As technology changes, programming languages continue to change with it. At one point COBOL would have been the most in demand language. Times have changed considerably since then. Several languages have come to the forefront due to their ability to be embedded in different devices. Portability between different types of architecture is more important than ever. That might explain why Java is topping lists again these days.
The Triumphant Return of Platform Independence
When Java first came around, the phrase platform independence was used as something of a buzzword. Everyone was so proud of the fact that they could compile byte code that would then run in an emulator that was independent of the machine running the code. That meant users could run the same program on everything from a desktop computer to a handheld video game console.
In the early days of the technology people went crazy with the idea. Many programmers still use the term toaster to describe any device that should not be used to run code. That is due to the fact that people seriously discussed using Internet connected toasters. Today people are developing software for tablets, electronic reading devices, desktops, laptops, video game consoles, MP3 players mobile units and many other pieces of hardware that are actually designed to run this sort of software. Users want programs that they can use across all their machines, and that is why Java is making a big comeback.
Matsumoto Yukihiro’s Ruby Technology
Developers used to programming apps for mobile technology had the idea that they needed to write similar apps for people who access the Web from desktops and laptops. They are starting to learn that most of the tasks that phone apps do can be accomplished by a regular Internet resource. Bookmarking the page is just as good as installing an app for these users.
Those who have learned this lesson are quickly turning to Ruby technology. Ruby is an example of object-oriented technology that has been taken to an extreme. Everything in Ruby is an object. Libraries are distributed in the form of packages called gems. The open source Ruby on Rails implementation of the language is especially useful for those programming ports of software developed for mobile technology. Developers can set up a page that uses Ruby code to do everything that HTML cannot.
Perl Goes well with UNIX Technology
It might be said that Ruby grew out of Perl technology. If that is true, Ruby’s father is enjoying the same sort of popularity that his daughter is. Perl handles behind the scenes system administrator functions, and that is precisely why it is now in demand by organizations that need people to develop scripts for their UNIX servers. Hosting services need more Perl script authors than ever before.
Assembly is the Shocker
Few people would ever have expected to see ASM on a list like this, but there is a demand for those who know how to write drivers for some embedded microchips. A good deal of embedded software has to be coded at a very low level. Each of these chips has an entirely different instruction set. That is why some companies are looking for developers who know how to write code at a very low level to support this kind of technology.
As technology continues to change, software companies will probably be looking for people who know how to work with more than one language. That means that having a working knowledge of several of these programming languages will be a great asset to resumes. That will aid developers in landing the jobs they need to.
Author Bio: William Stevens is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to technology. In this article, he describes popular programming languages and aims to encourage further study with a computer science masters online.