Programming Languages to Know in 2025
In the ever-evolving world of technology, programming continues to be one of the most in-demand and valued skills. With a multitude of programming languages available- each with its own features and applications – it can be difficult to decide which one to learn or use for a specific project. Whether you’re a beginner looking to take your first steps into the world of code, a professional seeking to update your skills, or a company aiming to choose the right technology for its products, knowing the top programming languages is essential.
Technology is evolving rapidly, influenced by trends such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and the growing focus on security and efficiency. Programming languages are no exception and are evolving to meet these modern demands. Languages like Rust and Zig are gaining popularity precisely because of their emphasis on safety and performance control, while others like Go and Python continue to stand out for their efficiency and flexibility in the modern software landscape. This ongoing evolution requires developers to stay constantly up to date in order to make the most of new technologies.
In this article, we’ll explore the most popular and useful programming languages. We’ll analyze their key features, advantages, possible applications, and the reasons they’re considered among the best. We’ll also provide guidance on which languages may be best suited for different needs – whether you’re working in web development, artificial intelligence, big data, or other emerging areas of technology.
Get ready to discover the languages shaping the future of programming and understand how they can help you achieve your technological and professional goals.
C++: From System Programming to General Purpose
Introduction to the Language
Let’s start with a true classic. C++ was born as an extension of C, but over the years it has developed its own identity and widespread adoption. This language, developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979, gives developers full control over program memory and direct access to operating system primitives thanks to its C heritage.
Key Features
Unlike languages such as Python or Go, which prioritize developer productivity at the expense of performance and memory control, C++ maintains an approach focused on maximizing performance. This makes it particularly suitable for a range of applications where efficiency is crucial.
It is widely used for the development of embedded systems, especially those with a user interface built with Qt, one of the most well-known graphical libraries. It is also used to write libraries that require direct interaction with hardware.
Another important reason to choose C++ is the need to maintain and further develop existing projects already written in this language. Its ability to extract maximum performance from available hardware also makes it the preferred choice for embedded applications and for creating high-performance WebAssembly libraries used in Rich Web Applications.
Most Common Use Cases
- Embedded Systems Development: C++ is one of the most widely used languages for developing embedded systems, where direct hardware control and optimal efficiency are essential.
- Video Games and 3D Graphics: C++ is used in the development of game engines like Unreal Engine, where speed and optimal resource management are critical for high performance.
- Applications with Qt Library: For creating complex graphical interfaces, C++ is a natural choice. The Qt library is one of the most used for developing cross-platform desktop applications.
- Simulations and Financial Software: Applications requiring complex calculations and high performance, such as physical simulation software, financial tools, or high-frequency trading systems, rely on C++ to get the most out of available hardware.
- Operating System Components: C++ is still used to write operating system components and other software that require full control over system resources, offering the ideal balance between performance and control.
Main Advantages
- Embedded Applications: Provides maximum performance compared to other languages.
- Qt Applications: The preferred language for developing with the Qt library.
- WebAssembly Libraries: Facilitates the creation of high-performance libraries for rich web applications.
Conclusion
C++ remains a solid and powerful choice for developers who need precise control and high performance in their applications.
For further insights, read more on our blog:
Three Ways to Avoid Arrays in Modern C++
Go: Efficiency and Productivity for Modern Software
Introduction to the Language
Go, also known as Golang, is an open-source programming language created by Google in 2009. Designed to simplify the development of modern, maintainable, and cross-platform code, Go stands out for its ability to combine concurrency, safety, and efficiency.
Key Features
One of Go’s standout qualities is its simplicity, which allows developers to achieve high productivity in a short amount of time. Its rich collection of libraries enables the rapid creation of functional prototypes, leveraging modern technologies and integrating easily with existing software.
The Go ecosystem includes numerous open-source development tools that simplify debugging, execution tracing, CPU and memory profiling, and much more. The ease with which tests can be written and code coverage evaluated contributes to the development of high-quality software.
