Top Programming Languages in High Demand

No matter how advanced Artificial Intelligence or Machine Learning gets, programming languages remain the foundation of a well-rounded software system, interface, automation tool, you name it. We’ve been in this game for over 18 years, and we’ve seen changes and downturns of all sizes, yet still, we’re able to overcome adversity because of the immense level of value that comes from customized IT solutions.

It’s truly been amazing to see the innovation and evolution of software development, tools, and of course programming languages and how we leverage them. Today there are a handful of languages in-demand that developers should think about for their careers in addition to personal projects. To give you an example, for data science - Python, for web development - JavaScript, and for systems programming - Rust.

When you're a company delivering custom IT solutions, your programming languages need to be categorized to meet the needs of each industry you serve. For example, the languages we use to approach a LIMS system implementation in a laboratory are going to be a lot different than how we approach web development. It’s the small details that matter in software development; by 2024, it’s expected that there will be 28.7 million software developers globally. 

How can these upcoming developers prepare themselves for such a competitive landscape? By mastering the basics and those small details.

The Basics of Code

The most basic it can get when it comes to software development is understanding that every line of code, every variable declaration, and every algorithmic choice plays a crucial role in crafting your solution. When we look at programming languages in a broad sense we can categorize them into three distinctions: 

Interpreted languages: Translates code into machine code on the fly which is great for rapid development and prototyping. Some languages include JavaScript, PHP, and Python.

Compiled languages: These tend to be faster and more efficient than interpreted languages, as the code is translated directly into machine code which is great when developing performance-critical applications like a video game or operating system. Some languages include C, C++, and Java.

Scripting languages: Task automation and web development are the bread and butter of these languages. They’re often paired with other programming languages to create more complex applications. Some of these languages include JavaScript, Python, and Perl.

What’s in Demand?

We’re witnessing a massive shift in the way we interact with technology; everything is becoming automated and simplified which has a massive influence over which programming languages are used most. With that said, here is what we’ve organized as some of the most in-demand programming languages right now:

TypeScript/JavaScript

TypeScript and JavaScript stand out as highly sought-after languages in the landscape for many reasons but the key ones to note are:

• Their prevalence in web development.

• Their versatility in everything from front-end and back-end development to the creation of mobile applications.

• It’s ability to help developers identify and rectify errors at an early stage of the development cycle.

C#

Developed by Microsoft, C# is a great language for Windows desktop applications, web development, and video game development. It's in high demand because of its power, ease of learning, and broad industry applications.

PHP

PHP is a server-side scripting language that’s also great for web development due to its simplicity and compatibility with different web servers and databases. It's particularly popular in industries like e-commerce, social media, and any content management systems.

Python 

Python is inevitable in terms of popularity. It’s a versatile, widely used high-level programming language known for its simplicity and readability. It finds applications in scientific computing, data analysis, AI, web development, and more. Its popularity has surged recently, making it especially highly in demand right now among beginners due to its user-friendly syntax and library support. Key benefits today for developers using Python to note:

• Hundreds of libraries and frameworks.

• Widely used in big data, machine learning, and cloud computing.

• A first-choice language for many developers, due to its simplicity.

• High demand for the language = bigger salary

Ruby

Ruby is primarily used in web development. It’s best known for its simplicity and readability and is in high demand across industries that also include e-commerce, social media, and content management systems. Ruby on Rails, a popular web framework, further bolsters its use in web development.

Java

Java is a general-purpose, object-oriented programming language valued for its portability, security, and scalability. It’s extensively used in mobile app development, web applications, and enterprise software across a ton of different industries.

GO

GO is a newer age language that Google created 15 years ago to address some of the problems they were facing while developing their software infrastructure. GO was created to be a programming language that was easier to use but still had the useful characteristics of Java and C++. Knowing GO today is great for system and network planning as well as large-scale distributed systems. It’s also good to use for cloud-native apps.

C/C++

This is great for building a foundation for many other programming languages, which when you’re trying to learn to program can be invaluable. C/C++ is still heavily used in many industries, including gaming, finance, and aerospace which would present some great job opportunities for developers looking for work today. It’s often used for system programming, embedded systems, and high-performance applications.

Building Your Programming Arsenal

When you’re looking at prioritizing which programming language to learn, several key factors should be taken into account:

Type of Application: The kind of application you’re looking to develop is the most critical factor. Your choice of language has to align with the requirements and characteristics of your project.

Complexity of the Application: The complexity of your project plays a big role in influencing what you use. Make sure that what you select is well-suited to handle the intricacy of your application.

Efficiency: Language efficiency is essential, especially for performance-critical applications (Video games, medical imaging systems, transaction processing systems, etc.). Consider whether the language can meet your requirements for speed and resource optimization.

Ease of Learning: The ease of learning the language is obviously super important for beginners. Opt for a language with a beginner-friendly syntax if you're just starting.

Availability of Resources: While valuable, the availability of resources like documentation and community support is a secondary consideration. It should support your choice of language rather than dictate it.

The Takeaway

There’s a lot that goes into even the most basic principles of programming. That’s why when your company is looking for someone to take on an important project - you need a team of experienced professionals who can guide you to success.

