With the new year upon us, you may be wondering if your programming skills are still in demand or if you should consider changing fields or upgrading your qualifications to build a successful career in the tech industry.

Hundreds of programming languages have emerged over the years, each with their purpose, whether they make it into the top 10 most popular or retain a more modest fame.

Which of these languages have withstood competition and challenges over time, and which are worth learning? Today, we bring you seven programming languages that are likely to remain in demand in 2024 and into the future.

The most in-demand programming languages in 2024

Python

Adored for its flexibility and speed of development, Python has steadily climbed the programming language charts over the past few years. It’s considered a good choice when working with artificial intelligence and, according to Statista, is the third most used language in 2023 after JavaScript and HTML/CSS.

TIOBE, on the other hand, currently ranks Python as the most popular language. Skilled software engineers who know Python well are in demand right now and will continue to be throughout the year.

Java

According to a survey of 14 million developer jobs earlier this year, Java is the third most in-demand programming language. Widely used in everything from web development to cloud computing, IoT applications and large-scale enterprise tools, it is generally seen as a language that offers excellent job security, making it the ideal choice.

PHP

Primarily used for website development, PHP skills continue to be in demand in the job market. Over 77% of websites still rely on it, and one in 10 programming jobs require its use.

C++

Due to its versatility and exceptional performance, C++ maintains its position as one of the most widely used programming languages.

Its extensive use in the gaming industry and for system-level programming, especially in scenarios where interactions with hardware are vital, contributes to the consistent demand for C++ developers across various industries. This enduring popularity ensures robust job security for professionals proficient in C++.

Kotlin

Well-regarded for both Android and cross-platform app development, Kotlin enjoys support from Google, which declared it an official language for Android development in 2017. Since that announcement, its popularity has continued to steadily increase.

C#

As a pivotal language in the Microsoft technology stack, C# finds applications in constructing web apps, Windows desktop apps, and in-game development. It remains consistently sought after by both small organizations and large enterprise-level businesses. If you’re familiar with a classic language like Java, you’ll find the C# syntax is quite familiar, making it a valuable language to enhance your skill set.

JavaScript

Due to its versatility, JavaScript is poised to maintain its status as one of the most sought-after programming languages. Predominantly employed for front-end web development (utilized by over 98% of all websites in various capacities), it plays a crucial role in crafting dynamic, interactive content for every tech device you engage with, spanning from your laptop and phone to your smart TV.

Developers can take advantage of the performance and security capabilities in Rust to create software for IoT devices and other embedded systems that may be the target of botnets and other malware.

The move by tech giant Microsoft, which introduced the idea back in June 2022, coincides with Google’s decision that it will support third-party Rust libraries in its open-source Chronium project. Like Microsoft, Google highlighted the security features in the programming language.

“Rust and Azure Sphere are a good match – a programming language that can improve safety of code with strict compile time safety checks alongside Azure Sphere’s secure identity, update, and end-to-end encrypted communication services for internet-connected devices should provide greater security to the customer applications,”

Akshatha Udayashankar, an embedded software engineer at Microsoft, wrote in a blog post.

Azure Sphere includes built-in security features for Internet-connected devices and consists of hardware built on chips from MediaTek and a Linux-based operating system. It also includes cloud-based Azure Sphere Security Services (AS3), which creates a secure connection between devices and the Internet or cloud.

AS3 provides secure boot, device identity authentication, software trust, and device certification that works with trusted code. Thanks to it, Microsoft can securely download updates to the Azure Sphere operating system and apps to devices.

The Microsoft blog explains that Rust strives to make code safe and code fast. Zero-cost abstractions ensure that higher-level features are compiled into low-level code as quickly as code is written by hand. Checks performed by the Rust compiler ensure stability by adding features and refactoring. This contrasts with legacy code in languages without these checks, which is riskier and requires more careful attention, review, and testing.

