Sunday, January 1, 2023

Top 6 Programming Languages to Learn in 2024 - Best of Lot

Hello guys, If you are thinking about which programming languages to learn in 2024 to get a job in a startup or do some freelance work online as a developer, then you have come to the right place. In the past, I have shared the best technical jobs for programmers and in this article, I am going to list down some of the best programming languages for freelancers and programmers looking to get a Software developer job in startups. I have compiled this list on my own experience as a freelancer and also about reading many stories and recommendations of freelancers. These are also some of the best programming languages to get a job in startups where a quick turnaround is expected, and eventually on companies like Google, Facebook, and Microsoft.

If you follow me, then you will be surprised to see that Java is not included in this list. Being a die-hard Java fan and having done more than 10 years of programming in Java, it was hard, but the ugly truth is that Java is not for freelancers and startups.

Java is best if you want to get a job in big organizations like wall street banks - Barclays, Citi, JPMorgan, etc., and insurance companies like AIG, but it's not suitable for startups and freelancers, where a quick turnaround is needed. Instead, languages like PHP, Ruby, and Python are more suitable for startups and freelancing gigs.

I might get a lot of flake by including PHP in this list as it's not become a trend to bash PHP, but you will be surprised to know that more than 50% of websites on the internet runs on PHP.

Most of the freelance development jobs are for developing websites, managing websites that are using WordPress, developing mobile applications, and then building utilities for different needs. For most of these, a good knowledge of PHP is required, and that's why PHP is included in this list.

Similarly, in startups, you will be asked to develop a website or mobile apps overnight or on the weekend. Programming languages like Python and Swift are suitable for such needs instead of Java. So, if you want to get a job in startups and eventually big product companies like Google and Facebook, learn languages like Python, Ruby, and Swift.





6 Best Programming Languages to Learn in 2024 to get a Job in Technology

Without wasting any more of your time, here is my list of best programming languages for freelancers and people looking to get a job in startups.

1. Java [Best Programming Language for Backend Development]

I am a Java developer so you may consider me biased when I chose the Java as the top programming language to learn in 2024 but I have put Java in top based upon my 20 years of experience and what I have seen as a Java developer in Tech industry. 

When it comes to a Software development job, there is no match to Java. Since Java is already 25 years old there is huge eco-system of Java development tools, practices, developers and Java has spread everywhere from Mobile to Server side development

Because of that there is always a demand of Java developer and you can see this into any Job site like Monster.com or Dice.com, even on LinkedIn, you will find many many Java developer roles and not just in small companies but on big companies like Amazon, UBS, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Citibank, Barclays Capital etc.

All these makes learning Java a no-brainer if you want a job in tech industry. Pay is also higher for Java developer with average Java developer with 1 years of experience making close to $50K to $60K USD which can go up-to $150K easily for experienced Java developers. 

That's why I suggest every fresher and junior developer to learn Java, not only you get job but also you will enjoy coding. When it comes to learn Java there are many resources you can find online but if you need a recommendation I suggest you to join The Complete Java Masterclass on Udemy, its one of the most comprehensive course to learn Java and its also updated for Java 17. 

best programming language for software development


And, if you like reading books, there is no book better than Head First Java, its also updated to cover Java 8 to Java 17. I highly recommend both these resources to learn Java in 2024.


2. Python [Best Programming Language for Coding and Data Science] 

Python is the king of a programming language at this moment. There is nothing you cannot do using Python. You can write web apps, create machine learning models, automate tedious tasks, and can even scrap the web using Python.

The biggest strength of Python is the several modules or packages which are freely available. You don't need to write a lot of code, just search for the right package or library and include them in your project.

When it comes to web development, Python has two remarkable frameworks, Django and Flask. Django is an extensive, full-featured framework, whereas Flask is more minimalistic. It gives you what you need, but you make the rest of the decisions.

5 Best Programming Languages for Beginners


Similarly, you have fantastic libraries like Pandas, SciKit-learn, and TensorFlow for machine learning, and the best thing you can write a lot of scripts using Python, which is great for freelancers. For example, you can write a Python script that can scrap all freelance websites and email you all the gigs you are interested in based on your preferences.

In short, you should learn Python in 2024 if you want to do freelancing or are interested in getting a job at a startup, and if you need a resource to learn Python in 2024, check out The Complete Python bootcamp course on Udemy, my favorite class to learn Python online.


