adminPROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
Programming languages serves as a means of communicating with computer hardware or devices and in the process creating a wide range of software and applications.
There are several types of programming languages and they are grouped into the following categories namely; procedural, object oriented, functional, scripting and declarative programming languages.
Procedural programming languages follow a paradigm or model that focuses on procedures of functions that perform specific tasks. Procedural languages include c, c++, java, python etc.
Object oriented programming languages organize codes into objects that contain data and functions that operate on that data. Object oriented languages include java, c++, python, c# etc.
Functional programming languages emphasize the use of pure functions, immutability and recursion. Functional programming language includes. Haskell, Lisp, scala, R etc.
Scripting programming languages are designed for rapid development and execution of small programs or scripts. Scripting languages includes; python, JavaScript, ruby, PHP etc.
Declarative programming languages focus on specifying what the program should accomplish rather than how it should accomplish it. Declarative languages includes; prolog, SQL, HTML etc.
The advantages of programming languages are as follows; programming languages enables developers to write efficient codes thereby reducing development time and increasing productivity. Programming languages provide a way to solve complex problems and automate tasks. Programming languages can be used for a wide range of applications from web development to mobile apps development. Programming languages drive innovation thus enabling developers to create new software, apps and technologies. The knowledge and the proficient use of programming languages can lead to numerous job opportunities in the tech industry.
The disadvantages of programming language are as follows; some programming language can be difficult to learn. Different programming languages have compatibility issues with various operating systems and hardware that needs to be rectified or corrected before they can be of any use. Poorly written code can lead to security vulnerabilities. Programming languages require regular updates and maintenance to ensure they remain relevant and secure.
The application of programming languages pervades the computer industry in the following areas; programming languages like HTML, CSS and JavaScript are used to build websites and web applications. Programming languages like Java, Swift and Kotlin are used to develop mobile apps. Programming languages like python, R and Julia are used for artificial intelligence and machine learning applications. Programming languages like C++, Java, C# and Python are used to develop enterprise software.
The future of programming languages is predicated on the advances and developments of the following technologies; advances in artificial intelligence , machine learning and cloud computing will bring it its wake more efficient and robust programming languages. Low code and no code development platform will enhance the performance and appeal of programming languages. Future Programming languages will prioritize security features and best practices. Programming languages will continue to evolve with new languages emerging and existing ones adapting to changing technology landscape. As technology advances programming language will play a major role in driving innovation and solving complex problems using artificial intelligence, machine learning and other futuristic technologies.
SOURCES:
- Clean code: A handbook of agile software craftsmanship by Robert C. Martin.
- Code complete: A practical handbook of software construction by Steve McConnell.
- The art of computer programming by Donald E. Knuth.
- Introduction to algorithm by Thomas H. Cormen, Charles E. Leiserson, Ronald L. Rivest amd Clifford Stein.
- The pragmatic programmer: your journey to mastery by Andrew Hunt and David Thomas.
NB: there are approximately 700 programming languages the most popular and widely used ones are listed below.
- General purpose languages: python, java, javascript, c++, c# etc.
- Web development languages : HTML/CSS, PHP, Ruby, TypeScript etc.
- Mobile development languages : Kotlin, Swift, Dart etc.
- Data science and machine learning languages : R, Julia, SQL etc.
- Scripting languages : Bash, Perl, Lua etc.
- Functional programming languages: Haskell, Lisp, Scala etc.
- Others: GO,RUST, MATLAB etc.
