When it comes to choosing a programming language for your project, there are multiple options to consider, each with its own unique attributes. While there is not necessarily always a "correct" language to use in some cases, Sometimes, the project specifications may require a certain programming language, while in other cases there is not necessarily a “correct” language to choose.
However, there are multiple factors that can influence what languages will work well for your project, such as those with a bigger choice of libraries and tools, proven reliability, or a greater number of developers on the market.
Top Programming Languages of 2025
The following languages are some of the most in-demand and commonly used on our projects for various reasons, such as their versatility or robustness, or simply due to client preference, sorted based on their popularity according to RedMonk's and Github's 2024 programmer surveys:
Python
Python is an extremely popular programming language that many major tech companies have used or are using. It is a versatile language that can be used for a variety of tasks, including web development, artificial intelligence, and data analysis. Python is known for its simplicity and has a large library of modules that make it useful in industries such as finance and web development. As a result, Python developers are in high demand.
JavaScript
JavaScript is a widely used programming language for front-end and back-end development that is used in more than 98.9% of all websites worldwide1.
According to Stack Overflow's survey, JavaScript has been the most commonly used programming language for the past ten years, including 2024. It is predicted that there will be a large number of JavaScript developers on the market in 2025, as many people are learning this popular language. Due to its versatility, JavaScript developers are in high demand.
findLast() and findLastIndex()), methods to sort and reverse arrays (toSorted() and toReversed()), better handling of numbers, and the addition of the Temporal API for improved date and time manipulation.
Typescript
TypeScript is a widely-used programming language that enhances JavaScript with static typing, making it ideal for large, complex applications. By reducing bugs and improving code maintainability, TypeScript has become a favorite for scalable and collaborative projects.
With frameworks like Angular and Deno driving adoption, TypeScript ranked among the top 3 most used programming languages on GitHub.
Demand for TypeScript developers is expected to grow as more companies embrace its reliability for building web, mobile, and server-side applications. This makes TypeScript a key skill for developers looking to stay competitive.
Java
Java is a popular, general-purpose programming language that is widely used in businesses for building enterprise-level applications. It is known for its focus on security and is commonly used in industries such as finance, healthcare, and e-commerce.
As a result, many well-known companies such as Airbnb, Google, Netflix, and Amazon use Java in their tech stacks. Java is highly in demand among businesses looking to build applications for their products and services, and Java developers are in high demand as a result.
C#
A top programming language for .NET development is C#. Being one of the most commonly used languages in the fintech industry, .NET is an excellent tool for creating enterprise-level applications, web and mobile applications, building data simulations, game development, and modeling.
It is a robust general-purpose language growing in popularity, with a strong community and many use cases. C# often scores in the top 5 most-used programming languages on many popular developer surveys.
An additional application of C# that is increasing in demand is web scraping with C#. Web scraping with C# is a powerful means of extracting and processing large amounts of data from websites, often used for market research, user feedback analysis, or data-driven decisions in business. Its capabilities in this field are making it an even more appealing choice for programmers in today's data-driven world.
params collections for greater flexibility, performance boosts across various language features, and new capabilities such as interceptors and the field keyword. These additions aim to simplify code syntax and improve overall performance.
PHP
PHP started as a language to write server-side scripts for websites and now offers a variety of built-in features that make it useful for web server development. PHP was once very popular and powered a large percentage of websites on the internet, particularly during the early days of web development, thanks to its simplicity and integration with HTML. However, its popularity has declined in recent years as more modern languages and frameworks have emerged.
While there is still some demand for PHP developers, particularly for maintaining legacy systems or working with popular platforms like WordPress and Magento, its use is often limited to specific industries or projects. Many organizations now favor more modern alternatives like JavaScript/Node.js or Python for new development.
Nonetheless, PHP remains relevant for small- to medium-scale web applications and cost-effective solutions, and its active community continues to evolve the language to keep it competitive in niche markets.
MyClass()->method() without parentheses. JIT changes and improved HTML5 support further enhance PHP’s usability and performance, reinforcing its relevance in modern web development.