Like other Azure Sphere applications, those now built in Rust are expected to be fully functional in 2031, regardless of security patches, fixes, and new features added to Azure Sphere OS by then. Rust can be very efficient, but by including many dependencies in the application itself, in some cases it may be necessary to evaluate how a Rust implementation uses memory compared to a C-language application.

• 5G and high-speed networks

Have you remembered 2G technology, which has enabled customers to get in touch with everyone they want? Then comes both 3G and 4G tech that has helped us to browse the internet and stream audio and video without any interruptions.

Well, amongst the most important changes from 2022 will be the easily accessible and available high bandwidth data. What is more, high-speed internet will give us the ability to stream in extremely high resolution like 8K.

• Artificial intelligence and machine learning

AI and ML gained a lot of popularity when manufacturers started implementing them everywhere- in smartphones, virtual assistance, image and speech recognition, smartwatches, smart TVs, navigation apps, etc. The AI market is expected to grow to a $190 billion industry by 2025 and the upcoming year will definitely be very important for achieving this.

• Internet of Things

We should be ready for the emergence of faster networks, advanced AI & ML, and cloud computing, and more devices connecting together in a seamless way.

• Cloud computing

What comes with super-fast networks?

Cloud computing- another technological trend that we will see in the year 2022. Cloud computing will give us the ability to run heavy applications and software directly on the cloud servers which will also open up gates for lighter devices.

• Mobile photography

One of the most promising trends for the upcoming 2022 will be the retractable cameras on smartphones.

Putting three different lenses of different focal lengths was just an alternate option to achieve different focal lengths. In 2020 Xiaomi and Oppo showed the concept phone in which we saw three different lenses of different focal lengths and it looks like we will be able to see how this feature will come true in 2022.

• Mixing of realities

AR and VR have been a big trend for a while and in 2022, we will see major leaps in this field. Metaverse is one of the indicators of how fast the digital world is developing.

MachineFi’s main objective is to transition traditional IoT and machine verticals into MachineFi decentralized applications (Dapps) that will enable millions of users to participate in the machine economy with billions of smart devices.

The world has witnessed the boom of smart devices and automated machines, including smart home devices and smart cars. However, few have noticed inter-machine communication is significantly increasing. IoTeX CEO and Founder Dr. Raullen Chai, explains:

“Today, numerous machines have already started collaborating, producing, and distributing, and they consume information and resources collectively, forming a heterogeneous network of machines.” 

According to a McKinsey report, the Internet of Things (IoT) could unlock a global economic value of up to $12.6 trillion by 2030. Techjury estimates that over 125 billion devices will be connected to the Internet by the start of the next decade, powering that machine economy.

Dr. Chai explains that the convergence of artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud computing, edge computing, the Internet of things, 5G, computer vision, and augmented/virtual reality pushes human society through the next digital revolution wave.

Taiwan-based MediaTek supplies chips for Android handsets and “internet of things” products. Their silicon powers 37% of all smartphones and IoT devices, according to market research cited by Check Point Software.

The four vulnerabilities discovered by the cybersecurity firm affect some of MediaTek’s systems, which combine a central processing unit with additional computing modules. Those modules include an artificial intelligence accelerator and a digital signal processor that performs audio processing tasks.

The vulnerabilities affect the digital signal processor. Three of them are in the processor’s firmware, the low-level software that controls how a chip operates. The fourth security issue was found in the hardware abstraction layer. The hardware abstraction layer is a technology that is used by a device’s operating system, in this case, Android, to control the chip on which it runs.

According to Check Point Software, the vulnerabilities can be used by a malicious Android application to infect a MediaTek digital signal processor with malware users. Hackers can install the malware by causing the processor to generate a software flaw known as a heap overflow. In a heap overflow, parts of a processor’s memory that contain application data are overwritten with malicious code.

By themselves, the settings cannot cause a severe risk because they can’t be accessed by Android apps under normal conditions. But access is made possible by a separate set of problems affecting a piece of software that the digital signal processor uses to coordinate its work with other components.

