Being a developer in 2019 isn’t an easy task. With dozens of programming languages and pieces of technology being added to a normal day to day workflow, independently if you’re a front end or a backend developer, the market is extremely fast-paced and competitive.
How can a developer stay up to date and get ready for 2020? Let’s try and dissect which programming languages should be in your arsenal for the upcoming years.
JavaScript
Javascript has become the most popular programming language worldwide, with dozens (if not hundreds) of instances in which the rendering language is used from a development perspective.
Tensorflow.js
With Javascript in mind, the combination of machine learning to a JS-based architecture is pretty much enough to state why Tensorflow should be in your knowledge bag for 2020. Machine learning done within a browser is definitely something extremely competitive in 2019 and it will most likely be applied to a lot of tools in 2020, especially eCommerce-related (given how predominant personalization has been in the past couple of months). Tensorflow operates just like its Python-based version, namely by using data points and variables to automate processes: imagine having a page that automatically reacts to the users’ big data. Pretty big, right?
React And Object-Modeled Languages
If you’re a Javascript developer, chances that you’ve encountered React in your learning sessions are pretty high. Not only React is the most popular Javascript framework at the moment, but it also is very likely to change the entire way front-end is planned given its components-oriented setup. React, being server side-rendering friendly is a very popular programming language within SEO, especially given how low Google’s JS reading is, even if they namely said that their updated Googlebot can perfectly read any JS framework. If you’re a front-end developer, check out React and its components and you’ll be right on target.
Python: for Data Science
Regardless of the fact that you want to become a data scientist or a machine learning engineer, Python in 2020 will most likely become mandatory in every single development segment. For example, some app developers are using Python to automate certain development features with Object C and Swift, which, given the length of these projects, is very helpful. Python for data science is definitely still a thing, but keep in mind its applications for other, “unorthodox” applications. In simpler terms, having Python in your resume, even if you’re applying for a front-end position, is always good and positive.
Java (Kotlin)
The rise and fall of Java in the past couple of years have been astronomically tangible: many, in fact, were the full stack developers saying that it was a dead language and there was literally no point in learning it. Many, on the other hand, also said that Java would have made a comeback if it would have been applied to some form of Android development, and it actually did. In 2018, the rise of Kotlin for android app development expanded the language so much that it actually raised the awareness of this programming language by 20% compared to 2018. If you work with Swift and Object C, Java should be already in your vocabulary but, whether in case this isn’t true, you should look at Kotlin for 2020.
PhP (for WordPress)
PHP, like Java, has been pointed out multiple times for being a “legacy” language, which, of course, moved it towards an “oh ok I don’t need to learn it” status. Given the fact that WordPress is the most used CMS in the business world, in particular for lead generation, learning advanced PHP (to create custom templates, custom fields and more) is kind of mandatory in 2020. As stated by many digital agencies, PhP devs (front and backend-wise) are extremely hard to find and, therefore, this could be a relatively easy target for the developer who quickly wants to change its position. PHP is still relevant, you just need to apply its purposes to a more WordPress-focused market.
To Conclude
Although it’s relatively complicated to state if there’s going to be a predominance of a specific programming language in 2020, it’s definitely easy to understand why these will keep on maintaining their popularity worldwide. Given their potential to intersect with trendy topics like machine learning and AI, if you’re a developer reading this, start learning!