Go’s concurrency model takes full advantage of modern multicore architectures, making it possible to build high-performance, scalable applications. Thanks to these features, Go is an ideal choice for companies looking to adopt a language that boosts productivity without compromising performance.
Most Common Use Cases
- Backend Services and Microservices: Go is particularly popular in the development of scalable backend services and microservices. Companies like Uber, Netflix, and Docker use it for its efficient handling of parallelism and concurrency..
- Cloud Computing and DevOps: Go is often used in cloud computing and DevOps tools – such as Kubernetes and Terraform – due to its performance and ease of deployment.
- Networking and Scalable Applications: Go is ideal for network-intensive applications and others that require a high degree of concurrency, fully leveraging modern multicore architectures.
- System Tools: Go’s simplicity and fast compilation make it a good choice for building command-line interfaces (CLIs) and other system tools, while maintaining ease of maintenance and a low learning curve.
Main Advantages
- Productivity: Go is fast and easy to learn. The availability of many libraries and clear documentation makes the development process more efficient.
- Performance: A program written in Go can achieve performance comparable to that of a C++ program, making it suitable even for embedded applications.
- Cross-Platform: Go supports Linux, Windows, and macOS, as well as many architectures such as ARM. Cross-platform compilation is straightforward and doesn’t require installing complex toolchains.
Conclusion
Go is an excellent choice for modern software development thanks to its combination of efficiency, productivity, and ease of use. Companies that adopt Go can expect a significant boost in developer productivity and the ability to build high-performance, scalable applications.
For further insights, read more on our blog:
Concurrency in Go
Go’s Race Detector
Go pain points on embedded systems
Monitoring of a Go Application
Rust: Safety and Reliability for Complex Systems
Introduction to the Language
Rust is a programming language that enables the creation of complex, highly secure, and reliable systems. Its key distinguishing feature is the ability to prevent concurrency issues and use-after-free errors at compile time – problems that are common in other languages, especially C and C++. Developed by Mozilla Research, Rust stands out for its strong focus on safety and reliability. Although it is still a niche language not yet widely adopted in the industrial world, it offers significant advantages over more commonly used languages.
Rust is supported by a suite of tools that simplify programming, improve productivity, and reduce the time required to manage infrastructure. Its philosophy, “Make impossible states impossible,” helps detect and fix a wide range of bugs at compile time. The Rust compiler is very user-friendly, contextualizing errors and effectively providing a first code review. Additionally, Clippy – an advanced linter – helps identify opportunities to write more idiomatic code and improve overall code quality. This makes Rust accessible even to developers with little prior experience in the language.
Key Features
Differences from C and C++
While Rust draws inspiration from the C and C++ family in terms of syntax, it borrows from more modern languages a range of tools that aid programming tasks—such as the build tool cargo, the aforementioned linter Clippy, and the code formatter rustfmt. Unlike C and C++, Rust is an “opinionated” language that removes many configuration decisions, allowing developers to focus on solving problems rather than on infrastructure. Moreover, Rust integrates easily with C code, making the transition smoother.
Differences from Go
Both Go and Rust are designed to help developers write safe code, but they differ in how memory is managed. Rust provides full control over memory management, allowing developers to clearly see when data is deallocated. This behavior is known at compile time, making Rust more predictable. Go, on the other hand, uses a garbage collector that releases allocated memory as needed—less predictable but optimized for performance.
Another major difference is compiler speed: without specific optimizations, the Go compiler can be 4 to 5 times faster than the Rust compiler.
Most Common Use Cases
- Low-Level Systems Development: Rust is ideal for writing system-level software such as kernels, drivers, and other applications that require direct hardware access and high performance without compromising safety.
- High-Reliability Software: Thanks to its safe memory management and its ability to eliminate many bugs at compile time, Rust is used in mission-critical systems where reliability is essential, such as fintech and cybersecurity.