Check Point Software has added the vulnerabilities to the CVE system that the cybersecurity community uses to track cybersecurity flaws.

The vulnerabilities are tracked as following: CVE-2021-0661, CVE-2021-0662, CVE-2021-0663 and CVE-2021-0673.

Huang presented a range of new NVIDIA products and initiatives, spanning VR, enterprise AI, cybersecurity, quantum computing, advances in automotive, and much more. 

Holo Skin is NVIDIA’s full-stack open platform for next-generation software to find instruments. He commented:

“Holo Skin applications can be deployed fully in instrument in the hospitals’ data centers, or a mixture of both. This allows companies to develop applications that require more computing than is in the device. Or to upgrade the installed base of devices, years after deployment. Holo Skin is a full-stack open platform for next-generation software to find instruments. Holo Skin is our third robotics platform.”

Besides Holo Skin, NVIDIA is also developing Mapping for autonomous driving. The CEO said:

“Mapping is a credible pillar of driving. It is the collective memory of the fleet and can be considered another sensor. A couple of months ago, we welcomed DeepMap to our company. DeepMap is an expert in mapping for autonomous driving.” 

He announced ReOpt – a software package combining local search heuristics algorithms and the so-called metaheuristics to optimize vehicle route planning and distribution. ReOpt taps algorithms, providing customers with road conditions, traffic, as well as route metrics to reduce fuel cost, carbon emissions, and miles. 

A variety of other topics were raised during today’s keynote. The conference is being hosted between 8-11 November. Topics, such as 3D Design, collaboration, and simulation, game development, Internet of Things (IoT), 5g, data science, and many more will be raised.

Arm Total Solutions for IoT is designed to simplify and modernise software development. Through what the company describes as a radical change in how systems are designed, it says it can accelerate time to market for developers, OEMs and service providers at all stages of the IoT value chain and a reduction in product design cycles by up to two years.

Arm Total Solutions for IoT is also designed around creating specific use-cases so that developers can focus on design and differentiation across diverse applications and devices. It is said to contain everything needed to simplify the design process and streamline product development, including hardware IP, software, machine learning models, advanced tools such as the new Virtual Hardware Targets, application-specific reference code and support from the world’s largest IoT ecosystem.

The first configuration of an Arm Total Solution for IoT is available now and addresses general-purpose compute and ML workload use-cases, including an ML-based keyword recognition example.

Built on the foundations of Arm Corstone – a validated and integrated subsystem that has reduced time to market for more than 150 designs from Arm silicon partners – Arm Total Solutions for IoT introduces Arm Virtual Hardware Targets for software developers, OEMs and service providers. The cloud-based offering delivers a virtual model of the Corstone subsystem to enable software development without the need for physical silicon.

It is said to bring modern, agile software development methodologies such as continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD), DevOps and MLOps to IoT and embedded platforms, without having to invest in complex hardware farms.

With accurate models of Arm-based SoCs providing mechanisms for simulating memory, peripherals and other core items, Arm says development and testing of software is now possible before silicon availability. This ultimately reduces a typical product design cycle from an average of five years to as little as three years, allowing silicon partners to gain customer feedback for chips before tape out while enabling the entire IoT value chain to easily develop and test code on the latest IP well ahead of silicon availability. Arm Virtual Hardware is available on AWS Marketplace and Arm partners are already using it.

To enable industry players to leverage the software and services they invest in across the widest possible range of platforms, Arm is also introducing Project Centauri, which aims to achieve for the Arm Cortex-M software ecosystem what Project Cassini does for the Cortex-A ecosystem, by delivering a set of device and platform standards, as well as reference implementations for device boot, security and cloud integration.

Project Centauri application programming interfaces (APIs) include support for PSA Certified and Open-CMSIS-CDI, a standard cloud-to-device specification that sets out to minimise the effort required to enable different cloud solutions and real-time operating systems. Arm says this will reduce engineering costs, accelerate time to market, enable IoT deployments at scale and improve security across the Cortex-M ecosystem. Mohamed Awad, vice-president of IoT and embedded at Arm, commented:

“Arm is uniquely positioned to fuel a new IoT economy that rivals the shape, speed and size of the smartphone industry’s app economy.”

