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5 Best Backend Technologies For Web App Development
5 Best Backend Technologies For Web App Development
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If you are about to kick-start your software development project, the popularity of the
programming language will be one of the significant concerns to bear in mind. And Python has
been exceptionally out-shined in the community.
Whether you want to assemble a knowledgeable in-house team or find a reliable website
development company that helps you build a product, then Python is surely a widespread
technology that will surely help you start the development process much faster.
Here are the Major Reasons:
● Simple Language Means Faster Backend Development
One of the primary reasons for hiring a Python developer is, it boasts a simple yet
straightforward language for development. Python’s syntax resembles everyday English
language which makes it easy to read, learn and use for advanced levels of work. Hence it is
widely used for web development, software development and more.
● Support of Abundance of Libraries and Frameworks
The third most important reason why organizations are picking Python for backend development
in 2021 is it is supported by a plethora of frameworks and libraries, which makes it easier to
integrate with other languages, ensure automation garbage collection, GUI support and more.
● Compatible With Trending Technologies Like AI & ML
Python’s compatibility with the latest yet industry demanding technologies makes it the most
preferred among Indian developers. So if you are planning to build a robust application, then
collaborating with the developers will be a worthy decision.
Pro Tip: When you are looking for a tech partner who’ll help you launch your Python product,
keep in mind that they are working with Python 3.9 as it boasts all the latest features and is
highly efficient for enterprise projects.
2021?)
Hopefully, by the end of this blog, you have few industry-leading programming languages for
your web and app development. Every programming language has its own charm and losses,
so there is no standard programing language that fits all business needs. If you are in a
dilemma that which programing language is best suited to your project, then you can hire a web
development company with the soundtrack record. They will help you pick the best backend
programing language and frameworks that are not only used by leading industries but also an
efficient choice for your project.
So no matter what type of web and app development requirements are, you can Contact Us or
drop a query to get yourself the business growing solution.
Since the business world is more inclined to digital technology, website development has
become vital in business expansion. Moreover, the introduction of backend development has
enabled web developers to develop top-notch websites, resulting in business expansion.
Table of Content
The primary focus of backend development is on the server-side of the website. In general, the
backend consists of three major parts:
● Database
● Application
● Server
At the server-side, backend power-ups the working of the website. In addition, the programs
written here by the backend developers are used to communicate the database information to
the browser.
In 2021, backend development is going to be even more vital as businesses look to expand at a
rapid rate. We will look at the 5 best languages for backend development that are going to rule
the roots in 2021.
Before beginning, we have seen everything from cloud computing to AI, everything making its
mark in the software realm. Moreover, apart from development, the technical craft too will hold
an important place in backend development in 2021.
Therefore, keeping every aspect in mind, we have curated a list of the backend programming
languages that will be important in the future of backend development.
Node.js is asynchronous, non-blocking, and single-threaded in nature. That’s why Node.js is the
best backend language for real-time applications.
Node.js is a JavaScript-based solution so the majority of the front-end developers are familiar
with this language. In fact, JavaScript was the most used programming language according to a
survey by Stack Overflow in 2019. So if you plan to hire Nodejs developers, it’s not going to be
very hard or time-consuming.
When it comes to switching to the back-end, the developers can benefit themselves with all the
advantages of JavaScript development. Because of a dynamic community of developers,
Node.js is one of the best backend programming languages. The dynamic developer’s
community contributes to the development of the language.
The default package manager of Node.js is NPM, which is a marketplace for open-source
JavaScript tools. The marketplace has more than 350,000 tools available in its registry. This
gives the developers a plethora of options to choose from.
In recent years, Express.js has become one of the most popular Node.js frameworks. The
reason behind this is simple. Express.js is a minimalist, fast and opinionated solution. Moreover,
it renders enough mobile app and website features to enhance the backend development
process. What’s more, Express.js is flexible and doesn’t impose any strict rules to handle a
respective task.
To put into perspective. Python is very similar to the English language we use in everyday life.
The backend programming language has a simple syntax which allows even the rookie coders
to learn the language fast. Because it is immaculately easy to read, developers working on the
same projects can have better communication in understanding the code.
