7 programming languages leading the market in 2021
Highly demanded programming languages for 2021, courtesy of CodeGym.
There are over 700 languages used in programming. The first of them was Plankalkul, developed back in 1945 and new ones are born every year.
We took a look at the data available online to determine which languages are here to stay and grow and which ones are on the road to irrelevance. In this post, you will find out which seven technologies will be the go-to choices for software developers.
JavaScript
JavaScript is a standard language to support the front-end (and, with Node.js, back-end as well) of web-based solutions.
Companies that use JavaScript
A plethora of applications makes JS relevant both for SMEs and large-scale corporations. Poster companies that use JavaScript are Google, Microsoft, and PayPal.
Job market
The JS job market is candidate-centered, with over 30,500 openings on Indeed and 690 on Upwork .
Learning resources and usage
JavaScript is s hands-down leader in the number of Stack Overflow questions — there are 2.3 million answers covering both the basics and the nitty-gritty of the language. In the latest Stack Overflow survey, 67.7% of developers admitted to using JavaScript, making the technology a front-runner on the list.
Java
Java is a ground-breaking language in software development. Back in 1991, it found a way to unite different platforms under the same codebase.
Companies that use Java
Java is a number-one technology in enterprise application development. The top names using Java are HCL, Infosys, IBM, and many more.
Job market
There is no shortage of Java jobs in sight — at the time of writing, there are over 34,500 openings on Indeed and 406 relevant freelance opportunities on Upwork .
Learning resources and usage among developers
Java has a robust learning community. Apart from helpful resources like Codegym Java tutorial , programmers have asked and answered over 1.7 million language-related questions on Stack Overflow.
According to Stack Overflow, 40.2% regularly use Java to work on their products.
Python
There are two (though avid Python fans would name many more) signature features that give Python a competitive edge. One, it is readable and syntax-wise simple. Two, the ecosystem of frameworks and libraries associated with Python is unmatched.
Companies that use Python
Python is hot on the artificial intelligence and machine learning market. It was used by Apple to support Siri and Face ID and deployed by Amazon as a backbone of the personalized recommendation engine.
Salaries and job market
The job count, surprisingly, is not as overwhelming as is the case for Java and JS. There are over 25,000 openings on Indeed and a little over 200 open Upwork gigs.
Learning resources and usage
Since it has a next-to-unlimited range of applications, the interest in Python among beginners is peaking, and it shows — there are over 1.6M answered questions on Stack Overflow .
In the platform’s 2020 survey , 44.1% claimed to actively use Python.
C#
C# is Microsoft’s flagship language and the primary technology for Windows development.
Companies that use C#
C# is a multi-purpose technology. It’s a popular programming language for game and virtual reality platform development. Among the big bosses in tech, Microsoft, Amazon, and CiS are using C# to build their solutions.
Salaries and job market
C# development is a stable job market, with a wide range of available openings. There are over 20,000 job offers on Indeed and 68 open freelance projects on Upwork at the time of writing.
Learning resources and usage
C# is seen as a complex language for beginners with no OOP experience. That’s why few developers would choose it as the first technology to learn — as a matter of fact, there are 1.3 million answered questions on Stack Overflow regarding C#.
31.4% of programmers are active C# users according to Stack Overflow. Over the last three years, the user rate barely dwindles — so much so we can consider the curve flat.
C++
C++ is praised by developers for its versatility and a high-performance speed.
Companies that use C++:
Tesla’s autopilot is built in C++. The language is frequently used to build gaming applications – Assassin’s Creed, Star Wars, and others.
Job market:
At the time of writing, there are over 10,000 full-time C++ project openings on LinkedIn and 54 open gigs on Upwork .
Learning resources and use rate
C++ is a popular topic of discussion on Stack Overflow – there are over 706,000 answered questions. In the company’s 2020 Survey, 23.6% of developers use C++.
PHP
PHP supports the back-end of 24% of all global websites — the highest market share among rival languages.
Companies that use PHP
A lot of big companies use PHP to support and scale high-traffic products — Facebook, Mailchimp, Yahoo, you name it! Moving such big platforms to a different technology is a mammoth’s work — most tech teams are not keen on doing it.
Job market
There aren’t many full-time jobs a coder can land using PHP — on Indeed , there are about 5,200 openings.
However, PHP has an presence in freelance projects — there are over 400 openings on Upwork (a relatively high number).
Learning resources and usage
At the moment, there are over 1.3 million PHP-related answers on Stack Overflow.
According to Stack Overflow’s data on PHP users in 2020, the language was crucial for 26.2% of developers. In the future, the numbers will plummet as they already do — in 2018, the use rate was at 30.7% only to fall to 26.4% in 2019, and again last year.
C
C is syntactically similar to C++ – that’s why software developers often learn this language as well. The language helps build operating systems, embedded applications, GUI, and new programming platforms.
Companies that use C:
Telegram, GitHub, Mozilla Firefox, Twitch, and Mastercard include C in the tech stack of their products.
Learning resources and use rate:
According to Stack Overflow’s 2020 Software Development Survey, 22% of developers use C. This trend is roughly flat, varying from 23% in 2018 to 21% in 2019.
The Bottom Line
In 2021, coders expect no major surprises regarding the dominant programming language. Which technologies will ultimately be the most popular by the end of the year depends on the types of apps and applications with the highest demand.
At the moment, the case for artificial intelligence and data science applications is strong — however, only time will tell which types of software will be the most relevant in the modern job market.
