking to expand your skillset, this article will help you make an informed decision about where to focus your efforts.

The State of Programming Languages in 2024

Let‘s start with a high-level overview of the programming language landscape. According to the latest StackOverflow Developer Survey, which polled over 70,000 developers worldwide, the most popular languages are:

1. JavaScript (69.7%)
2. HTML/CSS (62.4%)
3. SQL (56.9%)
4. Python (41.6%)
5. Java (38.4%)
6. Bash/Shell (31.4%)
7. C# (31.3%)
8. PHP (26.2%)
9. TypeScript (25.4%)
10. C++ (23.9%)

However, popularity doesn‘t always equate to job demand or earning potential. Let‘s look at some additional data points.

The TIOBE Index, which measures language popularity based on search engine results, shows a slightly different ranking as of April 2024:

1. C
2. Java
3. Python
4. C++
5. C#
6. Visual Basic
7. JavaScript
8. PHP
9. SQL
10. Assembly language

The PYPL (Popularity of Programming Language) Index, which analyzes how often language tutorials are searched on Google, paints yet another picture:

1. Python
2. Java
3. JavaScript
4. C#
5. PHP
6. C/C++
7. R
8. Objective-C
9. Swift
10. MATLAB

So what does this all mean? In short, there‘s no clear consensus on the "top" language. Different metrics yield different results based on their methodology and data sources.

However, we can spot some common threads. Languages like Python, JavaScript, Java, and C/C++ consistently rank high across the board. They‘re well-established, versatile, and used in a wide range of domains, making them safe bets for learners.

Choosing a Language Based on Your Career Goals

Now let‘s dive deeper into specific use cases and the best languages for different career paths.

Web Development

Web development is a broad field that‘s often divided into three specialties:

• Front-end development: Building the user-facing side of websites with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Key skills include responsive design, web performance optimization, and frameworks like React, Angular, and Vue.js.

• Back-end development: Working on server-side logic, databases, and APIs that power web applications. Popular back-end languages include Python (Django, Flask), JavaScript (Node.js, Express.js), Ruby (Ruby on Rails), PHP (Laravel), and Java (Spring).

• Full-stack development: A combination of front-end and back-end skills, allowing developers to build complete web apps from start to finish. The most common stack is MEAN (MongoDB, Express.js, Angular, Node.js), but there are countless variations.

According to Indeed, the average annual salary for web developers in the United States is $91,185. The most in-demand skills are:

• JavaScript (mentioned in 72% of job postings)
• HTML/CSS (61%)
• SQL (47%)
• Java (37%)
• React (34%)
• Python (33%)
• Node.js (27%)
• AWS (23%)
• PHP (18%)
• Angular (16%)

If your goal is to become a web developer, mastering JavaScript is essential. You should also get comfortable with HTML/CSS, pick a back-end language (Node.js if you want to stay in the JS ecosystem; Python, Ruby, or PHP if you prefer something more beginner-friendly), and learn relevant frameworks and tools. Don‘t forget about databases, version control (Git), and deployment/DevOps skills.

Mobile App Development

Mobile app development is another lucrative field, with over 3.5 billion smartphone users worldwide and app store revenues projected to hit $600 billion by 2025. The two dominant platforms are iOS (Apple‘s mobile operating system) and Android (Google‘s mobile OS).

For iOS development, the primary languages are Swift and Objective-C. Swift, released in 2014, is quickly replacing Objective-C as the language of choice for iOS devs due to its concise syntax, safety features, and improved performance. Key frameworks and tools include SwiftUI, UIKit, Xcode, and TestFlight.

On the Android side, Java has long been the official language for Android development. However, in recent years, Google has been pushing Kotlin, a modern, expressive language that‘s fully interoperable with Java. Other key tools include Android Studio and the Android SDK.

There are also cross-platform frameworks that allow you to build apps for both iOS and Android with a single codebase:

• React Native (JavaScript)
• Flutter (Dart)
• Xamarin (C#)

While these frameworks have their pros and cons, they can be a good option if you want to target both platforms without learning two separate native languages.

According to Glassdoor, the average base pay for iOS developers in the US is $96,016 per year. For Android developers, it‘s slightly lower at $94,301. Of course, salaries can vary widely based on location, experience, and company.

Game Development

Game development is a highly specialized field that often requires knowledge of multiple languages and tools. The most common languages in game dev are:

• C++: The industry standard for high-performance game engines and AAA titles. Used in Unreal Engine, CryEngine, and many custom in-house engines.

• C#: The primary language for the Unity game engine, which powers a large portion of mobile, VR, and indie games.

• Java: Used extensively in Android game development and some desktop games (e.g., Minecraft).

• Lua: A lightweight scripting language used for game logic and modding in engines like Roblox, Corona, and Love2D.

Salaries in game development vary depending on role (programmer, designer, artist), experience, and studio size. According to Gamasutra‘s 2022 Salary Survey, the average annual salary for programmers in the US games industry was $101,644.

To break into game dev, focus on mastering C++, C#, or Java (depending on your target platforms and engines), as well as common game programming concepts like graphics, physics, networking, and AI. Building a strong portfolio of game projects is key to landing a job in this competitive industry.

Data Science and Machine Learning

Data science and machine learning are rapidly growing fields that involve using programming and statistical techniques to extract insights from data and build intelligent systems. The most popular languages for data science are:

• Python: The king of data science languages, thanks to its extensive ecosystem of libraries like NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib, and scikit-learn. Used for data analysis, visualization, and machine learning.

• R: A statistical programming language favored by many academics and researchers. Offers powerful tools for data manipulation, statistical modeling, and visualization.

• SQL: A query language used for managing and analyzing structured data in relational databases.

