There is no “one best programming language or tool” on the market. Every language does something ever so slightly different. Which language is best for any one particular goal can vary from task to task; however, there are a few programming languages that rank highest in terms of how intuitive they are and how much utility they provide developers.
What makes a coding language or a programming tool great is largely subjective, due to the unique yet versatile nature of most languages. However, we’ve surveyed the most common languages and looked for any objective positive trends that we could find in order to create this list of the most important coding languages and tools to master in 2020.
Python is the fastest-growing programming language in no small part because of how intuitive the language is. It’s simply one of the easiest programming languages to learn. In 2019 alone, Python software accounted for an additional 3% of all published code, bringing Python’s total market penetration up to 10.02%. That means that a larger chunk of all code written and followed to fruition were done so using Python this year than ever before.
This widespread use is partially the result of a large number of developers in the field of robotics adopting Python as their primary coding language; however, the Python language is not limited in scope or applicability. Rather, it is just as versatile, if not more so, than many of the more popular programming languages, such as C or Java.
Nonetheless, if the Python language continues on its current growth trajectory, it will become the most popular programming language in the world in a matter of a few short years, with estimates ranging from one to three years.
Pygame is a version of Python designed specifically for the creation of games. Many developers, particularly beginners, have begun using this adapted variation of the Python programming language to create entry-level video games similar to viral titles such as Crossy Road and Candy Crush.
Pygame is one of the most sought-after coding languages for developers looking into coding games for kids at least in terms of Python’s current growth trajectory. As of 2019, Java still takes the cake in being the most widely used programming language for coding for kids or creating other forms of entertaining games.
Of course, Pygame isn’t solely used for the creation of kids’ games. This software has been used to create thousands of games for students of coding at every level of advancement from beginners to experts. Simply browsing the Pygame forums can unearth countless interesting games (as well as copyright violations with beginners turning to other viral games for inspiration).
Currently the second most popular programming language, runner up to the dying Java, the C programming language is another important tool for would-be coders to have at their disposal.
C, under the name ALGOL, got its start in 1960, almost 40 years before the first implementation of Python. This long-running history has enabled C to rise to the level of popularity that it currently enjoys today and its ease of use and intuitive functions have enabled it to maintain a positive (though near zero) growth rate amid the onslaught of the newer Python language.
If for no other reason than that C has earned a solid place in history, this is a programming language that every coding aficionado should study. Of course, that is far from the only reason. C is also intuitive and efficient, though not quite as easy to learn as Python. A thorough understanding of both Python and C can make any developer a feared double-threat.
Blockchain isn’t a programming language by any stretch of the word, but this useful tool has single-handedly ushered in a new era of finances and technological currencies, also known as cryptocurrencies.
With a firm understanding of blockchain technology, it is possible to create software that do virtually anything. In fact, there are even patent attorneys that have begun using blockchain technology to monitor illegal transmissions of intellectual property, using the copyright-holder’s blockchain database as a staging point from which to send cease and desist letters to infringers.
Of course, the more common usage of blockchain, as mentioned before, is to be found in the field of cryptocurrency. After its invention in 2008, blockchain was immediately adapted for the purpose of securing online transactions through the use of a digital currency known as Bitcoin, famous for its lack of any regulatory body.
Although Python, Pygame, C, and blockchain are four of the most important programming languages and tools available today, they are far from the only languages or tools that an expert coder should master. However, with a firm understanding of each of these four technologies under one’s belt, the rest will be soon to follow.
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