Best general purpose programming language



3. JavaScript [Best Programming Language for Fullstack Web Development]

I started this article with the king of programming language and now I will introduce you to the queen of the web, yes, I am talking about JavaScript. The last decade was a decade of JavaScript, and it became the first programming language to develop full-stack web applications.

When you do freelancing, you don't have the luxury to get different people for developing frontend and backend; instead, you need to do all, and that's where JavaScript can help. The same is true with startups where you need to shoulder all the responsibility.

JavaScript allowed you to create both frontends and backend of your application, and that can be a tremendous differentiating factor while developing your project or hiring for startups. If you want to learn JavaScript in 2024 and need an excellent resource, I suggest you join The Complete JavaScript Course 2024: Build Real Projects by Jonas Schmedtmann on Udemy.

best programming language for fullstack development


It's my favorite course and offers project-based learning where you learn by developing a project of your own, the best way to learn.


4. PHP [Best Programming language for Websites Development and Freelancing]

A lot of people bash PHP, and it's very unfortunate because it is a great language, and almost half of the web is powered by PHP. It's simple, and you can quickly deploy PHP scripts just about anywhere. Many freelancing jobs are about creating websites using WordPress, which is built using PHP.

If you know PHP, you can do all those gigs. PHP is seriously great for freelancers that need to get things quickly. It may not be the best choice for a large organization, but if you're freelancing and building personal projects or looking to get a job in startups, PHP can be a great choice.

If you want to learn PHP in 2024  and looking for some excellent resources, I suggest checking out this PHP for Beginners - Become a PHP Master course on Udemy. This course will teach you everything you need to become a professional PHP developer with quizzes, projects, and practical exercises.

best programming language for websites



5. Ruby  [Best Programming Language for Web Development]

This is another excellent programming language for people doing freelancing or doing startups for the same reason as PHP, it helps you to get stuff done quickly. If you know Ruby on Rails, you can whip up a full-featured website with a database in just a day or two, which would have taken a week or so in Java.

Ruby is also prevalent in startups. In fact, many successful startups are built using Ruby and Rails like Twitter, Shopify, Github, Groupon, and your own Airbnb.

That's why if you are working on your own startups or looking to get a job on startup, it makes a lot of sense to learn Ruby in 2024, and if you need a resource, this Ruby on Rails MasterClass by Rob Percival and Mashrur Hossain is probably the best place to start with.

best programming language for web developers



6. Swift [Best Programming Language for App Development]

Today's world is the world of smartphones, and if you are not on your customer's phone, you are losing a lot of money, and that's why every company, both big and small is investing in their mobile apps.

All the startups need their mobile apps at the time of their website launch, and if you are interested in getting a job as a mobile developer in startups, Swift can be a great choice. Swift is the apple programming language for iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS.

You can build iPhone and iPad apps using Swift. It's both safe by design and robust. It can also help you in your freelancing gig as there are a lot of jobs for developing and enhancing iOS apps on freelancing websites like Fiverr and Upwork.

And the last thing, iOS developers make a lot more money than Android developers. If you want to learn Swift in 2024 and need a resource, I suggest you check out this iOS and Swift  Masterclass course by Angela Yu, one of the best instructors to learn Swift online.

best programming language for app development


That's all about the best programming languages you can learn in 2024 for Software Development, Freelancing, and building personal projects. As I said, not every programming language is suitable for everything. Sometimes, it's OK to accept that Java is not the right choice for writing a simple web application and choose PHP instead. If you are looking to get a job in a startup or thinking of doing paid gigs as a freelancer, learning these five programming languages can be a game-changer.


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Thanks for reading this article so far. If you like this article and find these programming languages useful for beginners in 2024 and getting a job in a startup, then please share it with your friends and colleagues. If you have any questions or feedback, then please drop a note.

P. S. - If you want to become a Java Developer in 2024 then I also highly recommend you check out The 2024 Java Developer RoadMap which will guide you on what you can learn to become an expert Java programmer. It contains essential frameworks, libraries, and tools a professional Java developer should know.

5 comments :

Unknown said...

I need to learn only one language or five language in this list

Anonymous said...

First focus on learning one language, the one you like the most, if you discover you don't like it move to the next one, good luck.

javin paul said...

Actually its true, going deep one one language will help you more than knowing a bit of each language. Remember, "Jack of all and Master of None", instead of that, I suggest "Jack of All and master of One"

Kiran Khan said...

I just Subscribed you on YouTube.

javin paul said...

Thank you Kiran

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