Starting in the IT field can seem challenging, because it is a dynamic area that requires constant learning. Added to this situation, there are so many possibilities that it can be difficult to know where to focus our attention and what to prioritize. If you are interested in entering software development, you may encounter questions like: which programming language should I learn? Should I invest time learning technology X? Where should I start?
This content does not intend to provide definitive answers, but rather guidance to help you choose a programming language to start your professional journey. Keep reading!
*Throughout the text, we have listed some references for those who wish to delve deeper into the subject. The sources are at the end of the content.
What is a programming language?
First, let’s start by answering a simple question: what is a programming language? It is a sequence of instructions and commands that we use to tell the computer what to do [1].
A computer does not know how to perform tasks, therefore, we use a programming language to create a computer program or software, providing the instructions so that the computer can execute certain tasks.
Depending on what you want to do, some languages will perform better than others, as they may have been designed for a specific use. Understanding the specific characteristics and purposes of each language is essential to choosing the most suitable one for your needs.
Discover some popular languages
We cannot cover all programming languages in this brief text, but we will present some of them, highlighting their applications.
Their selection was based on the search indexes of TIOBE, language statistics from Github in the third quarter of 2023, and the 2023 StackOverflow most popular technologies survey, without following a specific ranking or importance order.
Python
It is an easy-to-learn language with a basic syntax similar to English [2]. It can be used for web development, automation, data science, and machine learning, among other applications [2, 3].
It stands out in the development of applications involving artificial intelligence, so if this is an area of your interest, learning Python can be a good path.
Java
It is a multiplatform programming language that can be used to develop mobile applications or enterprise software [4].
It is used to develop web and desktop applications, cloud computing, big data, artificial intelligence, IoT, and games [4]. It is worth noting that for a long time, Java was the predominant language for Android application development.
Javascript
It is a language widely used in web development, standing out in the creation of dynamic pages [5].
Along with CSS and HTML, it is used to make what we call frontend, that is, the web page presented to a user when they access a web address. While HTML and CSS are responsible for making the static content, it is JavaScript that provides dynamism [5].
Besides being used for the frontend, it can also be used in the backend, meaning on the server side to process requests, and in the development of mobile applications [5].
Once you already have knowledge in JavaScript, it might be interesting to explore TypeScript, a superset of this language that adds extra features to it, such as static data typing [6, 7].
Kotlin
It is a multiplatform language developed by JetBrains, applicable in web, Android, iOS, and desktop development [8, 9].
Google announced in 2019 that Android development would focus on the Kotlin language, due to the features it offers [10]. The language has interoperability with Java, so it is possible to use Kotlin code together with Java code, without having to convert all the code from one language to another [11].
Tips for your learning journey
Perhaps the language you want to learn is not on this list. In that case, we suggest you consult the cited sources and research the desired language to ensure it meets your needs.
The programming language is just one of the tools needed on your journey, and other fundamental topics to master are problem-solving and programming logic.
Understanding problems and knowing how to solve them allows you to apply your knowledge of programming languages to develop solutions, or to search for one that suits your needs.
It is important to explore new languages as your knowledge increases, especially those related to your area of interest. In systems development, it is common to use various technologies.
For example, on the Teclógica team, we develop a Web system using Java, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. In addition, we develop mobile applications using both Java and Kotlin.
This example illustrates how important it is to explore and try to learn more than a single language. However, we advise against trying to learn multiple languages simultaneously, as this can cause frustration.
As mentioned at the beginning of the text, starting in the IT field can seem challenging, and choosing a programming language to start with is one of the first steps for the journey.
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*This article was produced by Evandro Matheus Schmitz, Trainee Software Architect at Teclógica, and Fernanda Gums, Development Coordinator at Teclógica.
Sources/References:
- https://www.alura.com.br/empresas/artigos/linguagens-de-programacao-mais-usadas
- https://aws.amazon.com/pt/what-is/python/
- https://www.python.org/about/apps/
- https://aws.amazon.com/pt/what-is/java/?trk=faq_card
- https://aws.amazon.com/pt/what-is/javascript/?trk=faq_card
- https://www.typescriptlang.org/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TypeScript
- https://kotlinlang.org/docs/faq.html
- https://kotlinlang.org/docs/multiplatform.html
- https://developer.android.com/kotlin/first?hl=pt-br
- https://kotlinlang.org/docs/android-overview.html
