The popularity of a programming language is not just defined by how big its community is or how many developers adopted it. Its overall presence in projects, the number of projects that demand specific knowledge of a language, the software development needs etc. all factor in to make a programming language popular. In this blog, we will be exploring 5 popular programming languages that have made their mark across companies providing open source development services.
But before we begin, here’s a brief definition of an open source programming language.
To be termed ‘open source’, a programming language needs to meet certain requirements.
- The open source code should be accessible regardless of the location
- There should not be any product-specific license or limitations
- Free distribution without any limitations on areas of application
That said, here are 5 great programming languages that match the criteria above and are preferred by almost every leading software development company across the globe.
PHP
PHP is one of the oldest web-based programming languages in the world having been around since right after the web revolution. It became an instant winner with an easy-to-learn syntax making it a great option for small and medium-sized projects. A big chunk of almost all websites is driven by PHP frameworks.
Each new version of the language far surpasses its predecessors when it comes to web and stand-alone application development. PHP is also popular for its CodeIgniter and Laravel frameworks and its CMS solutions such as WordPress, Drupal, Magento, OpenCart etc. The language is backed by a large, thriving community full of developers and open source enthusiasts.
Python
Python was originally designed as a simple language to learn computer science. The language that’s also known to have an easy coding process is used across a number of domains including desktop applications and even science calculations. Its most popular frameworks include Django, Pyramid, Flask, and Tornado. Python can be combined with popular technologies like JavaScript, HTML/CSS, SQL, C/C++ etc.
Ruby
Ruby is a rival to Python when it comes to simplicity but is known to be more elegant than its arguably more popular rival. The syntax of Ruby is such that even one line of code can do a number of actions. The open source language is also known for easy maintenance and its support for big programming paradigms such as OOP. Its most popular framework is Rails.
JavaScript
JavaScript is arguably the most used programming language in this list. It basically has a monopoly on the web’s client side owing to the fact that the most popular browsers only support JavaScript. It can be also used as a back-end engine to create a full stack web application. GitHub Statistics claim that JavaScript is the top language based on the number of pull requests alone. It’s most popular frameworks are React, Angular, and Vue.
GO
Go, also known as Golang, is the youngest language in this list and was designed to make C obsolete. The biggest benefit of this promising language is its performance. Despite being as simple as C, Go has no OOP at all. With a multithreading core, Go is also highly scalable. Its only demerit is a relatively smaller community. However, the community is slowly growing bigger as Go turns more heads each year. Its most popular frameworks include Gin, Echo, and Beego.
Conclusion
Many companies offering both application development and application management services rely on open source tools and technologies for cost savings without compromising on the quality of their services. The languages mentioned in this blog are generally the most preferred among such companies and startups. Despite changing tides due to technological advancements, all 5 of these languages still retain their ranks as reliable assets to develop trendy, robust digital solutions.
