Programming languages are the reason every online service that we use today exists. Their number is very large, so you might ask yourself: which programming languages are the most worth learning and sought-after by the companies in 2022?
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As we watch, the demand for software engineers has been on the rise for a while. Predictions show that this upward trend will continue. The survey conducted by BLS underlines this vision. According to the study, programming jobs are expected to rise by 21% by 2028. Furthermore, the number of people who are interested in increasing their knowledge of these tools is also growing.
This article presents the top 10 programming languages that are currently on the rise. Let’s see what technologies will be most popular in 2022!
1. Python
At the top of our list is Python. It is an object-oriented, flexible, general-purpose programming language created 30 years ago by Guido van Rossum. This technology is used in the development of applications such as: Instagram, Pinterest, Disqus, Uber, Reddit, Dropbox, Spotify, Google Search, Youtube and many more. Therefore, programmers who know this programming language are highly sought after by IT recruitment agencies. Its popularity is underlined by the fact that In 2021 Python was the top programming language in TIOBE and PYPL Index. It can be assumed that this tendency will continue.
Why did it take first place?
- According to Stack Overflow, Python is the most popular backend programming language and the most wanted technology.
- It is also the most popular language for Data Scientists and Machine Learning Engineers.
- It has a lot of followers and a great community that helps and supports each other.
- Although Python is 30 years old, it’s still growing in popularity. Just look at the Tiobe INDEX:
- It offers various possibilities. It allows you to create applications, AI software, games, websites, and many more.
- Python has a lot of fans because it is clear, easy to learn syntax. It is a very popular choice for beginners.
- The time required to test the code is highly reduced because of the interactive features of the languages such as quick code tests.
[ Read also: How to Hire a Python Developer in 2022? Guide for Employers and Hiring Managers ]
2. JavaScript
In second place is JavaScript — a king of the frontend. It is a programming language that is used to make websites work. According to Stack Overflow Developers Survey, it is the most popular and the third most wanted programming language in 2021. Although it’s the most popular language, it was also the most demanded technology by hiring managers in 2020.
Like Python, it has a strong community and many off-the-shelf libraries and frameworks that make it easy to work with the language. JavaScript has no competition if you need to create a frontend for your website, application, or software. It’s one of the best platforms in case of building dynamic elements on the website.
3. Go
The next language that is worth considering in case of learning a new programming skill is Go. This technology was developed by Google in 2007 and it was used for developing web apps and APIs. Even though Go hasn’t received a growth rate on such a scale as the previously described languages, it can still be classified as highly sought after in the skills.
It is an easy-to-learn, general-purpose programming language with a clean syntax, making it easy to write simple, reliable, and efficient software.
Today it is one of the best-paid technologies and the second most demanded backend programming language. That means that if you learn this programming language, you won’t have any problems finding a well-paid job. According to Stack Overflow, the median of their yearly salary is around $76k.
Go, like Python, is used to create systems based on artificial intelligence, so its popularity will likely continue to grow.
4. Java
Just a few years ago, Java probably would have been at the top of our list. It was the language of the year in 2005 and 2015. However, the popularity of this well-known language is declining year after year, as is evident in the TIOBE INDEX:
In addition, Java is still a stable language that many large corporations support. It is used by companies such as NASA, Netflix, Spotify, LinkedIn, Uber, Amazon, and many more.
This programming language is now used in mobile applications, web development, and even Big Data. It is the primary programming language for Android devices, so its demand will still be high. Today it is still the 5th most popular technology according to Stack Overflow.
5. C / C++
C is one of the oldest programming languages, from which other languages such as JavaScript and C# are derived. You can consider C++ as an extended version of C.
Both languages have high performance, so they are commonly used to build different applications. They are universal languages, which means they can be compiled for many systems. Programmers love them for being very fast and efficient.
Currently, C is the second most popular language according to the TIOBE Index, right after Python.
6. C#
C# is a high-level, object-oriented, general-purpose programming language that originated as Microsoft’s answer to Java. C# is tightly integrated with the .NET platform, both a framework and a runtime environment.
C# is a technology developed to write apps for Windows systems. Still, since the .NET framework came to Linux and Mac systems, it is possible to create native software in this language for virtually any platform. You can use this technology to create Windows apps, video games, anti-hacking software, mobile apps, VR and many more. It is used by global giants such as Slack and Pinterest. It is currently ranked #5 in the Tiobe ranking.
7. R
Along with Python, R is one of the most widely used programming languages in machine learning and Big Data. It is used by many companies, including Google and Facebook. R is a programming language that is popular along with data analytics, so it’s often required in job offers. The R language has a built-in library that allows programmers to create machine learning algorithms. Given the growing popularity and demand for AI solutions, this technology will undoubtedly be worth watching in 2022.
8. Ruby
Ruby is an interpreted, fully object-oriented programming language. It was developed in the 1990s and is often considered as easy to learn. As a technology with a simple syntax, it is often used for scripting, text processing, and prototyping new applications.
Its significant advantage is the massive web frameworks and applications written in this language, such as the well-known Ruby on Rails.
Ruby is a stable and popular language used by Twitch, Shopify, Starbucks, or Tumblr. Moreover, it is the 6th top-paying programming language in the world.
9. Kotlin
Kotlin is a programming language that is part of the JVM family. It is concise and easy to read and maintain. It has a safe and intelligent compiler, and it can run on a variety of systems. When in 2019 Google announced that Kotlin is now its preferred language for Android apps, then the interest in this programming language increased noticeably. It’s worth knowing that Google apps are based on Kotlin. If you are interested in Android app development and want to work in this field, then learning Kotlin in 2022 may be the right choice.
Although it has a smaller community of software developers than Java, it is much more well-liked (almost 62% of programmers said they love this language) and better paid.
10. Swift
Swift is a programming language created in 2014 by Apple. It replaced Objective-C, which the company previously used. It is mainly used in devices running macOS, iOS, and Linux. Its syntax is similar to Java and C#, and it allows you to write applications for watches, tablets, computers, smartphones, TVs, and servers.
Apple is still one of the leading brands, and as a result, Swift will continue to be a big player this year. According to TIOBE, Swift’s popularity is on the rise again, and as a result, it is a technology worth knowing in 2022.
What programming languages will be most popular in 2023?
As an IT recruitment agency in Poland, we are very interested in predictions for the coming years. Probably most of the languages mentioned will be in the center of interest among Juniors, Mids and Senior Software Developers. We outlined the main trends in a new article describing predictions for 2023.
What languages do you think will be popular in 2022? Let us know if you agree with our list!
And if you are looking for software developers programming skills in one of these languages, contact us. We’ll be happy to help you find the best talent on the market.