According to Awad, Arm Total Solutions for IoT changes the way they are delivering key technology to the entire ecosystem and demonstrates their significant and ongoing investment in the software that will empower developers to innovate for global impact.

Sun Microsystems first released Java in 1996. At first, they intended to implement Java into televisions to enable interactivity, but these plans fell through. Instead, Java found its niche in server-side programming — the invisible background workings of applications.

In 1995, Netscape created a programming language called Mocha. Later renamed JavaScript, Mocha was designed with simplicity in mind. Like CSS, it was meant to be embedded into a website’s HTML. But whereas CSS adds style, JavaScript adds interactivity.

Later, in response to the rising popularity of Internet Explorer (a major Netscape competitor), Netscape and Sun Microsystems struck a deal. Netscape offered Sun the opportunity to run Java apps in web browsers, which allowed them to benefit from the language’s popularity. In return, Netscape changed Mocha’s name to JavaScript.

Java

Java is a statically typed programming language with rigid syntax around declaring variables. With Java, you have to specify the types of values you’ll be saving to a specific variable. Once you declare a variable as a particular type of data (like a String), it must remain such for its entire lifetime.

Java is also class-based. Classes serve as reusable templates to produce objects. Objects are data structures used to store information. When programming in Java, you’ll use classes and objects to model real-life situations in code.
As you can see, Java requires a lot of code, even for something as simple as printing out “Here’s a bag of Cheese curls.” First, we write the class declaration, illustrated by the first line of code in the example above. Within the class declaration, we create the main method, which is a method that automatically gets called when the code runs. Lastly, we specify what we want to happen.

Because of its capacity for stability and data handling, Java is used for:

• Large-scale projects by big enterprises within the financial, trade, and automotive industries
• Android app development
• Back-end development
• Scientific computing
• Hardware and Internet of Things (e.g., Raspberry Pi, Sonos speakers, and Smart Refrigerators)

Java takes a while to learn, but its demand, versatility, and earning power speak to its value. You’ll also find that there’s a satisfaction that comes with building a big project from the ground up — especially when it’s your code that makes it all run smoothly.

JavaScript

Maybe you’re more interested in building interactive websites or game development. In that case, you might be better off learning JavaScript.

JavaScript is a dynamically typed programming language with less rigid syntax around declaring variables. With JavaScript, you don’t have to specify what type of data you’re saving to a variable. You can also reassign variables to values with different data types.

Unlike Java, JavaScript is prototype-based and isn’t bound to a code pattern. Recent updates to JavaScript have enabled class construction, but it’s not a requirement.

With JavaScript, there’s no need to add classes or functions — you just write what you want to happen in one line.

Due to its lack of rigidity, JavaScript is easier to build and get off the ground. However, Java’s rigid structure is less prone to bugs. While it takes longer to get off the ground, it’s much more stable.

Known as “the language of the web,” JavaScript dominates web development. Its uses include front-end development and web-based projects. However, years of open-sourced development have led to huge libraries and APIs that can extend JavaScript’s capabilities.

While initially limited to the web browser, JavaScript’s recent breakout framework Node.js allows it to be used for back-end development, too. In a survey of professional developers, Stack Overflow found that over half of them use Node.js.

The Global Electronic Design Automation Software Market size is expected to reach $16 billion by 2027, rising at a market growth of 7.8% CAGR during the forecast period.

Electronic Design Automation (EDA) Software refers to a software algorithm. It allows the designing of complicated electronic systems like integrated circuits (ICs), printed circuit boards (PCBs), and others. This software helps the designer monitor, analyze, and simulate the designs prior to practical installation.

There are many tools present in the EDA function that work in tandem during a particular design flow determined by chip designers for analyzing and designing whole semiconductor chips. As modern semiconductor chips are made up of billions of components, and thus, these EDA tools have become one of the essential components in designing.