- WebAssembly Applications: Rust is gaining traction in the WebAssembly world for building high-performance Rich Web Applications, supported by many official development tools.
- Embedded Systems: Like C++, Rust is suitable for embedded systems development but provides greater safety to avoid memory-related bugs, which are often critical in resource-constrained environments.
Main Advantages
- Performance: Rust is fast and memory-efficient, making it ideal for high-performance applications.
- Productivity: Thanks to its modern toolset, Rust simplifies the management of main development workflows.
- Safety: Rust eliminates many bugs at compile time, significantly improving code safety.
Conclusion
Rust is an excellent choice for companies looking to develop secure and reliable software. Its ability to detect bugs during compilation, combined with efficient memory management and advanced development tools, makes it a powerful language for tackling the challenges of modern software. That said, the learning curve is not among the fastest.
Python: The Power of Simple and Flexible Code
Introduction to the Language
Python is a high-level, open-source programming language first released in 1991. Originally designed as a scripting and integration language, Python has regained widespread popularity in recent years, especially due to its central role in artificial intelligence applications.
Key Features
Python is well known for its simplicity and ease of use, qualities that make it immediately understandable. Guido van Rossum, its creator, designed Python with clean and concise syntax, characterized by clear, unambiguous constructs. This simplicity not only facilitates learning for new developers but also contributes to greater productivity.
Most Common Use Cases
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: Python is by far the most popular language for AI and machine learning projects, thanks to libraries such as TensorFlow, Keras, and PyTorch.
- Data Science and Data Analysis: Python’s simplicity makes it ideal for analyzing large datasets using tools like Pandas and NumPy, along with visualization libraries like Matplotlib and Seaborn.
- Automation and Scripting: Python is frequently used for automation, scripting, and infrastructure management, simplifying repetitive tasks thanks to its intuitive syntax.
- Web Development: Frameworks like Django and Flask make Python a popular choice for web application development, offering many ready-to-use components.
- Rapid Prototyping: Python’s simplicity and flexibility make it an excellent tool for prototyping new applications and features quickly.
Main Advantages
- Speed: Developing software in Python can reduce deployment time compared to languages like Java and C++. With the help of rich libraries such as the Django framework, Python enables faster time-to-market, allowing companies to quickly respond to business needs.
- Flexibility: Python integrates easily with C and C++ libraries, further shortening development time. This flexibility makes Python suitable for a wide range of applications – from data analysis to artificial intelligence.
- Cost Reduction: Thanks to its vast ecosystem of libraries, Python is well suited for any application domain. Its portability across all major operating systems eliminates the need for licensing fees, significantly reducing development and maintenance costs.
Conclusion
Python is an excellent choice for companies looking to develop software quickly and efficiently. Its combination of simplicity, flexibility, and power makes it a versatile language, able to adapt to many development scenarios and meet the demands of an ever-evolving market.
To learn more, read the articles on our blog:
Extended retry and traceback strategies with Python
Data-driven testing with Python
Zig: the Newcomer Beyond C
Introduction to the Language
Zig is a next-generation programming language designed as a pragmatic alternative to C. It retains high performance while introducing tools and features that simplify development. Created by Andrew Kelley and first released in 2016, Zig aims to deliver C-like performance with a modern design and built-in tooling that reduces development complexity. However, it’s worth noting that Zig is not yet stable, meaning you may need to rewrite parts of your code when switching between versions—and there is currently no official date for the first stable release.
Key Features
Zig is known for its simplicity and direct control over hardware resources, similar to C and C++, but with an approach that minimizes the risk of common errors. It offers manual memory management without the overhead of a garbage collector, enabling more predictable performance control. Zig also includes integrated tooling, such as a build system and package management. For this reason, some C projects have adopted Zig as a cross-platform build system over other solutions.