Python has no research contentions or deadlocks. Thus, it doesn’t take much effort to write and
maintain asynchronous code using Python. Moreover, as each unit of the code runs separately,
it is easier for the developers to handle them. Because of such an immaculate feature, the
Python backend programming language has been able to maintain its longevity even after 30
years.
Let us now see some of the leading frameworks for website development using Python.
Django
This framework is highly used for mid-range projects and fully-fledged web applications.
Moreover, Django has built-in features that simplify the web development process and allows
code reuse. The framework synchronizes well with MySQL, Oracle SQL, and other databases.
Flask
This Python backend development framework provides management solutions that can be
easily customized. Moreover, Flask is a micro-framework that is used for solutions that mainly
prefer lean functionality. Also, it is used to create prototypes.
Pyramid
With Pyramid, the developers can start small and scale big according to the requirement. This
framework is used with either extended plugins or various databases. Pyramid is mainly used
when there is a need of implementing various solutions in one task.
We are a team of expert developers, testers and business consultants who strive to deliver
nothing but the best. 'Hire Python Developer' to create a dynamic web application or IOT based
solution.
With Kotlin, besides writing fewer codes, you get improved readability as well. Less coding
results in fewer bugs and allows the developers to focus on other important tasks. In 2021,
Kotlin backend programming language will hold an important position as it increases the
website’s performance.
Another interesting fact about Kotlin is that it came from the industry and not from academia.
Thus, it a simpler tool than Java which solves challenges and problems faced by the
programmers. For example, it assists the developers to get away from null-pointer exceptions.
Thus, this becomes an effective tool to use with Java and is as ubiquitous as Java. Kotlin will
have a huge impact in future backend development as it is fully-compatible with Java. Besides
this, the developers would have access to huge libraries enabling them to write concise codes.
This is why over 61% of the developers with more than 5 years of experience prefer working
with Kotlin.
The learning curve of Kotlin is very easy. Moreover, if the businesses is looking for streamlining
product development, they can move the project to Kotlin easily. Besides, it doesn’t require
more than 2-3 engineers to work on product maintenance with Kotlin.
Android development is not the only USP of Kotlin. Since the backend programming language
has high interoperability, it suits multi-platform development as well. What’s more, JetBrains has
also added Gradle support in Kotlin which enables the developers to write in Gradle files. Thus,
writing native iOS applications in Kotlin becomes very easy.
As businesses are looking to get out of the horrors of 2020, Kotlin can be a great ally for them. It
facilitates faster development and is comparatively very cheap. Also, Kotlin is a universal
backend programming language. Therefore, transfer from one platform to the other becomes
very easy.
As mentioned above, Kotlin has a very easy learning curve. Thus, the language is less
error-prone and gives the developers a chance to find the errors easily.
Kotlin is a very safe and secure backend programming language. Everyone understands that
data security is the most essential thing to rise in the modern business world. The Kotlin
developers are integrated into the semantics principles. These principles prevent the occurrence
of common mistakes that often happen during the execution of the program.
Technology Stack For Mobile App Development: How To Choose The Right
One
Ruby on Rails is slower than Python but still is one of the top three well-known backend
programming languages. David Hansson in 2003 first wrote Ruby on Rails with an aim to
simplify the process of web and app development.
In 2021, Ruby on Rails will play a pivotal role as it helps in reducing the time spent on
standardized tasks. It minimizes the website development time by 25% as compared to other
languages. In addition to it, there are some amazing advantages of Ruby on Rails that will help
businesses in the long run.
We have listed some of the top advantages of this backend development below.
● The code which is written in Ruby on Rails is crisp, clear and very consistent. In addition,
this programming language is one of the most time-efficient frameworks in the world.
● It has a large community of developers. Thus if the developers face any problem during
web app development, they have a large pool to rely upon.
● It reduces the time taken for web app development as the developers can reuse the
codes to a greater extent
● Ruby on Rails (RoR) works on Model-View-Control-Format. This simply means that it is
easier to separate the business logic from the other parts of the app
● The coding process in RoR is self describable and easily readable. Therefore, the rookie
developers do not need any extra documentation to start any new project
● The developer can develop a prototype of the future website at a faster rate with Ruby
on Rails
The backend programming language is further known for its predictability and stability. Due to
its predictable nature, the developers find it easier to add new features according to the
requirement. Moreover, the framework is suitable for long-term projects and can be used in all
kinds of business industries.
