Top 5 Programming Languages That will Define Coding in 2021 [UPDATED]

Programmers often use more than one language on a daily basis – depending on the needs of a project they are working on. Year by year new programming languages are becoming demanded, hence to stay relevant programmers must keep up to date with trends and shifts in the programming industry.

As we advance to 2021, it is a good time to update skills and learn something new. CodeRiders made a list of the top 5 languages that will rule the programming world this year. The list is based on the predictions of CodeRiders experts.

PHP

PHP is among the most popular backend programming languages. Though PHP is facing tough competition from JavaScript, the market still needs a large number of PHP developers. It is programmed with the help of built-in web development capabilities.

PHP has a bunch of frameworks that make it straightforward to work with web application development by enabling a basic structure. Some of the examples of these frameworks are Laravel, CodeIgniter, Symfony, etc.

With these web frameworks, programmers experience better development by adding useful features and functionalities to the web application. No need to write prolonged and composite code to carry on web development tasks.

There are a lot of alternatives for web developers to pick from an extensive range of PHP frameworks. Most of these frameworks are open source and can be used without paying any of the licensing fees. Some of these PHP frameworks fall in the categories of full-stack web frameworks, while others are microframeworks.

• Laravel 

Laravel is a web application framework with expressive, elegant syntax. It attempts to take the pain out of development by easing common tasks used in the majority of web projects, such as authentication, routing, sessions, and caching. Laravel has clean architecture and is composer-friendly.

• Symfony 

Symfony is written with speed and flexibility in mind. It allows developers to build better and easy-to-maintain websites with PHP. Symfony can be used to develop all kinds of websites, from your personal blog to high-traffic ones like Dailymotion or Yahoo! Answers.

• CodeIgniter 

CodeIgniter is a proven, agile, and open PHP web application framework with a small footprint. It is powering the next generation of web apps. It is well documented and its setup is very easy.

• Zend

Zend framework provides a range of features such as a user-friendly drag-and-drop editor, cryptographic coding tools, a connected Database Wizard, and instant online debugging tools. It is ideal for complex websites as it offers a number of configuration options, although, it is one of the most difficult to learn.

• Yii

Yii is another PHP framework, which shines due to how easy it is to set up. It offers a robust set of components to speed up web application development, as well as a set of security features.

There is an opinion that PHP is a confusing language. It probably has equal numbers of haters and lovers. However, it is also very easy to learn. And you can use it to create prototypes of stuff and things. That is the main reason it still exists to this day with large usability and aims becoming more demanded in the coming year.

WordPress writes 90% of the web, and it uses PHP. Major websites like Facebook and Twitter started in the PHP language. PHP has a rich history and it is definitely going to rule in 2021!

We at CodeRiders love PHP to the moon and back (not kidding, haha)! And no need to wonder why. There are constructive reasons for that:

• Speed up tailored app development and simplify maintenance,
• No need to write added code and handle databases resourcefully,
• Automate customary development activities and reduce overall costs.

A while ago, when CodeRiders held a web development school, we did our best to present the benefits and drawbacks of all the main programming languages unbiasedly. We were not surprised when our students believed in the PHP philosophy and later on became PHP developers at CodeRiders Software Development Company!

JavaScript

JavaScript is the most popular language according to Stack OverFlow. More than half of all developers use JavaScript because of its swiftness, simplicity, rich interface versatility, and extended functionalities. It is vital to front-end development and increasingly relevant to back-end development.

JavaScript is an object-oriented computer programming (OOP) language that allows the building of interactive websites and effects within Internet browsers. It is also used in a number of popular web frameworks such as Angular.js, Node.js, as well as React.js. According to GitHub, it was one of the top programming languages in 2019.

Alongside HTML and CSS, JavaScript is one of the three core existing technologies of the Web. Many popular websites such as YouTube, Facebook, Google, Wikipedia, and Amazon use it at their front end.

Most developers are fond of JavaScript because of its ease and ability to support full-stack web and mobile app development. For instance, when you click on a button that opens up a popup, the logic is implemented via JavaScript. With JavaScript, you can make web apps, server back-ends, desktop, and mobile apps. What other language can give you such a power to do multiple things with one language?

There are many popular JavaScript frameworks, which are wowing developers for a number of reasons.

• Angular.js

Powered by Google and released in 2010, this JS framework is one of the leading and hugely popular open-source frameworks among a skillful community of developers. It helps to craft beautifully designed, stable, secure, and innovative mobile and web apps with a refined approach of developing in the least turnaround time. Angular.js is simple to comprehend and easy to deploy.

• React.js

To talk about React.js, let us first mention that Facebook and Instagram apps are powered by this framework. React.js helps to develop scalable apps that meet all the dynamic requirements of today’s programming world. It is incredibly reliable and stable. Developers especially like its smooth front-end development.

• Vue.js

Vue.js is one of the easiest frameworks for beginners to consider learning. It is inspired by frameworks like React.js, Angular.js, and Knockout.js to create an ecosystem that is productive in every respect.

• Node.js

Node.js is not considered a programming language or framework, but a run-time environment of JavaScript. It is used by nearly half of all developers. Before the birth of Node.js, web developers used different languages for the front-end and back-end. Now Node.js certainly saves valuable time, money, and manpower.