The major factor leading to the growth of the electronic design automation software market includes the increasing adoption of FinFET architecture in designing advanced processors. The surge in penetration of AI, IoT, and VR, and the rise in adoption of SoC technology are also contributing to the massive demand for this software.

The open-source EDA software availability is expected to hamper the EDA software market growth. The rising demand for smaller electronic devices as well as the increasing penetration of AI and machine learning in EDA is likely to provide profitable opportunities for market players of the electronic design automation software during the forecast period.

COVID-19 Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic is anticipated to have a significant impact on the growth of the electronic design automation software market. The electronic design automation industry spending is likely to reduce if compared to the planned spending condition before this pandemic. It is due to multiple factors like dropping revenue in the semiconductor industry in 2020. The slow pace of production and lack of raw material suppliers have a negative impact on the market growth.

Application Outlook

Based on Application, the market is segmented into Consumer Electronics, Aerospace & Defense, Communication, Automotive, Industrial, Medical and Others. On the basis of application, the consumer electronics segment acquired the highest revenue share for the electronic design automation software market share in 2020.

End-User Outlook

Based on End User, the market is segmented into Microprocessors & Controllers, Memory Management Unit (MMU) and Others. Apart from controllers and microprocessors, Memory Management Unit (MMU) and other segments also use EDA software. The MMU segment is expected to exhibit a considerable growth rate in the coming years. An MMU is a computer hardware component that is responsible for memory management as it helps in managing all memory and cache operations of a processor.

Regional Outlook

Based on Regions, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America, Middle East & Africa. North America acquired the highest revenue share of the market in 2020. It is likely to hold the dominant position during the forecast period. The regional market growth is accredited to the early adoption of 5G technologies, AI, Internet of Things (IoT), and machine learning.

The major strategies followed by the market participants are Partnerships. Based on the Analysis presented in the Cardinal matrix; Siemens AG is the major forerunner in the Electronic Design Automation Software Market. Companies such as Altair Engineering, Inc., Synopsys, Inc., Altium Ltd., and ANSYS, Inc. are some of the key innovators in the market.

Key companies profiled in the report include

• Altair Engineering, Inc.
• ANSYS, Inc.
• Autodesk, Inc.
• Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
• Keysight Technologies, Inc.
• Siemens AG
• Synopsys, Inc.
• Silvaco, Inc.
• Altium Ltd.
• Aldec, Inc.