Programming Languages On the Rise
Rust
Rust has gained significant attention for its memory safety and performance, making it a favorite for system programming, game development, and applications requiring high reliability. Known for eliminating common programming errors like null pointer dereferencing, Rust is often used in industries such as fintech, blockchain, and embedded systems. Its adoption continues to grow as developers seek alternatives to C and C++ for safer, more efficient code.
Swift
Apple’s Swift has firmly established itself as the go-to language for iOS and macOS development. Its clean syntax, speed, and safety features make it a favorite among mobile app developers. Swift’s consistent evolution, along with the thriving demand for iOS apps, positions it as a critical language for mobile-first businesses. Its versatility has also started to attract developers beyond the Apple ecosystem, particularly for server-side applications.
Ruby
Ruby, while traditionally associated with the Ruby on Rails framework, is seeing a resurgence due to its simplicity and developer-friendly design. It is particularly favored for startups and small businesses looking to prototype quickly and build scalable web applications. Ruby’s active community and robust ecosystem continue to support its growth, making it an appealing option for projects prioritizing developer productivity and rapid development cycles.
Kotlin
Kotlin has become the standard for Android app development, officially endorsed by Google as the preferred language for the platform. Known for its concise syntax, safety features, and seamless interoperability with Java, Kotlin is rapidly gaining popularity among mobile developers. Beyond Android, Kotlin is also finding a place in server-side development, thanks to frameworks like Ktor.
GoLang
Golang, also known as Go, is experiencing a notable rise in popularity. According to the TIOBE Index for November 2024, Go has ascended to the 7th position, up from 13th the previous year.
Go is highly sought after by companies for its ability to build scalable and concurrent systems. Similar to Java and C#, Go is a statically typed, multi-paradigm, compiled, and general-purpose programming language.
However, Go is best used as a programming language for working with infrastructure. Some of the most popular tools in this focus are written specifically in Go, including Kubernetes, Docker, and Prometheus.
for-range loops with user-defined iterator functions, thanks to additions in the slices and maps packages. The release also introduces Go Telemetry, an opt-in system for collecting toolchain usage statistics, and new conveniences like go env -changed and go mod tidy -diff. Updates to the go vet subcommand further improves compatibility checks, making Go 1.23 a significant update for the language and its tooling.
Programming Languages on the Decline
While some languages are on the rise, others are seeing decreased usage due to evolving industry demands, modern alternatives, or shifting developer preferences. Here are a few languages that are declining and the reasons behind it:
Perl
Once a go-to language for scripting and web development, Perl has seen a significant decline due to the rise of more modern, developer-friendly alternatives like Python and Ruby. Its complex syntax and lack of recent innovation have led many developers to abandon it in favor of easier-to-use languages.
Objective-C
With the introduction of Swift in 2014, Objective-C has steadily declined as Apple encourages developers to adopt Swift for iOS and macOS development. While legacy projects still rely on Objective-C, its use in new projects has sharply diminished.
Visual Basic (VB.NET)
Widely used in the early 2000s for Windows applications, VB.NET is now considered outdated. Microsoft’s focus on C# and other modern frameworks has left VB.NET with limited support and declining adoption.
COBOL
COBOL remains in use for legacy systems, particularly in banking and government, but its relevance is confined to maintaining these aging systems. With fewer new developers learning COBOL, its long-term viability is uncertain.
Choosing a Programming Language
When Your Project Has Specific Requirements
In some cases, your project’s technical requirements will determine which language to proceed with. For example, if the project is AI/ML-based, then it may be a clear decision to use Python, or if you are building an iOS application, then Swift might be the most well-suited.
Business constraints may also dictate which language to use for your project. If your existing team already is proficient in a programming language, you will likely want to select the same language to save time on team catch-up or hiring of new developers.
Similarly, if you are extending an existing system written in a programming language, it is advised to choose the same language, assuming it is considered relevant and modern.
