Programming Languages That Will Rule the Game in 2018

2018 is just around the corner, and you may wonder what programming languages are going to rock next year? If we make a simple top list based on GitHub programming languages usage statistics, the result won’t really surprise you — it would be the same as last year with C and Java fighting for the first place.

We did something different this time. We analyzed the latest trends in programming and tried to figure out the most powerful, interesting and promising coding languages that will grow and evolve in the new year. It would be twice as interesting to see whether our predictions will appear to be true.

So, let’s see what technologies will rule the game in 2018!

JavaScript

JavaScript rides the wave this year. So much amazing stuff happened in the front end programming world recently.

First off all, you just can’t ignore the fact that React has became an open-source JavaScript library. This will bring even more fame to the language that is already popular and successful. React can handle almost everything you throw at it. Smooth frontend? It’s made for that. VR and AR applications? Check React VR. Multi platform stuff? React Native covers that. And now you can use it even for cloning Facebook.

Secondly, TypeScript has risen. A statically typed programming language that compiles into clean and simple JavaScript code. Runs everywhere, it is good for building huge applications, and besides, it is used in Unity Engine.

Angular 5 has been recently released and such JS frameworks as Vue, Ember and Meteor are evolving and getting more popular. This year, full-stack developers give their preference to JavaScript more, which also demonstrates the growth of this coding language.

Things like virtual and augmented reality and multi platform apps are still developing and growing. Users and entrepreneurs need them, and these brilliant technologies are definitely going to shine next year.

Java

It’s pretty obvious that Java is on the list of the best programming languages. Java heads the programming languages ranking according to the TIOBE index, it is used for creating Androidapps we love so much — Uber, Slack, Tinder, Snapchat, eBay, Amazon and many others. This language is pretty old, it has a massive community, tons of tutorials, best practices and what’s most important — it keeps growing and evolving.

Java development capabilities can be used for everything from basic mobile applications to games and VR apps. Just remember to give it enough RAM.

Other languages take the best from it. For example, C# is C with added Java-like features. This fact shows that Java has not only stood the test of time, it has also gained a vast recognition of users and developers.

Ruby on Rails

Many argue that Rails is going to fade away soon and Node.js will take its place. We say: No!

The first rumors of Ruby on Rails decay appeared in 2014. As you can see, that did not happen. The same buzz flared up again next year. Is RoR dead yet? Nope. And this is not going to happen.

Rails is pretty hard to learn, that’s a fact and ruby on rails development requires truly precise approach. It’s like a Mjolnir: “Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor”. Or that’s not the best example, because in “Thor: Ragnarok” Hela dest…

No spoilers! Let’s get back to business. Rails has gained a huge community since its release in 2003 and consequently tons of tutorials, best practices and resources. All these things won’t disappear in seconds after all. Actually, RoR was getting bigger and better while everybody was complaining about its death.

Ruby on Rails is a server-based web application framework and it got new web development potential after Rails 5 release. Features like Turbolinks 5 and ActionCable are amazing. Developers can now get rid of client-side JS frameworks and generate single-page applications directly from Rails stack using Turbolinks 5. They can also integrate WebSockets with other Rails applications via ActionCable. This allows developers to write features on Ruby real-time in a form and style similar to other Rails applications while keeping good scalability and smooth performance.

And that’s only the beginning. Rails proved to be an excellent technology. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be able to keep its head above water for so long, despite all those rumors. So, if you are asking yourself, which programming language should I use in my next project, take a closer look at the good old Ruby on Rails.

C#

C# is a good choice if we talk about developing multi platform or VR apps — it is good for both. It is reminiscent of Java and easier to read and write than JavaScript. C# works well for a wide variety of enterprise apps. In fact, it was made for them.

C# is used in Microsoft products and websites, such as Bing search. However, what has recently made this language more popular is Unity3D which uses C# and TypeScript. The community of Unity is growing fast thanks to a vast number of tutorials as it makes learning of Unity simple. Neill Blomkamp also popularized Unity by shooting Adam, short sci-fi movies that use game engine as an acting scene and demonstrate what this technology is capable of. And you can use Unity3D for making multi platform and VR applications, which is cool.

Python

Python is known for its flexibility, fast performance and highly readable code. Such titans as YouTube, Reddit and Instagram use it for their websites and mobile apps. Believe it or not, but that’s not the main reason for the increased interest in it. Python is seen as the future of machine learning.

Fast learning AI is the thing that all of us want to see. Who in the world would refuse to have personal Jarvis? Python is actually working on that with the help of such libraries as scikit-learn, Keras, and TensorFlow. It is already used in Spotify, Evernote, Booking.com and in many other projects that want to make user experience better and as intuitive as possible.

Swift

Swift is a relatively new programming language. It was released in 2014 and since then has never stopped evolving. Apple raised the bar extremely high for themselves, they want to see Swift as the key programming language worldwide in the next 20 years. Bold words, right? Apple continues bringing this idea to life.

IOS apps are always trendy, especially when new devices and features are released. That’s why Swift will always be needed. It can provide high quality, fast and stable applications. Swift is 2,6 times faster than Objective-C and 8,4 times faster than Python. That’s a brilliant way to increase performance on a 1Gb RAM device. Software developers who rewrite their apps on Swift see a huge difference in performance. You can also use it for web apps or port applications to Windows and Android, since Swift is an open-source language.

Also, it is pretty easy to learn. You can install the Swift Playgrounds app on your iPad and start learning it by playing the game. Nice move, Apple!

That’s it for this short list of most in-demand programming languages for the near future. We hope this article will be useful and if you like it, keep visiting our blog. See you next time!

Originally published at anadea.info

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