Author: Codenga 28.10.2021

We have a whole bunch of different programming languages: Python, JavaScript, JAVA, PHP, C++. You could go on and on. Of course some are more popular and some are less. Even if we limit ourselves to, let's say, 10 most popular, there will always be a standard dilemma for a beginning programmer. That is, "which language to use in a given situation, and which language to start learning programming with?"

So let's try to do a quick overview of the most popular languages together by focusing on their main applications. This should brighten things up a bit and give you a starting point when considering your future career or hobby.

JAVA

The JAVA language has several distinct areas of application. First of them are the applications from the so-called enterprise segment: banking applications or company information management systems. Generally it is about large, typically corporate applications. To this category we can also include data management systems on different levels of state or local administration.

The second popular area of application is Android applications, although here JAVA is consistently replaced by Kotlin language. Many people also use JAVA to write their own, more hobbyist projects.

Python

Python has enjoyed an incredible surge in popularity in recent years. This is partly due to the fact that it is being used in future-oriented fields. A good example of this is the area known as Data Science. This is simply about working with data in the broadest sense: data analysis, statistics, trend prediction. That is, what is an extremely important part of the modern world.

Another example of Python applications is called Machine Learning. Think of features like algorithms that recognize image content. Or about all that we broadly refer to as "Artificial Intelligence". Python plays an extremely important role in these areas.

There are other applications as well. You can write web applications in Python (using the popular Django framework). It is also often used to automate various tasks.

JavaScript

JavaScript is the foundation of the modern web. Pop-ups on the page? That's JavaScript. A drop-down menu? Also JavaScript. Form data validation? That's JavaScript, too.

Thanks to tools such as Node.js you can write in JavaScript not only functionality that runs in web browsers. For many years, this language has also been used to write complete back-end web applications that run on the server side. It's also possible to write mobile applications. And even desktop applications. A good example here is the popular code editor Visual Studio Code.

In summary: JavaScript is a language with many instances and applications. The vast majority of these applications relate to web sites and web applications in the broadest sense.

PHP

It is a language used to write back-end applications. That is, those that run on the server side and return data to the browser. A good example is the popular WordPress or various online stores like Magento.

Some people have already "killed" PHP many times, but it still does not want to go away. The latest versions of the language have introduced many positive changes and will certainly extend its life for many years. The fact is that the vast majority of web applications are based on PHP. And this will not change for a long time.

C#

There are those who claim that C# is like "better JAVA". There may even be some truth in that. In general, it is a language quite closely related to the Windows ecosystem. So it is used in writing applications for Windows. I mean such traditional "desktop" applications, which I'm sure you know well.

The second important area of application is back-end applications, running on the server. In a sense, it is a popular alternative to JAVA or PHP for example.

C++

A cool language with interesting applications. C++ allows a lot of control over the computer's hardware resources. For this reason it is often used where high performance is needed. A perfect example are games. These games need to squeeze as much as possible from the hardware, which is why they are written in C++.

C

The C language dates back to the 1970s. Despite this, it still has many important applications. It allows even tighter control of hardware resources than C++. That is why it is used to write operating systems and to program microcontrollers, among other things. C is often the primary language for writing software for everything from a washing machine to a robot on a production line.

Codenga