Top 4 Coding Languages To Learn For Beginners (2020)
Tags: go, languages, python, rust
Published: 2020-10-09 13:58:54

---
title: Top 4 Coding Languages To Learn For Beginners (2020)
published: true
date: 2020-10-07 13:59:22 UTC
tags: Golang,Languages,Python,Rust
canonical_url: https://qvault.io/2020/10/07/top-4-coding-languages-to-learn-for-beginners-2020/
---

 ![Top 4 Coding Languages For Beginners 2020](https://qvault.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Top-4-Coding-languages-300x169.png "Top 4 Coding languages")

The post [Top 4 Coding Languages To Learn For Beginners (2020)](https://qvault.io/2020/10/07/top-4-coding-languages-to-learn-for-beginners-2020/) first appeared on [Qvault](https://qvault.io).

Coding languages, tools, and frameworks are in a constant state of flux, improvement, deprecation, and popularity swings. Let’s take a look at the top 4 languages for new programmers to learn in 2020.

As it happens, we support all four of the top languages on the [Qvault app](https://app.qvault.io/), and have courses for JavaScript and Go, with Rust and Python courses in active development. If you are interested in furthering your career, be sure to check it out.

## 1. JavaScript

_Created: 1995 by Brendan Eich_

![JavaScript Logo](https://qvault.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/logo-javascript.png "logo javascript")

[JavaScript](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript) has truly become the language of the web. JavaScript is the only language (besides the barely-supported Web Assembly) used in frontend web development. Because it’s the only language that runs in the browser, and [Node.js](https://nodejs.org/en/) allows JavaScript to be used on the backend, JavaScript is really the only language that can do both frontend and backend well.

JavaScript is one of the older languages on this list, but despite its age, it has withstood the test of time. Some would argue (including myself) that JavaScript has stayed relevant not because of its great design, but because it’s the only scripting language that all the major browsers supported.

That said, JavaScript has had major syntax and design improvements over the last several years, especially with [ES6](https://www.w3schools.com/js/js_es6.asp). The modern version of the language is much more fun to work with.

### Who Should Start With JavaScript?

Anyone who wants to get up and running building web applications as quickly as possible. You may miss out on some of the fundamentals of how computer hardware and operating systems work at a lower level, just be sure to go back and learn as you grow as a developer.

## 2. Go

_Version one released: 2012 by Google_

![Golang Gopher](https://qvault.io/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/go-300x157.png "go")

[Go](https://golang.org/) has become a powerhouse in several scenarios:

- Micro-services and backend web development
- Distributed systems and blockchain technology
- DevOps work

Go is a compiled language, which means it runs much faster than its interpreted counterparts like JavaScript and Python. Being compiled also means that by learning Go, you will learn more about how operating systems, static typing, and CPU architecture play a role in programming.

Go is known for having a rich standard library, particularly when it comes to backend web features. For example, in order to write a web server in Python or JavaScript, you would likely use a framework like [Express](https://expressjs.com/), [Django](https://www.djangoproject.com/), or [Flask](https://flask.palletsprojects.com/en/1.1.x/) to make up for the missing functionality. In Go, the standard HTTP library is powerful enough to build production servers without importing any large dependencies.

### Who Should Start With Go?

Anyone interested in DevOps or backend development should learn Go. You will likely need to learn about some technologies ([Docker](https://www.docker.com/), [Kubernetes](https://kubernetes.io/), [Postgres](https://www.postgresql.org/), etc) before landing a job, but it will be worth it considering Go is the second-best paying language in the US this year.

![Best Paying Programming Languages](https://qvault.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Screen-Shot-2020-07-09-at-7.46.49-AM-1024x469-1.png "Screen Shot 2020 07 09 at 7.46.49 AM 1024x469 1")<figcaption><a href="https://insights.stackoverflow.com/survey/2020#technology-what-languages-are-associated-with-the-highest-salaries-worldwide-united-states" target="_blank" aria-label="Stack Overflow (opens in a new tab)" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Stack Overflow</a></figcaption>

## 3. Python

_Created: 1991 by Guido van Rossum_

![Python Logo](https://qvault.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/python-logo-master-v3-TM-flattened.png "python logo master v3 TM flattened")

[Python](https://www.python.org/) is a joy to write, at least when you aren’t fighting migrations between [Python 2 and Python 3](https://stackoverflow.blog/2019/11/14/why-is-the-migration-to-python-3-taking-so-long/). Python boasts simple syntax, is installed by default on most Linux machines, and has rich scientific and machine learning libraries and frameworks.

While Python is definitely the slowest language on our list, it makes up for its lack of speed in other key areas:

- Writing code is fast and easy – the code runs slow but can be written and shipped quickly
- Is useful for simple tasks like shell scripting, as well as complex production web servers
- Has some of the best scientific, mathematic, and machine learning libraries ([SciPY](https://www.scipy.org/), [NumPY](https://numpy.org/), [Tensorflow](https://www.tensorflow.org/))

### Who Should Start With Python?

Python is great for educational purposes, particularly for learning computer science basics like data structures and algorithms. Python allows students to focus on the concepts at hand, because the syntax is second nature.

