What is the best programming language to learn today and why?

Suvish Viswanathan

Global Market/Sales Analyst

.NET and Java are the most widely used all over but all those depends on what kind of application you are looking for platform independent n flexibility is criterion then Java is good.

But if you are trying for microsoft technology environment programming then
.NET is the best and especially with the framework .NET takes the lead for easy programming.

 

Jason Hughes

President at Steel Penny Games, Inc.

Too broad. The question you haven't answered yet is, what is your objective? Are you wanting to just learn programming? Java is easiest. Are you wanting to write high performance code without learning about pointers? Scala. Are you looking to write high performance games? C/C++. Each of these languages have problems and advantages. There are many others that might be 'best' by some criteria. For example, you might really want to learn Perl if working on Asterisk/telecom servers is useful and interesting. Or PHP if useful is working on web server backends. Most genres of utility have a preferred language these days.

 

Kurt Evenepoel

Technical Lead at Wolters Kluwer

You're missing some of the more important criteria: community size to get help from and to participate in.

Generally i point people asking me that to the TIOBE programming index
http://www.tiobe.com/index.php/content/paperinfo/tpci/index.html
then mention im biased towards .NET, and that it's worked well for me sofar. Found it easy to get more information on and its robust and in demand. Ofcourse Java people will say the same, and so will PHP people etc.

I would definately pick one of the top 10, if you pick from those you can't really go wrong.

Links:

• http://www.tiobe.com/index.php/content/paperinfo/tpci/index.html

Sushmita Mukherjee

Technology Consultant at NIIT Technologies Limited

According to C and C++and in further extends VC++ is the best beacuse the scope is broad you can choose your own interest area and also troubleshooting is also interesting.

 

Marco Furlanetto

User Productivity Consultant at PLAUT IT Australia

I have about 6 years of professional software development experience, and I would say Java. Even if I start working with different platforms (like SAP) it keeps coming back and when I realize I'm programming Java again hehehe
Java isn't my favorite one thought,
Best Regards,
Marco