ISU Corp specializes in project takeovers and software outsourcing - we’d love to match your problems with our solutions. But for developers on the come up in the market, the best thing you can do is be as versatile as possible, because that’s what companies need to thrive.

Written By Ben Brown

—

ISU Corp is an award-winning software development company, with over 17 years of experience in multiple industries, providing cost-effective custom software development, technology management, and IT outsourcing.

Our unique owners’ mindset reduces development costs and fast-tracks timelines. We help craft the specifications of your project based on your company's needs, to produce the best ROI. Find out why startups, all the way to Fortune 500 companies like General Electric, Heinz, and many others have trusted us with their projects. Contact us here.

The Importance of ESG in Software Development

ESG is a massive movement in the global market that’s forcing businesses to adjust their approach to sustainability and corporate practices. ESG (environmental, social, and governance) practices are measured in scores that are beginning to dictate whether people invest in the company or not. 

The scores generally go from 0-100; anything below 50 is bad and will impact the company's reputation, bottom line, and long-term potential. Anything above 70 is great and consumers will look at the company as though supporting them is supporting the good of people and the planet.  

This recent commercial from Apple will give you a good idea of how that looks:

When it comes to software and technology, companies are under a ton of pressure to minimize their carbon footprint, reduce energy consumption, and implement eco-friendly practices throughout the software development lifecycle. 

The “S” or the social component is measured based on the work environment (diversity and inclusivity). This is going to be crucial for attracting and retaining talent. 

And lastly, when it comes to the governance of technology - the focus is on using data ethically and being transparent when making decisions. Data privacy is a focal point, especially now with six million data records being exposed in the first quarter of 2023.

Finding Your Solution

Sustainable IT isn’t an easy or replicable task but it’s absolutely necessary for companies to prioritize as we go forward with heightened environmental and ethical awareness. Custom software is a massive influence in this sense as it’s the focus of sustainable technology and can completely change the image of a company looking to improve its ESG.

These are some ways custom software enhances this process:

ESG practices for custom software development are like an umbrella that encompasses the process of tracking, managing, improving, and repeat. Microsoft is one of the best examples of this, and they check each box adequately:

Environmental sustainability: Microsoft wants to become carbon-negative by 2030 and to remove all the carbon it has emitted since it was founded by 2050. The company also invested in renewable energy and has implemented sustainable practices in its offices and data centers.

Social responsibility: Microsoft has implemented a handful of social responsibility initiatives, like giving $3.2 billion in donated and discounted technology to over 300,000 nonprofits serving over 1.2 billion people globally.

Governance practices: In the ESG report from Microsoft, they talk about prioritizing transparency, accountability, and ethical decision-making (As you would hope). In addition, the company has also set goals to improve its cybersecurity and data privacy practices. 

Managing and tracking this entire process in addition to the logistics aspect of technical adjustments are made possible through custom software. KPI monitoring, automating workflows, IoT tracking of energy usage, scalable metrics, and accessible data storage systems, all fall under the IT umbrella. 

Not Investing in Technology 

One way or another, the market is headed in this direction - companies who don’t pivot can expect the following: 

Missed Opportunities: Stakeholders are looking at ESG as a benchmark of a company's longevity. Without it, companies are going to struggle to attract environmentally and socially conscious customers as well as investors.

Increased Risk: Without adequate technology investments in data security and privacy, companies run the risk of data breaches and cyberattacks. These incidents can not only damage the company's reputation but also lead to financial losses and legal liabilities.

Competition: Imagine your competitor not investing in ESG practices, but you do. Would you say you have a leg up when it comes to marketability? If your answer is yes - why are you still in the reversed role?

ESG Going Forward

The futures for both ESG and technology are promising, and their relevance in the marketplace is only expected to grow. How will the two merge? Will AI embody quality assurance managers for companies' ESG practices? How will your company leverage each component?

Most companies don’t know where to begin, which is why we created this free tool to get you started on the right foot. While it won’t create an ESG plan for you, it can help you make informed decisions and navigate the dynamic landscape of sustainability and technology.

Written By Ben Brown

—

ISU Corp is an award-winning software development company, with over 17 years of experience in multiple industries, providing cost-effective custom software development, technology management, and IT outsourcing.

Our unique owners’ mindset reduces development costs and fast-tracks timelines. We help craft the specifications of your project based on your company's needs, to produce the best ROI. Find out why startups, all the way to Fortune 500 companies like General Electric, Heinz, and many others have trusted us with their projects. Contact us here.

Meet GitHub Copilot - The AI That Codes For You

2 years ago, GitHub announced they were teaming up with OpenAI - where they showed a technical preview of what they call “GitHub Copilot”. GitHub Copilot exceeded 1 million users in just 6 months and it’s popularity is no accident. 

GitHub Copilot is an extension for Visual Studio that takes the code you’re writing and gives you suggestions to complete lines or even entire functions that change while you write. The tool expedites finding alternative problem-solving approaches, writing tests, and delving into new APIs, all without having to search the internet or Stack Overflow. It will also adapt to your coding style, which is going to make your workflows perform much more efficiently.

