20 Modern Programming Languages and Their Unique Features (Including a 'Code Along with Me' Video)

Popular Programming Languages in Use in 2023

If you are interested in software engineering and you're just getting started, it may help you to have a familiarity with popular computer programming languages used to day.

The world of programming languages is a dynamic and ever-evolving landscape, with developers constantly innovating to meet the demands of modern software development.

You won't find outdated and obsolete programming languages like COBOL and FORTRAN here and I hesitated to include Ruby and Perl...they are in use today but they are certainly on the way out.

Hypertext Mark-up Language (HTML) and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) are not included on this list because they are not programming languages, instead they are mark-up languages.

Below you will also find a "code along with me" video that shows a software developer coding the Starbucks website, you can watch it to get an idea of what coding looks like in real time.

Without further delay, let's learn a little about 20 modern programming languages in use today, along with some of their unique features.

1. Python

Python is renowned for its simplicity and readability. It's used extensively in web development, data analysis, machine learning, and scientific computing.

2. JavaScript

As the language of the web, JavaScript enables interactive and dynamic web applications. It's also popular for server-side development using Node.js.

3. Java

Java's portability and reliability make it a top choice for enterprise applications, Android app development, and large-scale systems.

4. C#

Developed by Microsoft, C# is a versatile language used for Windows applications, game development (Unity), and web development (ASP.NET).

5. Ruby

Ruby's elegant syntax and developer-friendly approach make it ideal for web development with the Ruby on Rails framework.

6. Go (Golang)

Known for its speed and efficiency, Go is used in cloud computing, microservices, and system programming, especially by companies like Google and Docker.

7. Swift

Apple's Swift is the go-to language for iOS and macOS app development, offering safety, performance, and modern features.

8. Rust

Rust focuses on memory safety without sacrificing performance. It's commonly used in systems programming, IoT, and game development.

9. Kotlin

Kotlin is a modern language for Android app development, known for its conciseness, safety features, and interoperability with Java.

10. TypeScript

TypeScript is JavaScript with static typing. It enhances code quality and maintainability, making it popular for large-scale web applications.

HTML & CSS are not included because they are mark-up languages, not programming languages

11. PHP

PHP is a server-side scripting language for web development. It powers countless websites and web applications, including WordPress.

12. Scala

Scala combines object-oriented and functional programming. It's used for web applications and scalable systems.

13. Elixir

Elixir runs on the Erlang virtual machine (BEAM) and excels in building concurrent, fault-tolerant, and distributed systems.

14. Dart

Developed by Google, Dart is used for building web and mobile applications, with Flutter being a popular framework for cross-platform development.

15. Julia

Julia is designed for scientific and numerical computing, offering high-performance computing capabilities and ease of use.

16. Haskell

Haskell is a purely functional language used in academia and industry for research, formal methods, and niche applications.

17. Groovy

Groovy is a dynamic language compatible with Java, commonly used for scripting, testing, and building domain-specific languages.

18. Lua

Lua is a lightweight scripting language known for its speed and simplicity. It's often embedded in games and applications.

19. Perl

Perl is a versatile language used for web development, system administration, and text processing, known for its powerful regular expressions.

20. Structured Query Language (SQL)

SQL (Structured Query Language) is a domain-specific language used for managing and manipulating relational databases.

Conclusion

The world of programming languages offers a vast array of choices, each tailored to specific tasks and preferences.

Whether you're building web applications, mobile apps, system-level software, or exploring the realms of artificial intelligence and data science, there's a programming language that suits your needs.

As technology continues to evolve, new languages will emerge, further enriching the ever-diverse landscape of modern programming.

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