10 Best Programming Languages to Learn in 2021
Tags: JavaScript, Java, Programming, Python, Coding

10 Best Programming Languages to Learn in 2021

A developer’s list of the programming languages you probably want to start learning in 2021

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

A couple of months ago, I was reading an interesting article on HackerNews, which argued that why you should learn numerous programming languages even if you won’t immediately use them, and I have to say that I agreed.

Since each programming language is good for something specific but not so great for others, it makes sense for Programmers and senior developers to know more than one language so that you can choose the right tool for the job.

But which programming languages should you learn? As there are many programming languages ranging from big three like Java, JavaScript, and Python to lesser-known like Julia, Rust or R.

The big questions is which languages will give you the biggest bang for your buck?

Even though Java is my favorite language, and I know a bit of C and C++, I am striving to expand beyond this year. I am particularly interested in Python and JavaScript, but you might be interested in something else.

Top 10 Programming Languages to Learn in 2021

This list of the top 10 programming languages — compiled with help from Stack Overflow’s annual developer survey as well as my own experience — should help give you some ideas.

Note: Even though it can be tempting, don’t try to learn too many programming languages at once; choose one first, master it, and then move on to the next one.

1. Java

Even though I have been using Java for years, there are still many things I have to learn. My goal for 2021 is to focus on recent Java changes on JDK 9, 10, 11, and 12. If yours is the same, you’ll want to check out the Complete Java MasterClass from Udemy.

If you don’t mind learning from free resources, then you can also check out this list of free Java programming courses.

2. Javascript

Whether you believe it or not, JavaScript is the number one language of the web. The rise of frameworks like jQuery, Angular, and React JS has made JavaScript even more popular. Since you just cannot stay away from the web, it’s better to learn JavaScript sooner than later.

It’s also the number one language for client-side validation, which really does make it work learning JavaScript.

Convinced? Then this JavaScript Masterclass is a good place to start. For cheaper alternatives, check out this list of free JavaScript courses.

3. Python

Python has now toppled Java to become the most taught programming language in universities and academia.

It’s a very powerful language and great to generate scripts. You will find a python module for everything you can think of.

For example, I was looking for a command to listen to UDP traffic in Linux but couldn’t find anything. So, I wrote a Python script in 10 minutes to do the same.

If you want to learn Python, the Python Fundamentals from Pluralsight is one of the best online course to start with. You will need a Pluralsight membership to get access to the course, which costs around $29 per month or $299 annually. You can also access it using their free trial.

And, if you need one more choice, then The Complete Python Bootcamp: Go from zero to hero in Python 3 on Udemy is another awesome course for beginners.

And if you are looking for some free alternatives, you can find a list here.

4. Kotlin

If you are thinking seriously about Android App development, then Kotlin is the programming language to learn this year. It is definitely the next big thing happening in the Android world.

Even though Java is my preferred language, Kotlin has got native support, and many IDEs like IntelliJ IDEA and Android Studio are supporting Kotlin for Android development.

The Complete Android Kotlin Developer Course is probably the best online course to start with.

5. Golang

This is another programming language you may want to learn this year. I know it’s not currently very popular and at the same time can be hard to learn, but I feel its usage is going to increase in 2021.

There are also not that many Go developers right now, so you really may want to go ahead and bite the bullet, especially if you want to create frameworks and things like that. If you can invest some time and become an expert in Go, you’re going to be in high demand.

Go: The Complete Developer’s Guide from Udemy is the online course I am going to take to get started.

6. C#

If you are thinking about GUI development for PC and Web, C# is a great option. It’s also the programming language for the .NET framework, not to mention used heavily in game development for both PC and consoles.

If you’re interested in any of the above areas, check out the Learn to Code by Making Games — Complete C# Unity Developer from Udemy. I see more than 200K students have enrolled in this course, which speaks for its popularity.

And again, if you don’t mind learning from free courses, here is a list of some free C# programming courses for beginners.

7. Swift

If you are thinking about iOS development like making apps for the iPhone and iPad, then you should seriously consider learning Swift in 2021.

It replaces Objective C as the preferred language to develop iOS apps. Since I am the Android guy, I have no goal with respect to Swift, but if you do, you can start with the iOS 14 and Swift 5 — The Complete iOS App Development Bootcamp.

If you don’t mind learning from free resources then you can also check out this list of free iOS courses for more choices. There’s also this nifty tutorial.

8. Rust

To be honest, I don’t know much about Rust since I’ve never used it, but it did take home the prize for ‘most loved programming language’ in the Stack Overflow developer survey, so there’s clearly something worth learning here.

There aren’t many free Rust courses out there, but Rust For Undergrads is a good one to start with.

9. PHP

If you thought that PHP is dead, then you are dead wrong. It’s still very much alive and kicking. Fifty percent (50%) of internet websites are built using PHP, and even though it’s not on my personal list of languages to learn this year, it’s still a great choice if you don’t already know it.

And, if you want to learn from scratch, PHP for Beginners — Become a PHP Master — CMS Project on Udemy is a great course.

And, if you love free stuff to learn PHP, checkout this list of free PHP and MySQL courses on Hackernoon

10. C/C++

Both C and C++ are evergreen languages, and many of you probably know them from school. But if you are doing some serious work in C++, I can guarantee you that your academic experience will not be enough. You need to join a comprehensive online course like C++: From Beginner to Expert to become industry-ready.

And for my friends who want some free courses to learn C++, here is a list list of free C++ Programming courses for beginners.

Conclusion

Even if you learn just one programming language apart from the one you use on a daily basis, you will be in good shape for your career growth. The most important thing right now is to make your goal and do your best to stick with it. Happy learning!

If you enjoy this article here are a few more of my write-ups you may like :

Good luck with your Programming t journey! It’s certainly not going to be easy, but by following this list, you are one step closer to becoming the Software Developer, you always wanted to be

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