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Learning a programming language is not hard. In fact, if you’re experienced, you can learn the basics in under 24 hours. So if you’re in the market for a new lingua franca, such as to bolster your hirability, what you choose next might be influenced by your current language of choice.
Here are the languages I suggest you consider learning if you don’t already know them, based on the languages you already know.
If you know Java, choose from these languages
If you know Java, you’re not one of the cool kids any more. Although it is fair to say that most business software is written in Java, the days of paying a premium for a Java developer are long over. So, if you’re a Java developer what’s your next step? One or more of the following languages.
Scala
Scala is like functional Java—if functional Java’s syntax wasn’t kinda cracked. Functional purists aren’t big fans of Scala, but the trek from Java to Scala is short. Moreover, with AI and machine learning becoming the hot topics of the day and Apache Spark being written in Scala, this is kind of an obvious choice.
JavaScript
If you’re a Java developer, statistically you’re probably older than 35—unless you work for a large outsourcing firm. Your last taste of JavaScript was probably that cruddy Netscape thing that they shoved in the browser to make “DHTML” and slapped the word “Java” on because Java was popular (a shortsighted branding decision!).
But JavaScript has changed, and so has server-side software. You already know Java, so you should learn functional constructs. JavaScript has become a server-side and client-side language and is used nearly anywhere you need a “quick fix” scripting language. It’s a good thing to have in your toolkit.
C
If you never learned C, this classic language is back on the rise. Moreover, even if you don’t use it (to, say, program Arduino devices), it will help you understand how Java works and how to debug the big issues when they go wrong, like concurrency issues and race conditions.
If you know C#, choose from these languages
If you know C# then you’re a ’Softie. But while you were worshiping at the Microsoft house that was built by Gates,...