When it comes to programming languages, new developers are spoilt for choice. Numerous languages exist, each with unique benefits that can help create almost anything imaginable.
Among these, Python stands out as a market leader. As of 2020, there were more than 8.2 million Python developers worldwide. Since then, this number has only increased as the language has been used in the programming of AI and machine learning—which it is uniquely suited for.
However, the other web languages still exist and are used in many different areas and applications. In the following text, we’ll examine each language’s strengths and weaknesses and compare them to the current reigning king.
Python
Python, Guido van Rossum’s brainchild, first appeared in February 1991. The language is high-level and general-purpose, and one of its signature characteristics is large indentation. It also strongly emphasises readability and attempts to make the code simple to understand regardless of who is reading it.
As a result, it is one of the most user-friendly programming languages among beginners and is even taught in some schools as part of technological education. It is also one of the languages with the most online tutorials and is often used by companies starting to develop a web presence.
One of Python’s other defining factors is its extensive library. It also supports multiple fantastic frameworks (like Django) that can help build code more efficiently. This library and framework support have made Python a popular language in web development and various other sectors. Chief among these is AI, with the code easily adapted to work alongside the new tech.
Unlike some significant drawbacks found with other languages, Python only has a few rather minor shortcomings. Among the main ones is that the execution speed of packages is somewhat slower than that of other compiled languages. For this reason, it is often overlooked in areas such as mobile development or where executable speed is paramount.
JavaScript
JavaScript is another common and popular programming language. Often abbreviated JS, the language first appeared in 1995 and is an event-driven, functional, and multi-paradigm language that operates as a JIT (just-in-time) compiler.
The language is so popular today that approximately 99% of websites use some form of JavaScript to help dictate webpage behaviour and ensure things display as intended. Despite this massive reach, it is not the core language for many sites and works as a supplement to other languages such as HTML and CSS.
Like Python, JS also benefits from extensive libraries and frameworks (like Node.js) that make the language indispensable for adding web interactivity. Another advantage to the language is that it is natively supported by almost every web browser and can help create dynamic sites that catch visitors’ attention.
The one downside to using this impressive language is security. Because it is client-facing, JS is open to attacks and hackers seeking to exploit even the slightest vulnerability.
Such risks cannot be taken by e-commerce or online casino sites with extensive user information databases. As a result, many companies spend excessively on penetration testers who have tested hundreds of slot websites to find vulnerabilities.
PHP
PHP has become one of the most well-known web languages in the world. Its popularity is primarily due to the CMS client WordPress, which is based on PHP and runs over 43% of websites.
Aside from WordPress making PHP incredibly accessible to the masses, including those with zero web development experience, PHP is also known for being user-friendly. The language is relatively easy to learn compared to others and integrates seamlessly with HTML and databases housed on servers.
This integration and ease of use do come at a slight cost. During back-end development, PHP can be slower than alternative languages. The coding language also has some distinct inconsistencies that are well-known among community members.
These inconsistencies have failed to bring PHP users together to finalise a way forward and have created a divided community. This, in turn, has somewhat stunted the language, although not noticeably enough for the average user to be concerned about.
Ruby
Ruby is a robust, object-oriented, high-level language that is easy to learn and versatile. Due to its syntax, it has often been compared to Perl, C++, and even Python in terms of coding.
Offering dynamic typing, the language focuses on readability and maintenance, making minor changes to existing code easy. This focus is supported by an extensive library and a large community helping develop the language further.
The language is also known for its speed in coding and deployment, making it a popular choice for prototype development and rapid deployment of changes. However, while it is fast to code and deploy, it is still slightly slower than languages such as C++.
Another slight downside to this language is that it is less secure than statically typed alternatives because of its use of dynamic typing. It also has somewhat inconsistent error-handling protocols, which could lead to extensive time being spent on debugging complex applications.
Conclusion
While each of the languages mentioned above has unique aspects that make it better suited for specific web development projects, other aspects occasionally fall short. Among them, however, Python has stood out globally for its ability to adapt to multiple uses and instances.
Unsurprisingly, the language has been listed at the top of the ten best programming languages for multiple months running on the TIOBE Index. With continuous advancement in AI and the integration of Python in this sector, there is little doubt this language will continue to gain popularity and be at the top of the charts for the foreseeable future.