Although Zig is still relatively young compared to the other languages mentioned above, it is gaining traction in embedded systems and critical infrastructure projects. It is already used in some open source projects to build more efficient compilers and high-performance libraries with low latency. Zig’s ability to support cross-compiling without complex toolchains makes it a valuable option for developers working on multiplatform projects.
Common Use Cases
- System Software Development: Zig excels at building low-level software components such as libraries, compilers, and embedded systems, thanks to its ability to interact directly with hardware.
- Embedded and IoT Applications: Its high performance and fine-grained memory control make it ideal for resource-constrained devices commonly used in IoT environments.
- Game Engines and Critical Systems: Zig is suited for use cases requiring efficiency and precise resource control, such as game engines or infrastructure-critical software.
Main Advantages
- Efficiency: Zig delivers performance on par with C, maintaining low overhead and efficient use of hardware resources.
- Simplicity: Compared to more complex languages, Zig maintains a minimalist design, making it easier to learn for developers with a C or C++ background.
- Integrated Tooling: Zig includes powerful development tools out of the box, such as a build system and cross-compilation support, reducing the need for complex setup.
- Improved Safety: While not as safety-focused as Rust, Zig does offer features that help prevent common errors like buffer overflows, enhancing code robustness.
Conclusion
Zig is a strong candidate for companies seeking high performance and low-level control, while maintaining cleaner code than pure C. Thanks to its built-in tooling and simplicity, Zig is especially well-suited for system software, embedded devices, and other applications that demand a balance of performance, safety, and developer productivity.
JavaScript e TypeScript: The Pillar of Modern Web Development
Introduction to the Language
Although it is not a “new” technology in the strict sense, JavaScript continues to evolve and remains ubiquitous in both web and mobile development. It is a versatile and dynamic programming language originally created to build interactive web pages.
Main Features
JavaScript is one of the pillars of web development, alongside HTML and CSS. It enables developers to build what are now fully-fledged applications—think of Google Docs, Office 365, Microsoft Teams, or the collaboration software Slack. Thanks to technologies like Node.js, JavaScript has extended its reach beyond the browser, allowing for server-side development as well as software development for mobile and desktop platforms.
TypeScript is a typed superset of JavaScript, developed by Microsoft and released under the Apache 2.0 license. It is gaining popularity for large-scale projects, mainly due to the addition of static typing and object-oriented programming features. TypeScript is 100% compatible with JavaScript code, allowing developers to leverage the entire existing ecosystem of tools and libraries.
These features make JavaScript and TypeScript the preferred choice for building complex applications, especially in enterprise environments.
Most Common Use Cases
- Frontend development: JavaScript is essential for creating dynamic and interactive user interfaces, alongside libraries and frameworks like React, Angular, and Vue.js.
- Backend development with Node.js: JavaScript can be used to develop servers and server-side applications, making it a full-stack language.
- Mobile applications: Frameworks like React Native and Ionic allow developers to build cross-platform mobile applications using JavaScript.
- Desktop development: Electron is a framework that enables the creation of cross-platform desktop applications using JavaScript.
Main Advantages
- Versatility: JavaScript can be used for both frontend and backend development, making it highly flexible.
- Community and resources: It has a vast developer community, with countless libraries, frameworks, and tools available.
- Ease of learning: JavaScript has a relatively simple syntax compared to other programming languages, making it accessible to beginners.
Conclusion
To give an idea of JavaScript’s widespread adoption, it is practically impossible nowadays for a developer not to have encountered JavaScript code at least once. Thanks to its enormous developer community, companies are increasingly choosing to use it for their applications, even in embedded contexts where there are no specific performance constraints.TypeScript, in turn, has become one of the most popular technologies in the modern software world. Companies like Slack, Airbnb, and Google have adopted it to ensure robustness and maintainability in their JavaScript applications. It is an ideal choice for those looking for a balance between JavaScript’s flexibility and the safety of static typing, making it perfect for complex, large-scale enterprise projects.