• Java, C++, and Scala: Used in large-scale big data processing frameworks like Apache Hadoop and Spark.

According to Glassdoor, the average base pay for data scientists in the US is $117,212 per year. For machine learning engineers, it‘s even higher at $129,181.

To get started in data science, learn Python or R (or both!), SQL, and key libraries and frameworks. Sharpen your skills in statistics, data visualization, and machine learning algorithms. Practice working with real-world datasets and build a portfolio of projects showcasing your ability to derive insights and solve problems with data.

Other Domains

There are countless other domains where programming skills are in high demand. Here are a few more examples:

• Enterprise software development: Java and C# are king in the world of enterprise software, thanks to their robustness, scalability, and extensive ecosystems (Spring, .NET).

• Cloud computing: As more companies move their infrastructure and applications to the cloud, demand for cloud computing skills is soaring. Key languages include Java, Python, Go, and cloud-specific technologies like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform.

• DevOps and site reliability: DevOps engineers and SREs use programming and automation to streamline software development, testing, and deployment. Key languages and tools include Python, Ruby, Bash scripting, Docker, Kubernetes, and CI/CD pipelines.

• Embedded systems and IoT: Embedded and IoT devices, from smart appliances to industrial sensors, rely on low-level languages like C and C++ for their efficiency and hardware control.

• Blockchain and cryptocurrency: Blockchain developers use languages like Go, Rust, C++, Solidity (Ethereum), and Haskell to build decentralized applications and smart contracts.

No matter what field you‘re interested in, there‘s likely a programming language that‘s particularly well-suited for it. Do your research, talk to professionals in the industry, and don‘t be afraid to specialize.

Learning to Code: Tips and Resources

Now that you have a better idea of which language(s) to learn, let‘s talk about how to actually go about learning them. Here are some tips and resources to help you get started:

1. Start with the fundamentals: Before diving into a specific language, make sure you understand basic programming concepts like variables, data types, control flow (conditionals and loops), functions, and algorithms. Codecademy‘s Introduction to Programming course is a great place to start.

2. Choose a learning resource that matches your style: There‘s no shortage of ways to learn to code these days. Online tutorials, video courses, books, bootcamps, degree programs – the list goes on. Some popular free resources include freeCodeCamp, The Odin Project, and Coursera.

3. Practice, practice, practice: The best way to learn programming is by doing. As you‘re learning, work on small projects and coding challenges to reinforce your knowledge. Websites like Codewars, HackerRank, and LeetCode offer tons of practice problems for all skill levels.

4. Build a portfolio: As you gain more experience, start working on larger, more complex projects that showcase your skills and interests. Share your code on GitHub, write about your projects on a blog or personal website, and participate in hackathons and coding competitions.

5. Contribute to open source: Open source projects are a great way to gain real-world experience, collaborate with other developers, and build your reputation in the community. Look for beginner-friendly issues on projects you use or admire, and don‘t be afraid to submit bug fixes or feature enhancements.

6. Join a community: Surround yourself with other people who are learning and passionate about programming. Join local meetups, attend conferences, participate in online forums and chat rooms. The programming community is incredibly welcoming and supportive, and you never know what opportunities might arise from networking.

7. Prepare for technical interviews: If your goal is to land a job as a programmer, start practicing your interview skills early. In addition to coding challenges, make sure you‘re comfortable discussing your projects, explaining your thought process, and answering behavioral questions. Resources like Cracking the Coding Interview and Pramp can help you prepare.

8. Keep learning: The field of programming is constantly evolving, with new languages, frameworks, and technologies emerging all the time. Make a commitment to continuous learning throughout your career. Follow industry blogs and newsletters, take online courses, read books, and attend conferences to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices.

Emerging Trends and Technologies

As we look ahead to the future of programming, there are several emerging trends and technologies that are worth keeping an eye on:

• WebAssembly: A low-level language that runs in the browser, allowing languages like C, C++, and Rust to be compiled for the web. Could potentially revolutionize web performance and enable new classes of web applications.

• Serverless computing: A cloud computing model where the cloud provider manages the infrastructure and automatically scales applications based on demand. Enables developers to focus on writing code without worrying about server management. Key technologies include AWS Lambda, Azure Functions, and Google Cloud Functions.

• Machine learning ops (MLOps): An emerging practice that aims to streamline the process of building, deploying, and monitoring machine learning models in production. Combines DevOps principles with ML-specific tools and workflows.

• Low-code and no-code tools: Platforms that allow non-programmers to build applications and automate workflows using visual drag-and-drop interfaces. Examples include Airtable, Webflow, and Zapier. While they won‘t replace traditional programming, they can democratize app development and enable more people to solve problems with technology.

• Progressive web apps (PWAs): Web applications that use modern web technologies to provide a native app-like experience, with features like offline support, push notifications, and home screen installation. PWAs are fast, reliable, and work across all devices.

• Blockchain and smart contracts: Decentralized, distributed ledger technologies that enable secure, transparent transactions without intermediaries. Smart contracts are self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement written in code. While the hype around blockchain has cooled off in recent years, the technology still has the potential to disrupt industries like finance, supply chain, and real estate.

Wrapping Up

Learning to code is a journey, not a destination. It‘s a skill that will serve you well throughout your career and open up countless opportunities for growth, creativity, and impact.

As you embark on this journey, remember that there‘s no one "right" path. The most important thing is to start somewhere and keep learning. Don‘t get discouraged by the challenges and setbacks – they‘re a natural part of the process. Embrace the struggle, celebrate your victories, and never stop growing.

With hard work, dedication, and a willingness to learn, you can achieve your goals and make a real difference in the world through code. So what are you waiting for? Pick a language, roll up your sleeves, and happy coding!