Python is also a great first choice if you have an interest in machine learning. Python is basically the go-to language for AI/ML and Tensorflow is the state of the art in that field.

## 4. Rust

_Version one released: 2015 by Graydon Hoare_

![Rust Logo](https://qvault.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/rust-tutorial-150x150.jpg "rust tutorial")

[Rust](https://www.rust-lang.org/) is the most loved language of 2020 by a significant margin.

![Most Loved Languages 2020](https://qvault.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Screen-Shot-2020-10-06-at-7.30.20-PM-1024x307.png "Screen Shot 2020 10 06 at 7.30.20 PM")<figcaption><a href="https://insights.stackoverflow.com/survey/2020#technology-most-loved-dreaded-and-wanted-languages-loved" rel="noopener">Stack Overflow</a></figcaption>

Rust stands alone as the fastest language on this list, and in many cases, is one of the fastest languages in existence. Rust excels at being hyper-performant and memory-efficient while still boasting a modern development toolchain and dependency management system.

Rust gives the programmer fine-grained control over how the code interacts with the hardware, which makes it a great replacement for C in embedded systems programming. Rust also gives the developer the power to optimize the compiled executable in various ways which ultimately means more performant code.

[Rust is used in backend web development like Go](https://qvault.io/2020/07/17/rust-vs-go-in-backend-web-development) but has really found its place as a systems language.

### Who Should Learn Rust First?

Honestly, you probably shouldn’t learn Rust _first_. That said, Rust is arguably the best _second_ language on the list. Rust is probably the most complex language on this list, but along with that complexity comes power, speed, and ultimately the opportunity for the developer to learn more about how code interacts directly with the hardware.

## Performance Benchmarks

### Go vs Rust

![Screen Shot 2020 10 06 at 7.41.47 PM](https://qvault.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Screen-Shot-2020-10-06-at-7.41.47-PM-1024x591.png "Screen Shot 2020 10 06 at 7.41.47 PM")<figcaption><a href="https://benchmarksgame-team.pages.debian.net/benchmarksgame/fastest/rust-go.html" target="_blank" aria-label="Benchmarks Game (opens in a new tab)" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Benchmarks Game</a></figcaption>

### Python vs Go

![Screen Shot 2020 10 06 at 7.42.42 PM](https://qvault.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Screen-Shot-2020-10-06-at-7.42.42-PM-1024x539.png "Screen Shot 2020 10 06 at 7.42.42 PM")<figcaption><a href="https://benchmarksgame-team.pages.debian.net/benchmarksgame/fastest/python3-go.html" target="_blank" aria-label="Benchmarks Game (opens in a new tab)" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Benchmarks Game</a></figcaption>

### Python vs JavaScript

![Screen Shot 2020 10 06 at 7.42.24 PM](https://qvault.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Screen-Shot-2020-10-06-at-7.42.24-PM-1024x543.png "Screen Shot 2020 10 06 at 7.42.24 PM")<figcaption><a href="https://benchmarksgame-team.pages.debian.net/benchmarksgame/fastest/python.html" target="_blank" aria-label="Benchmarks Game (opens in a new tab)" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Benchmarks Game</a></figcaption>

## Relevant Stack Overflow Popularity Graphs

### Go and Rust are well payed

![Best Paying Programming Languages](https://qvault.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Screen-Shot-2020-07-09-at-7.46.49-AM-1024x469-1.png "Screen Shot 2020 07 09 at 7.46.49 AM 1024x469 1")<figcaption><a href="https://insights.stackoverflow.com/survey/2020#technology-what-languages-are-associated-with-the-highest-salaries-worldwide-united-states" target="_blank" aria-label="Highest Salaries (opens in a new tab)" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Highest Salaries</a></figcaption>

### Rust, Python and Go are loved

![Most Loved Languages 2020](https://qvault.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Screen-Shot-2020-10-06-at-7.30.20-PM-1024x307.png "Screen Shot 2020 10 06 at 7.30.20 PM")<figcaption><a href="https://insights.stackoverflow.com/survey/2020#technology-most-loved-dreaded-and-wanted-languages-loved" target="_blank" aria-label="Most Loved Languages (opens in a new tab)" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Most Loved Languages</a></figcaption>

### Python, JavaScript, Go and Rust are all wanted

![Screen Shot 2020 10 06 at 7.47.42 PM](https://qvault.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Screen-Shot-2020-10-06-at-7.47.42-PM-1024x254.png "Screen Shot 2020 10 06 at 7.47.42 PM")<figcaption><a href="https://insights.stackoverflow.com/survey/2020#technology-most-loved-dreaded-and-wanted-languages-wanted" target="_blank" aria-label="Most Wanted Languages (opens in a new tab)" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Most Wanted Languages</a></figcaption>

## Thanks For Reading!

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