Key Topics Covered: Chapter 1. Market Scope & Methodology

1.1 Market Definition

1.2 Objectives

1.3 Market Scope

1.4 Segmentation

1.5 Methodology for the research

Chapter 2. Market Overview

2.1 Introduction

2.1.1 Overview

2.1.2 Market Composition and Scenario

2.2 Key Factors Impacting the Market

2.2.1 Market Drivers

2.2.2 Market Restraints

Chapter 3. Competition Analysis – Global

3.1 Cardinal Matrix

3.2 Recent Industry Wide Strategic Developments

3.2.1 Partnerships, Collaborations and Agreements

3.2.2 Product Launches and Product Expansions

3.2.3 Acquisition and Mergers

3.3 Top Winning Strategies

3.3.1 Key Leading Strategies: Percentage Distribution (2016-2020)

3.3.2 Key Strategic Move: (Partnerships, Collaborations, and Agreements: 2017, Jun – 2021, Mar) Leading Players

Chapter 4. Global Electronic Design Automation Software Market by End User

4.1 Global Electronic Design Automation Software Microprocessors & Controllers Market by Region

4.2 Global Electronic Design Automation Software Memory Management Unit (MMU) Market by Region

4.3 Global Electronic Design Automation Software Others Market by Region

Chapter 5. Global Electronic Design Automation Software Market by Application

5.1 Global Consumer Electronics Electronic Design Automation Software Market

5.2 Global Aerospace & Defense Electronic Design Automation Software Market

5.3 Global Communication Electronic Design Automation Software Market

5.4 Global Automotive Electronic Design Automation Software Market

5.5 Global Industrial Electronic Design Automation Software Market

5.6 Global Medical Electronic Design Automation Software Market

5.7 Global Others Electronic Design Automation Software Market

Chapter 6. Global Electronic Design Automation Software Market by Region

Chapter 7. Company Profiles

• Altair Engineering, Inc.
• ANSYS, Inc.
• Autodesk, Inc.
• Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
• Keysight Technologies, Inc.
• Siemens AG
• Synopsys, Inc.
• Silvaco, Inc.
• Altium Ltd.
• Aldec, Inc.

For more information about this report go here.

Scratch Jr– Scratch Jr is a free app designed to teach younger children between the ages of  5-7 how to code. Kids can program their own interactive games and stories before watching them come to life using programming blocks.

We 💕 a week full of FUN #Coding!

Follow #ScratchWeek exploring @scratch & @ScratchJr #online and #offline #STEM coding!#ScienceWorldca Educators have fav projects they've posted, including a Spring Greeting card:https://t.co/2r8motOVey#ADST #STEAM #bced #STEMeducation pic.twitter.com/NQN73P245F

— Science World Teacher Resources (@ScienceWorldTR) May 20, 2021

Hour of Code from Code.org– The Hour of Code started as a one-hour introduction to computer science that was designed to demystify “code” and show that anyone could learn the basics of computer programming. It has become a worldwide effort to celebrate computer science, starting with 1-hour coding activities and expanding to all sorts of community efforts. Parents can make Hour of Code a weekly activity with their children, and even host an event with friends.

Grasshopper App– This free app helps children learn to code JavaScript through progressively challenging activities and puzzles. Grasshopper has no age guidelines and is suitable for anyone looking to build their skills with coding fundamentals, programming language, and more!

Stencyl– This app is available on Android and Apple devices. Stencyl allows kids of all ages to create and publish their own games by learning programming skills. It teaches game logic through a drag and drops interface and world-building.

CodeSpark Academy– CodeSpark Academy is an app that teaches kids how to code through characters called “The Foos”. Kids use logical thinking and problem solving to help “The Foos” complete tasks in subjects like pattern recognition, coding puzzles, and applied concepts.

Hopscotch– This free app is great for kids ages 7-13, but can be used by anyone wanting to learn how to code. Hopscotch has self-paced video tutorials that teach coding through popular games like Pokemon Go and Geometry Dash.

GoldieBlox– If you’re looking for a hands-on approach to storytelling and STEM, GoldieBlox uses videos, animation, curriculum, and more to teach girls about science, technology, engineering, and math. You can help your child build a light-up unicorn pillow or a do-it-yourself (DIY) mermaid cell phone case and more!

Go Tynker– Using blocks, Go Tynker is a free iPhone/iPad app that assists kids from grades 1st-8th with learning coding in an interactive way. By completing lessons, kids earn badges to reward their progress.

As a starting point here are some tips for teaching kids how to code: Challenge Kids Ideas of Computers

• Start off the conversation by asking, “What is a computer?”. Then have a couple of pictures of household items that include different types of computers or technology like a self-flushing toilet, sprinklers, or even pets.

• Ask your kids to identify which of the photos are computers. When they look baffled, explain that all of these examples are computers. For example, the toilet has sensors that detect motion and communicate for the device to flush and sprinklers are set on a timer to go off on certain days at certain times.

• Even pets can be considered a computer if they have microchips in their skin that store home addresses and contact information. By using examples they understand, parents can make computers and technology seem more interesting and something they can engage with daily.

These exercises challenge the perception that computers are just rectangular boxes with screens. With today’s technology and the emerging Internet of Things (IoT), anything can be a computer! Being on the computer can be a fun, educational, and immersive experience for a child as they learn how to focus, analyze, and train their brain with new skill. Change up their routine using these amazing resources that can keep them entertained for hours.