New to Backend Development and feeling lost? This blog is the ultimate guide to choosing your first programming language—perfect for beginners ready to kickstart their coding journey!
Starting on a new journey can be perplexing. With access to so much information over the internet, it can often be overwhelming, confusing and even frustrating, especially when it's as vast as Backend Development. But worry not, in this blog we will together discover the best programming language for you. Let’s dive right in!
So, according to Stackoverflow Survey 2023 (add hyperlink here), these are the most used programming languages for Backend Development by working professionals-
Java
Javascript
Typescript
SQL
Python
Assuming that you want to enter into the job market (or build a personal passion project!) we will together evaluate the pros and cons of each programming language, while also learning about the ideal situation for using the language in this blog.
Java
Java is a versatile language and its programs can be run on almost any computer. It is a bit more challenging than its counterparts, but it’s incredibly powerful. It’s used in many large companies for building complex applications.
Pros:
Highly Efficient: Java is great for building large and complex applications that need to run quickly and smoothly.
Cross-Platform: Java programs can run on almost any computer, which makes it versatile.
Structured: Java teaches you good programming practices, which can be helpful as you grow as a developer.
Cons:
Steeper Learning Curve: Java’s syntax is more complex, so it might take longer to learn compared to other programming languages like Python.
More Code: You often have to write more code to do the same thing you might do in another language.
Java has been used for building the websites of popular companies like Samsung, Apple, Microsoft, Wikipedia, and many more. The degree of customisation and control that Java offers is incredible. If similar to these companies, you are interested in building large scale applications, want to develop Android Apps or are planning a career in enterprise- level development, Java is the perfect choice to go for.
However, if you are new to programming and starting from scratch, it is recommended that you save it for later in your learning journey due its complexity and verbosity.
JavaScript
So for the newcomers to programming, a probable question might arise- Isn’t Java and JavaScript the same? The truth is that Java and JavaScript are two very different languages, with different codes, frameworks and purposes. JavaScript is a beginner friendly language and can be used to design interactive and attractive websites, contrary to Java that is complex and is used for heavy duty complex applications.
Pros:
One Language for Everything: You can use JavaScript for both the frontend and backend, so you don’t have to learn something entirely new.
Huge Community and Lots of Resources: With so many people using JavaScript, there are plenty of tutorials and tools to help you learn.
Great for Real-Time Applications: It’s awesome for things like chat apps or games where you need to handle lots of things happening at once.
Cons:
It Can Get Complicated: Your code can get tricky to manage as you build more complex apps since it handles many things at once in these cases.
JavaScript is used by Facebook, Google, eBay, etc. to create their websites. If you are a complete beginner to programming and want to stick with one language for the whole web development process or work on apps that need to be super responsive, JavaScript is a good option to start your Backend Development learning.
Typescript
TypeScript is like a supercharged version of JavaScript. It adds something called "static typing" to JavaScript, which can help you catch errors before you even run your code. If you have covered JavaScript but want something that can help you write more reliable and scalable code, TypeScript might be the way to go.
Why You Might Like It:
Enhanced JavaScript: TypeScript is essentially JavaScript with extra features, so if you know JavaScript, you’ll pick it up quickly.
Type Safety: TypeScript helps you avoid many common errors by making sure your variables are used correctly, which can save you a lot of debugging time.
Great for Large Projects: TypeScript makes it easier to manage and understand large codebases, which is especially helpful as your project grows.
Things to Keep in Mind:
Learning Curve: While TypeScript is based on JavaScript, getting used to its type system can take some time, especially since you are new to programming.
Extra Setup: You’ll need to set up a TypeScript compiler to convert your TypeScript code into regular JavaScript that can run in the browser or on a server.
Typescript is a great language to learn in the initial stages of your backend development journey. However, make sure that you become comfortable coding in JavaScript first since TypeScript builds upon Javascript and adds more features to it.
SQL
SQL, or Structured Query Language, is the standard language used to interact with databases. If you're building a backend application that needs to store and retrieve data—like user accounts, posts or product information—SQL is the language you'll use to communicate with your database. It is a simple, easy to use and learn language which is also very versatile in terms of building a career. Analysts, Engineer and Developers use it alike.
Pros:
Essential for Databases: SQL is the go-to language for managing and querying databases, which is a core part of most backend applications.
Easy to Learn: SQL has a simple syntax that’s easy to understand, even if you’re new to programming.
Powerful Queries: With SQL, you can perform complex searches, updates, and data manipulations with just a few lines of code.
Cons:
Not a Full Programming Language: SQL is great for working with databases but it’s not a general-purpose programming language, so you’ll use it alongside another language (like Python or JavaScript) in your backend.
Different Dialects: SQL has different versions (or “dialects”) like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server, each with slight variations, so you might need to learn the specifics depending on the database you use.
If you are building an application that needs to store and manage data, learning SQL is a must. It’s especially useful for anyone building websites, apps, or systems that rely on databases to function.
Python
Python is known for being one of the easiest programming languages to learn. Its simplicity makes it a great choice for any beginner. Python has powerful frameworks and a vast ecosystem of libraries, allowing the developer to build robust and scalable web applications efficiently.
Pros:
Simple and Readable Code: Python’s code is easy to read and write, which is great when you’re learning.
Tons of Libraries: Python has tools (called libraries) for almost anything you want to do, which can save you a lot of time.
Supportive Community: There’s a huge community around Python, so it’s easy to find help when you get stuck.
Cons:
Not the Fastest: Python isn’t as fast as some other languages like JavaScript, which might matter if you’re building something really big.
Web Apps Only: Python is great for web apps, but if you want to build mobile apps, you might need to learn another language later on.
If you’re new to programming or want to build web applications quickly and easily, then Python is the easiest and fastest to learn and start building.
Conclusion
We assessed the pros, cons and uses of the five most used programming languages in the professional setting. Each one of them has their own unique features and is great for a unique set of purposes. To summarise the above, you can refer to the below table and pick a good starting point to your Backend Development journey.
