The ranking of the most popular programming languages worldwide for 2023 has been revealed. Of the top six languages, I can utilize five, and they have contributed greatly to my career. For those of you who are thinking about learning programming, I would like to share how to learn these languages.
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The Latest Programming Languages Ranking in 2023
In the 2023 programming language rankings, Java, the once reigning champion, was finally dethroned, but the top-ranked languages remained largely the same. The top 6 were as follows:
- Python
- C
- C++
- Java
- C#
- Visual Basic .NET
Python still confidently maintained its number one position in 2023 and hasn’t looked back since it took the lead in 2021. The long-dominant C and Java also saw changes, indicating the arrival of a new era of programming languages. Meanwhile, Visual Basic .NET, though long forgotten by many, still holds a position at number 6 in the rankings.
Below, let’s take a look at the evolution of the top 10 rankings from 2002 to 2023. (Insert ranking trend graph here)
Language Details and Learning Approach
As can be seen from the graph, since 2021, Python and C have essentially occupied the top two positions, making these two languages essential for learning programming. In addition, C++, being an extension of C, is also one I consider essential.
Particularly, Python, due to the rise of AI and big data, has rapidly gained popularity since 2018, and from 2022, has firmly occupied the number one spot. From a language perspective, one should master at least one of the basics, object-oriented, or high-level languages.
The languages I believe people who want to seriously learn programming this year should learn are these four. The other languages like C# or Visual Basic .NET can be chosen based on individual needs.
Detailed Introduction of the Top 6 Languages
Python
Python is an interpreted, object-oriented, and feature-rich language.
The design philosophy of Python emphasizes code readability and simplicity in its syntax, aiming to make the structure of the program clear.
Advantages
- Easy and intuitive to write, even for beginners
- Provides powerful capabilities with a rich library
- Compatible with multiple platforms
- Highly extendable
- Applicable to a wide range of uses (machine learning, data analysis, web crawling, etc.)
Disadvantages
- Slow execution speed. As a high-level language, low-end processing cannot be modified by oneself.
- Forced indentation. Four spaces are required for indentation, otherwise it will cause a compile error.
C
C is a very universal language with a long history, and it can be used on all platforms.
C can be compiled in a very simple way, it is fast, uses little memory, and is convenient for hardware operations.
Advantages
- Concise, compact, flexible, and convenient
- Abundant data types
- Allows direct access to physical addresses, making hardware operations possible
- Expressive
- Compatible with multiple platforms
Disadvantages
- Difficult to debug when the program is wrong
- No extensive official library, you need to download others’ or write your own
- Difficult to handle strings
C++
C++ is a widely used computer programming language, the purpose of which is to objectify C.
Programs in C can basically be used directly in C++.
Advantages
- High-performance, multi-purpose
- Fully supports object-oriented programming
- High compatibility and extensibility
Disadvantages
- Complex grammar
- Difficult to debug
Java
Java is a powerful language, and its biggest feature is that it is platform-independent.
Java can be used on various OSs, and you can use the same code on platforms like Mac, Windows, Linux, etc.
Advantages
- Compatible with multiple platforms
- Fully supports object-oriented programming
- High-level security
Disadvantages
- Slow execution speed
C#
C# is a high-level object-oriented language that is derived from C, C++, and is based on the .NET Framework.
This allows developers to advance the development of their projects quickly.
Advantages
- Fully supports object-oriented programming
- Can utilize the powerful library of the .NET Framework
- Rich Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
Disadvantages
- Requires advanced expertise
- Difficult to run on platforms other than Windows (though this problem is gradually improving with the evolution of .NET Core)
Visual Basic .NET
Visual Basic .NET is a language developed by Microsoft and is developed in Visual Studio.
Its characteristics are immediate compilation, easy to learn, and high development efficiency.
Advantages
- Easy to learn
- Abundant user-friendly GUI tools
- Ideal for developing Windows applications
Disadvantages
- Low security
- May have low performance
Conclusion
Each programming language has its own characteristics and application scenarios. Choosing the language to learn based on your own needs and interests is the most important. Through this article, I hope those of you who are thinking about learning programming can find the best direction for learning.