Open-source projects are nothing new to software engineering developers and IT companies. A significant portion of languages used in most projects is open-sourced. Take GitHub, for example. This platform is used by over 40 million developers for writing and sharing codes with one another as well as collaborating on projects on a professional or personal level. Last year, some program languages were widely used by programmers, and we predict that this year 2022, they will continue to be quite popular in the developer community.
To compile our list of the top 20 programming languages for 2022, we consulted different sources as well as GitHub (the largest developer forum online) to track down the programs mostly used by developers and IT companies. But before we go ahead to list them out, it will be essential to throw some light on what Open source programming is all about.
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What is Open Source Programming?
Open-source refers to anything that people can easily modify to suit their needs. An open-source program is designed for the general public and is accessible for use. This term originated in the software development community to describe approaches to creating computer-based programs. Technical jargon could mean a number of things. It could mean a product, an initiative, or a programming principle. It may also refer to proto-typing or any community-based project. For an open-source project to work, it needs open-source software.
Open Source Software
Now when it comes to open-source projects, they use open-source software to execute tasks. So what is open-source software? Open-Source software is simply a source code that anyone can access, modify, or improve on to satisfy his or her specific needs. A software’s source code is a part of the software that the user never gets to see. However, when software engineering developers want to manipulate software, they work on the codes to change how the software or application functions. Adding or removing features is a one-way code that can be manipulated. Another way is to change some of its features to enhance its capabilities.
Now that we know what Open Source software is and its relationship with open-source projects, let us now review the top 20 programming languages for 2022. The list below ranks each program from the least popular to the most popular program.
20. Erlang
One of the latest programming languages to be introduced to the world of software engineering is Erlang. Already gaining traction in the computer software market, Erlang is designed for general-purpose programming with run-time, distributive, and hot-swapping features.
19. Elixir
Another runoff language program built on the core design principles of Erlang is Elixir. Elixir has high-impact capabilities that use the same run-time features (BEAM) like Erlang. It supports advanced functions like polymorphism, macros, and metaprogramming.
18. Haskell
Haskell is a relatively new entrant, but it is worthy of its place on our list due to its increasing popularity among software developers. Named after Haskell Curry, its original developer, this language program is based on Miranda’s lazy approach functionality. Haskell started gaining wide recognition after Facebook built its anti-spam mechanism with it.
17 Perl
Perl used to be one of the most popular language programs in the past but fell behind the competition in later years; however, it has still remained relevant against all the odds. Originally intended for general-purpose programming for text manipulation, users gradually implemented it for web and network development in systems.
16. Scala
Thanks to the innovative features of Scala for both functional and objective programming, Scala reduces system bugs during system designs and development. Not as popular as the Pythons and Java’s of the software world, but Scala is still holding its place among the list of top language programs in use today.
15. Kotlin
Regarded by many as a perfect substitute to Java, Kotlin has enjoyed quite a following since it was released to the public. Designed by JetBrains, it uses a similar paradigm like Java, which is the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). It can also be translated to Java Code.
14. Rust
Designed as a general-purpose language for developing system applications, Rust is a language sponsored by Mozilla and is one program open-source developers have come to rely on to solve system safety defects. Some prominent users of Rust include Azure, Firefox, Tor.S, Microsoft, and Holochain.
13. SQL
SQL is one of the oldest Open-source language programs to make our list, and it is still widely used today. Developers of traditional software will find SQL feasible and can handle a lot of data used by a significant portion of modern applications.
12. Ruby
Ruby was created by a Japanese named Yukihiro Matsumoto and released in 1995. The developer created a mix of some of his favorite languages for users to enjoy. RUBY is very easy to use and is also quite efficient due to its adaptability. Since its release, it has remained relevant in software engineering and is still highly sought after because developers can modify the program with ease to suit their needs.
11. R Programming Language
Another program to make our list of language programs for Open-source languages is R. This language program is still ranked highly for its efficiency at analyzing large data and evolving ad hoc issues. R can also be used for mining projects too.
10. C
Developed in 1972 by Dennis Ritchie, it is still a wonder why this program has remained popular even after all these years. In light of the numerous open-source programs being released on a yearly basis, one would have thought that C would have lost relevance, but this is not the case. C was initially designed as a general-purpose language for computer programs and hardware. Over the years, however, it has become a root program for several popular languages known to man today. Some languages that have their root in C include PHP, Java, and JavaScript.
9. TypeScript
Another open-source language widely used by developers is TypeScript. This language program was developed and is maintained by Microsoft. TypeScript is also one of the fastest-growing languages today as many are beginning to turn to the language to write or modify their codes. When compared to JavaScript, it has a similar semantic and syntax, but the difference is that TypeScript is packed with very strong features for large-scale apps. Included in the language program is the Visual Studio Code (a free code editor by Microsoft). While some developers may not rate TypeScript too highly for enterprise-based projects, it ranks high for open-source software development.
8. Swift
No list will be complete without Apple’s Swift for iOS-based Open-source projects. Swift offers convenience when developing advanced open-source applications and is specially designed for iOS applications. Although Swift is relatively new, its popularity is showing no signs of waning any time soon.
7. Shell
Not many may know about Shell if they have never worked on Open source projects or rarely do, but this language program is very popular among IT companies. Shell is a highly resourceful language that allows the developer to directly write codes that dictate to the computer system what to do. Some actions Shell can be used for include files copying, data backup, installing, and uninstalling programs directly or remotely.
6. C++
Dating as far back as 1979, C++ was created by Bjarne Stroustrup for his Ph.D. thesis. This language program was designed using C as a background program. With C being an open-source program, he simply added new features to create C++. Some programs that use C++ today include computer games, web browsers, and operating systems.
5. C#
Pronounced as C-Sharp, C# was developed by a team headed by Anders Hejlsberg for Microsoft. With marked similarities to Java, C# is used in enterprise software, games, and general mobile applications.
4. PHP
This open-source program is meant for the creation of interactive web pages and for general web development. Large concerns like Yahoo and Facebook also use it to operate their databases. Originally called Hypertext Preprocessor, PHP is not without its critics, but it still remains relevant and widely used by both freelance developers and large corporations.
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3. Java
There was no way Java wasn’t going to make the top ten list since it is one of the most popular language programs in the world today. Now owned by Oracle, Java was initially developed in 1995 by Sun Microsystems. Today, it is used by some of the largest companies you can think of like Netflix and Twitter, to mention a few. In fact, Java has become a standard language program for large organizations that work with big platforms that process a lot of data. With Java, you can create database software, web applications, and mobile applications. Another thing that makes Java a dynamic program is down to the fact that you can switch from C# to C++ languages at any time since it was developed using C as its root program.
2. Python
Regarded as one of the most popular language programs in the world, you may never find a list without Python on it. Python has a very large developer community where developers exchange codes and ideas. It is also the number one programming language for data science and artificial intelligence applications. According to analysts, one of the reasons behind its continued relevance is that it is very easy to use and highly adaptive.
1. JavaScript
The number one programming language on our list for open-source projects is JavaScript. Javascript is used to build web pages and ensures that websites are highly interactive. It is flexible but yet powerful for improving the interaction between single or multiple users. That is not to say that JavaScript is only used for websites. Developers also use it to build games too.
The programming languages on our list are the top 20 most used programming languages for 2022, and we reckon that most, if not all, of them, will make a comeback next year even though we know that there are other popular open-source programming languages. Do you agree with our list, or do you feel that we left out one or a few programs that should have made a list? Please let us know your thoughts.
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