Since it was created with OpenAI, GitHub Copilot relies on OpenAI Codex. Codex has extensive knowledge of coding practices and is great for code generation, primarily because of its training on a dataset rich in public source code. While Copilot is compatible with an array of frameworks and programming languages, it really shines when working with JavaScript, Python, Ruby, TypeScript, and Go.

Let’s look at an example:

As you can see in the video, writing code looks a lot faster with Copilot and not once did he have to look on Stack Overflow or GitHub to find solutions or code snippets. Some are even saying that the tool speeds up the coding process by 55% and handles 40% of writing the actual code.

So we have to ask then; Is this a revolution that will condense the scope of work for developers? Or at this moment, is it too good to be true?

What’s The Word Among Developers?

Even with how advanced GitHub Copilot is, developers seem to have mixed opinions on its implications and usefulness. Some of the main concerns about Copilot stem from security and copyright. Specifically, whether or not the system has access to the codes on GitHub, API keys, passwords, etc. This has actually landed Microsoft and OpenAI in some hot water - in the form of a lawsuit from developers who claimed that the system violated copyright laws.

Another key concern is that the quality of code the tool suggests for users is inaccurate, or not relevant to what the programmer is trying to accomplish. 

These are the two main pain points, but from a technical perspective, they don’t seem like anything that can’t be addressed and improved over time.

With that said, the main draws for developers obviously stem from the speed and precision with which Copilot can complete code. What’s more interesting though is that Copilot can keep the project's code consistent - for developers, this is huge because it means an easier debugging and maintenance process.

The other big attraction is how it aids in working with new frameworks and libraries that developers may not be completely familiar with. Often when developers are working in an unfamiliar environment, they’ll run into issues with the architecture, the codebase, what the business needs, and sometimes legacy code, all of which is very tedious work for developers. For this reason, Copilot is a great resource since it can synthesize code to fit the needs of the project.

Who Are GitHub Copilot’s Top Competitors?

Considering that the tool is still new and that it has strides to make before it reaches its maximum potential, it’s quite remarkable what it’s been able to accomplish. This “Copilot” movement with AI suggests a new future for software development, which we’ve always known was going to change dramatically as soon as mainstream AI tools caught momentum. The great thing about having tools is having options, and when we’re writing code in the 21st century we have tons of options.

Here are some code completion tools that are similar to GitHub Copilot: 

1. Tabnine: This is a top competitor for Copilot, and it also uses machine learning to complete code and offer suggestions. It too integrates with Visual Studio and other various IDEs and code editors like IntelliJ IDEA or PyCharm.

2. Codeium: Codeium supports multiple programming languages and can be used with editors like Visual Studio, Atom, and Sublime Text.

3. CodeGeex AI: CodeGeex AI is an AI-powered code completion tool that uses machine learning to suggest code completions. It too supports various programming languages and can be used with Visual Studio, Atom, and Sublime Text.

4. Code Whisperer: Code Whisperer is the same as the last two, it suggests code completions and also works with Visual Studio, Atom, and Sublime Text.

5. ChatGPT: ChatGPT is what we’re all likely most familiar with. It’s an AI chatbot that can help developers write code. It will suggest code completions and can also be used with Visual Studio, Atom, and Sublime Text.

6. Ask Codi: Ask Codi is another chatbot that can help developers write code. It performs the same functions as the rest and integrates with Visual Studio, Atom, and Sublime Text.

7. Google Bard: Google Bard is an AI chatbot that… You guessed it! Writes code for developers. It will also work with Visual Studio, Atom, and Sublime Text.

This list could go on seemingly forever and they’d all pretty much have the same descriptions. The point is that in a growing pool of so much competition, what is it that will give GitHub Copilot the upper hand?

Immediately what sticks out is it’s partners; GitHub, Microsoft, and OpenAI - the biggest names in artificial intelligence and software development. This inevitably raises the bar right away for GitHub Copilot. To meet the expectations of the market, Copilot is going to have to leverage being trained on the code from GitHub so it can generate original code more easily. It should also finalize, and effectively implement the experimental features such as Copilot Labs, Copilot Chat, and Copilot Voice. 

The Takeaway

The average computer science degree is around $20,000/year. Chat GPT is free along with most other AI tools. The highest you’ll get with code completion tools is about $20 per month, you see the pattern here?

More people can learn to code and do it a lot easier, perhaps even at scale, than ever before. Tools like GitHub copilot aren’t just “Shortcuts” - every developer should absolutely familiarize themselves with these tools and leverage them as much as they can before they are replaced by someone who’s already beat them to it. 

Written By Ben Brown

—

ISU Corp is an award-winning software development company, with over 17 years of experience in multiple industries, providing cost-effective custom software development, technology management, and IT outsourcing.

Our unique owners’ mindset reduces development costs and fast-tracks timelines. We help craft the specifications of your project based on your company's needs, to produce the best ROI. Find out why startups, all the way to Fortune 500 companies like General Electric, Heinz, and many others have trusted us with their projects. Contact us here.