Is JavaScript Enough?

What you'll learn in this episode

• Whether you should bother learning more than just JavaScript as a web developer
• A collection of other programming languages you might be interested in learning after mastering JavaScript
• The pros and cons of each "JavaScript alternative" language

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Show Notes

Why you should learn a new programming language

• JavaScript is great and as a general purpose language can almost do anything you need it to
• There are other programming languages for a reason though
• If you know programming fundamentals (conditionals, loops, DSA, OOP, Types, etc) a programming language is more a tool rather than a barrier

Which programming languages to learn after JavaScript?

Python

• Versatility: Python is known for its versatility in various fields like web development, data science, machine learning, and automation. Its simplicity and readability make it a great choice for both beginners and experienced programmers.
• Large Community and Libraries: Python has a robust community and a wide range of libraries, making it easier to find solutions and support for your projects.
• Data Analysis and Machine Learning: If you're working on a project involving data analytics, machine learning, or scientific computing, Python is often a better choice due to its rich ecosystem of data science libraries like Pandas, NumPy, and scikit-learn.
• Automation Scripts: For writing quick and efficient automation scripts or system administration tasks, Python's simplicity and extensive standard library can be more convenient than JavaScript.

PHP

• Web Development: PHP is a staple in web development, especially for server-side scripting. It's useful for creating dynamic web pages and integrating with databases.
• Widespread Use: PHP powers a significant portion of the web (including WordPress), offering numerous job opportunities.
• Server-Side Web Development: For building traditional server-rendered web applications, especially those that require complex server-side logic or deep integration with databases, PHP is a solid choice.
• Content Management Systems: If you are working on websites that heavily rely on content management systems like WordPress, PHP is essential as it is the core language of these systems.
• Go (Golang):
• Performance and Efficiency: Go is known for its high performance and efficiency, making it suitable for building scalable network servers and concurrent applications.
• Simple Syntax: Go’s syntax is clean and concise, which can be easier to grasp for someone already familiar with JavaScript.
• High-Performance Network Servers: When developing high-performance network servers or distributed systems, Go's built-in concurrency support and efficient execution make it a superior choice.
• Cloud-Native Development: For building scalable, cloud-native applications, Go is often preferred for its performance and compatibility with modern cloud infrastructure.

Rust

• Memory Safety: Rust offers memory safety without garbage collection, making it a strong candidate for systems programming and high-performance applications.
• Growing Ecosystem: Rust is gaining popularity in system-level programming due to its speed and safety, with a growing ecosystem and community.
• System-Level Programming: If you're working on system-level applications like operating systems, game engines, or software requiring high memory efficiency, Rust is ideal due to its focus on safety and performance.
• High-Performance Web Assembly: For projects that require compiling to Web Assembly for performance-critical web applications, Rust offers better control and efficiency compared to JavaScript.
• FFMPEG conversion right in the browser
  

C++

• System-Level Programming: C++ is essential for system-level programming, game development, and applications requiring high performance.
• Foundation for Understanding More Complex Concepts: Learning C++ can deepen your understanding of how programming languages and computers work at a lower level.
• Game Development: In scenarios like game development or graphics-heavy applications where performance is critical, C++ is often chosen over JavaScript due to its speed and control over system resources.
• Real-Time Systems: For real-time systems or applications where hardware control and timing are crucial, C++ provides the necessary low-level access and performance.
• Swift/Kotlin:
• Mobile App Development: Swift for iOS and Kotlin for Android are the go-to languages for native mobile app development. They offer modern language features and are backed by Apple and Google, respectively.
• Cross-Platform Development: With the rise of frameworks like Flutter and React Native, understanding Swift and Kotlin is beneficial for cross-platform development and optimizing native modules.
• Native Mobile Applications: When building native mobile applications, Swift for iOS and Kotlin for Android offer optimized performance and access to platform-specific features that JavaScript-based frameworks cannot fully leverage.
• Performance-Critical Mobile Features: For parts of mobile applications where performance is critical, like complex animations or hardware interactions, using Swift or Kotlin can provide a smoother user experience compared to JavaScript-based solutions.

Links

• ‍Michael LaRocca
  - Author of the Self-Taught the X Generation blog, at selftaughttxg.com