If Your Project Doesn’t Have Specific Requirements
If you are developing your project from scratch, you’ll likely have flexibility in choosing a language since you may not have specific requirements you must follow. With many languages to choose from, we can help you narrow down which ones will work best for your project.
Often, multiple programming languages can be equally suitable for developing an application. For instance, a backend application could be implemented using Java, .NET, or Node.js, while a web front-end might involve choosing between JavaScript and TypeScript. In such cases, we evaluate factors like the availability of skilled developers, the specific needs of the project, and the long-term maintainability of the chosen technology.
Using Multiple Languages
Using multiple programming languages in a project has several advantages. It allows developers to select the most appropriate language for specific tasks, which can lead to more efficient and effective development. This approach also provides opportunities for developers to expand their skillsets and increases hiring flexibility by enabling access to a broader pool of talent with expertise in different languages.
However, there are also challenges to consider. Using multiple languages can increase the complexity of a project, requiring more maintenance and potentially leading to incompatibilities between tools or libraries. It can also make standardization across applications more difficult, which is essential for smooth operation and long-term maintenance.
Aspects to Consider in a Programming Language
Whether you're developing a new project from scratch or extending an existing system, we can help you select a language that suits the needs of your project. Following a discovery phase, we will analyze your context and technical & business requirements, and with consideration of your resources, we’ll propose the optimal technologies for your project.
Additional aspects to consider when deciding on a programming language:
Language-domain match: See what others in your field are doing to resolve a similar problem domain or by looking at some code that resolves issues you’re likely to have.
Maturity of the Language: If a language has a library that solves your domain problem, it might be worth it to put up with some flaws in the language. Additionally, more mature languages may have more reference material to draw on and more collaborators.
Efficiency: Efficient compilers or interpreters are what make languages “fast.” It can be important to review the interpreters or compilers for your language to make sure it is efficient.
Your Current Team: Consider the skills and expertise of the people you already have on your team who are available to work on the project.
Availability of Developers: It's important to consider the reliability and popularity of the language, as well as the availability of developers on the market who are familiar with it. Keep in mind that hiring may be easier and less costly for languages that are oversaturated with developers in comparison to lesser-used, outdated, or unpopular languages.
If you are seeking hard-to-hire programmers, Softjourn has skilled developers knowledgeable in .NET, Java, Javascript, PHP, Python, React Native, React, and many other languages, who can help extend your team.
Project size: Are you looking to create a complex piece of software or something simple? At the end of the day, choose a language that you will have sufficient support with.
The Tools and Libraries Available: Consider the availability of tools and libraries for languages as they can greatly facilitate the development process and provide access to a wide range of functionality.
| Feature | C# | ||||
| Type System | Static | Dynamic | Static | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Object-Oriented | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Functional Programming | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial |
| Platform Independence | Yes | No | Windows Only | Web | Web |
| Garbage Collection | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Popular Frameworks | Spring, Hibernate | Django, Flask | React, Node.js | ||
| Performance | High | Moderate | High | Moderate | Moderate |
| Community | Large | Large | Large | Large | Large |
| Syntax Simplicity | Moderate | High | High | High | High |
| Learning Curve | Moderate | Low | Low | Low | Low |
| Database Integration | JDBC | SQLAlchemy | ADO.NET | N/A | MySQLi, PDO |
| Web Development | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Development | Android SDK | Kivy | Xamarin | N/A | |
| Scripting | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Effective communication and coordination among team members are crucial to managing these complexities successfully.
Let Us Help You Select the Best Tech Stack
Choosing a programming language for a project can be a complex decision, but it ultimately should come down to what will work best for your project. Factors such as the complexity of the project, the resources available, and the desired end result can all impact decisions regarding the tech stack that is best suited for your project.
With over 20 years of expertise and a deep understanding of the various programming languages available, we will provide you with personalized recommendations and guidance so you will be confident that you are using the best technologies for your project.
Additionally, we have talented developers who can extend your team, ensuring that your project will be supported, regardless of the tech stack it requires.
Let us help you make the most of your technology resources and reach your business goals. Don't hesitate to contact us today to learn more and schedule a free consultation.
