Programming Languages

Programming languages are at the core of the technology and software we use every day. Without knowledgeable programmers versed in a wide variety of programming languages – or the right programming languages – you wouldn’t have Microsoft Office, or even the Windows or Mac OS. You wouldn’t have web browsers, or social media applications, or smartphones.

Programming languages make all of this technology possible to use, and form the core for how we interact with our devices. Careers based on these programming languages are virtually guaranteed to net you a good living and be in high demand as technology becomes an even more integral aspect of every-day life.

Programming Languages Come in Many Flavors

The first thing you need to understand if you’re considering a career in programming or development is that programming languages come in many flavors. All told, there are literally thousands of programming languages for various applications and even specific devices.

Robots and machines used in manufacturing have their own programming languages, and the software that you use on your computer is based on a specific programming language, or a combination of languages. In order to get into a career based on programming languages, you need to make sure you learn the right language for the job.

These are just a few of the popular languages used in programming:

C and C++

C and C++ are general-purpose programming languages. They can be used for system software, like operating systems, but they’re also used in application software, such as Microsoft Office or your web browser.

Java

Much of the Java syntax comes from C and C++, but it’s largely a pared-down version of these popular programming languages. The unique thing about Java is that Java programs can run on any system, regardless of architecture, as long as the systems can run a Java Virtual Machine, which produces the same runtime environment in any system. This means developers don’t have to create a Windows and a Mac version of the software – as long as the Windows and Mac users have operating-system specific Java Runtime Environments on their computers.

Perl

Perl was originally invented specifically for Unix scripting, but has become extremely popular among many programmers. Perl borrows elements from other popular languages, and doesn’t have the restrictions of early Unix tools. Perl is used in many applications, including web implementations that need to access databases or CGI programming.

SQL

SQL stands for Structured Query Language, and it’s a database language that enables you to interact with the data in a database. SQL is extremely popular in web applications that use database access, such as blogging, and is the most widely used programming language for relational databases.

Careers that Require Programming Languages

Applications Programmers

Applications programmers are the computer programmers who write the applications that you use on your computer. Microsoft Office, iTunes, and Mozilla Firefox are examples of the applications that applications programmers create. This is a growing industry as more and more companies are working to get a piece of the application development pie.

System Programmers

System programmers create the tools and software to interact with the system, and the platforms upon which applications run. System programmers create operating systems and their underlying tools, including Windows and Mac OS. System programmers also work with networking tools and protocols, and may need a more broad-based education.

Web Developer

Even web developers benefit by learning programming languages. At the very least, you should learn one or a few server-side languages, such as PHP, Ruby, and SQL. Learning more languages gives you the flexibility to implement appropriate solutions for each individual website.