Achieving success as a website application developer requires you to be multilingual in programming, innovative in exploring new trends, and open-minded about your career path. After all, computer technology is everywhere, embedded in every device we come across in our daily lives.
It’s no secret that some of the most inventive and creative developers are self-taught. However, the majority of today’s businesses still want validation in the form of advanced education specific to your area of career interest. Consider adding to your credentials formal training in those languages and technologies that will add the most value to your future.
Must-Know Languages
Java: Dominating, Versatile & Robust
Java has been in use for almost two decades. Today, approximately 70 percent of all application programming is accomplished through the Java family. It’s a go-to language for experienced web developers and expected by end-users. Based on C++, Java allows developers to write code in one environment and execute across multiple platforms without the need to recompile. It’s one of the easier programming languages to learn and can be used in many different ways because of its versatility. Java not only powers some of the Internet’s most interactive and engaging web site experiences, it’s also at work in your mobile phone, Blu-ray player, GPS system, doctor’s office, and more. Becoming well-versed in Java can lead to a variety of career opportunities that you may not have even considered.
PHP: Free, But Not Always Easy
One reason developers love PHP is because it’s free. It’s also particularly useful for server-side web development, making it ideal for blog sites, user forums, message boards, prototype web sites, and more. PHP simply takes one stream of data, filters it, and outputs another, usually in HTML. If you use platforms like WordPress, Drupal, Joomala, or Magento, you are already coding in PHP. But there is a downside, as many developers soon find out. PHP is hard to maintain, upgrade, and de-bug, requiring manual line-by-line analysis to enter new commands and uncover source errors. It’s also widely susceptible to security vulnerabilities, and should be carefully studied for flaws.
C#: Simple, Modern & Mainstream
One of the most popular advanced languages used in web applications development is C# — referred to as “C-Sharp.” Although primarily used on Windows, C# is platform independent. It is an objected-oriented language, similar in syntax to C++. The main benefit of C# is that it has been designed to take full advantage of the .NET programming environment. Developers find C# to be particularly useful in creating Reconfigurable Execution Framework Testbeds (REFT), loading or storing database information, and scripting user queries. As popular mainstream language, C# should be part of your repertoire, especially if you are already proficient in C++.
Emerging Programming Trends
New languages continue to emerge from all corners of the industry. Some are created by vendors out of the necessity to solve a particular programming problem. Others are designed in IT labs in universities where exploration and discovery are de rigueur.
One of the more mature languages is Python – a dynamic open-source language used to create scripts and objects with far greater flexibility than basic text code. It has been compared to Tcl, Perl, Ruby, Scheme, and Java, but is quicker to code. Python is available for all major operating systems and has the ability to integrate with COM, .NET, and CORBA objects. It’s extremely popular with independent and third-party developers who want to distribute their apps and scripts to the mass market. Companies in virtually every industry – including pharma, film, sports, aviation, manufacturing, and dozens of other sectors – are also experiencing success with Python. It’s truly a language that can take your career just about anywhere.
Want more? Then take a look at Dart (a Google creation), Ceylon (under development at Red Hat), Go (a general purpose language), F# (a product of Microsoft Studios), and Chapel (the brainchild of the legendary Cray super-computer franchise). Languages like Opa, Fantom, Zimbu, X10, and haXe are also coming alive on the web.
Even with so many choices, it still makes sense to focus on those languages that can advance your career in the near term. There is no shortage of learning opportunities available to support your success. All of the most popular website applications development languages have online tutorials, and continuing education programs are more convenient than ever before.
Author Byline: Laura Mingo writes in the field of higher education. This article aims to offer career advice for university students in relation to IT and promotes the benefits of advanced study regarding a BU online degree in computer information systems.