 

Node.js is speedy and scalable, so it may be the best option for you if your apps are centered on real-time interactions and behaviors. One of its notable components is its event loop which is particularly valuable if you’re managing a high volume of simultaneous server requests.

It is worth noting that Node.js has a number of prominent frameworks (Sails.js, Meteor.js, Express.js), each with its own distinct characteristics and functional benefits.

Ionic 

Ionic is a JavaScript framework used for developing cross-platform applications during hybrid mobile app development. Ionic is often compared with Flutter as the latter is also used in cross-platform mobile application development. However, the main difference is that Ionic apps are built using web languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Ionic allows deploying apps that run on both iOS and Android. The UI components in Ionic apps use web components standard and run in any web browser, and are compatible with JavaScript frameworks such as React.js, Vue.js, or Angular.js.

Now JavaScript is rapidly expanding into areas like game development and the Internet of Things (IoT).

At CodeRiders, we are fond of coding with JavaScript and especially with Angular.js and Vue.js frameworks. We understand that they cover a lot of development gaps and provide tools and functionalities for a better coding experience and better product creation. Therefore, we encourage our developers to use JavaScript and its popular frameworks. You may have a look at our case studies implemented via JavaScript.

 

Java

Java is a language created by mighty James Gosling in 1991. It was created with the following saying in mind – “Write once run everywhere”.

There have always been many critiques saying that Java will be forgotten. Indeed, it died many times but resurrected over and over, so it is still right here. According to the latest 2018 Stack OverFlow survey Java is still on number fifth in Programming & Markup Languages section.

Java is a general-purpose programming language. It has an object-oriented structure, which has become a standard of applications that can be used irrespective of any platform (e.g. Mac, Android, Windows, iOS, etc.).

Presently there are more than almost 3 billion devices that are running applications built with the help of Java. It has been widely used for web application development along with Big Data. Many of the popular websites, such as Amazon, Google, Twitter, and YouTube use it at the backend.

Java has popular frameworks too – such as Spring, Struts, and Hibernate.

Java is considered to be a good start for beginning to think like a programmer. With Java, it is easy to access and manipulate computer parts such as file system, graphics, and sound for any kind of sophisticated or modern program which can run on any kind of operating system.

Java is a popular choice in large organizations. It is widely used for building enterprise-scale web applications. However, Java has a large number of new vocabularies to learn.

Java is also widely used in Android App Development. There are billions of Android users today, so almost any business needs an Android Application. For this, Google has also created an excellent Java-based Android development framework – Android Studio.

Dart (Hybrid Mobile App Development vs Native App Development)

The opportunity of creating a mobile application for both iOS and Android users was always on the table. Businesses want more flexibility and less time to create a mobile application. A hybrid mobile app development methodology gives this opportunity. Unlike native mobile application development methodology where companies hire separate developers, a single developer can build a mobile application using hybrid technologies. Learn more about the differences, pros, and cons of hybrid and native mobile application development methodologies in this article.

We believe hybrid mobile app development is the future of mobile applications, so let us consider the most promising technologies that will rule this field in the coming years. For many years, React Native has been the most successful solution that was used during hybrid mobile app development. Unlike other cross-platform mobile app development solutions, React Native does not come with complex drawbacks in user experience because of wrapping the app in a web view. React Native allows developers to use native UI components written in JavaScript and run over a bridge. During the past couple of years, React Native gained competitors such as Dart language with its Flutter Framework.

Dart language is created by Google and is used for developing both mobile and web applications. It is an object-oriented, class-based, garbage-collected language with C-style syntax.

Flutter

Flutter is a framework used to develop cross-platform applications developed by Google. Flutter is preferred oftentimes and professionals believe that it is the future of mobile application development. One of the biggest advantages of Flutter is that its applications are compiled to native code ahead of time, which makes these applications quite scalable on both iOS and Android operational systems. On the other hand, it is also much easier for developers to work with Flutter as it allows making changes while running the app on the simulator. Thus, it is quick to develop and runs quickly in both operational systems. On the other hand, both Dart and Flutter have UI and UX design components, which means that standard libraries give access to any native-like UI “widget” or feature that is needed to build a professional application.

Python

Python is usually the first language taught in computer science courses because it is easy to learn and comfortable to use. Python is used for object-oriented, functional, or procedural programming styles. Python also has a large number of libraries and a very readable syntax that accelerates the development process and is very convenient to use in large teams. As we know, the future of technology lies down in AI, Machine Learning, the Internet of Things (IoT), and Data Science, and despite its simplicity, Python lies at the heart of these revolutionary sciences.

 

Key Takeaways

It is either an individual or an organizational choice of which language to opt for in 2021 based on the convenience and need of the project at hand. Each programming language comes with a set of benefits and drawbacks. Thus, your choice will build your current and future, so make it wisely based on your need, research, and the kind of growth you are looking for.

We at CodeRiders believe the next 12 months in the web and mobile development industry are going to be ruled by PHP, JavaScript, Angular, Vue.js, Node.js, Ionic, Flutter, and Python. So, to keep on with trends, we suggest considering these technologies when starting a new project.

We are mastered in a pack of the most popular and usable programming languages and technologies. Should you need IT consulting or should you plan to develop a web or mobile application, do not hesitate to contact CodeRiders experts.