Below is a list of projects which can benefit immensely from Ruby on Rails
● Database solutions
● Content sites
● Social media sites
● Ecommerce sites
Moreover, we have also listed some of the top companies who prefer Ruby on Rails as their
backend programming language. They are:
● Dribble
● Groupon
● Airbnb
● Apple
● Hulu
● YellowPages
● Zendesk
We are a team of expert developers, testers and business consultants who strive to deliver
nothing but the best. Planning to build a completely secure and efficient application? 'Hire
Dedicated Developers'.
PHP is a convenient backend programming language that is very flexible and has immaculate
features. This is why PHP is considered to be the future of backend development in 2021.
Moreover, the syntax of PHP is very expressive which provides creative freedom to the
developers.
PHP has inbuilt website development capabilities. It promotes rapid website development by
simplifying it with a basic structure. The developers can add features to the app without writing
complex and lengthy codes.
This backend programming language allows developers to work with a wide range of relational
databases. Moreover, PHP automates common web development tasks like session
management, URL mapping, caching, etc. Its built-in security features guards the website
against threats.
Besides the established players of the software world, budding entrepreneurs can also use PHP
as it is cost-effective. Besides this, the developers can perform the unit test in an efficient
manner with PHP. PHPUnit is the object-oriented unit testing framework for PHP. It helps the
backend developers to run and write the tests in an efficient manner.
Most of the frameworks in PHP are open-source thus the developers have no dearth of options.
Conclusion
The listed backend development programming languages will be essential for companies to rise
in 2021. Business organizations can use them to the core once they understand their
requirements and select the backend programming language accordingly.
It is necessary for the businesses to select the best language for backend according to their
requirement. Apart from the language, you need to ensure that you have the best backend
developer for your project. Do not compromise on the quality of backend developers as it can
make or break your project.
Miłosz Kaczorowski
The server side of your future product is arguably its most important part. There are a few
dozens of languages available on the market and the number is changing every year. To make
your navigation in the maze of modern web development easier our talented web developers
prepared a list of six coding systems considered the best backend languages. We recommend
considering such backend solutions as Python, Java, JavaScript, PHP, Ruby, and Golang.
Python
Introduced in 1991 Python gained popularity as one of the easiest programming languages to
get acquainted with. Throughout the years it gathered numerous communities supporting the
advancement of Python libraries and frameworks. According to the PYPL PopularitY of
Programming Language Index Python is the most popular programming language in the world.
Simple syntax
Among other backend languages, Python gained a reputation as the easiest to learn. It has a
simple syntax similar to the English language which makes Python code comprehensible even
for amateurs. Nevertheless, such simplicity doesn’t restrain Python’s productivity. Trained
developers can turn it into a powerful tool capable of complex calculations.
Fast prototyping
With fewer lines of code, the Python programming language is fast, making it ideal for getting
things to market quickly. It is mostly used for minimum viable, mid-sized, and large products.
Brief development time shortens the distance between feedback and implementation of
improvements allowing your product to evolve at a cougar pace.
One of the biggest Python’s treasures is a voluminous collection of library tools and packages,
which allows access to much pre-written code, streamlining your application development time.
For example, you have access to Pillow for image processing, Bcrypt for generating strong
hashing values, Matplotlib and Seaborn for data visualization, SLQALchemy for composable
queries, etc. From the variety of available pre-written code samples, we consider Django as the
best backend framework.
Scalability
There are several tools available in Python ensuring the scalability of the product. First of all,
Python supports powerful data containers for ‘collections’ such as dict, list, set, and tuple.
Second, Python provides a number of generator functions that allow you to create efficient
iterators. Generators are also a beneficial instrument for encapsulation of methods and
variables that provides new and useful ways for you to package and isolate the internal code
dependencies. This is why you can use generators for loops.
Python’s disadvantages:
Java
Another popular choice for back-end development is Java – a class-based, object-oriented
programming language with syntax deriving from C++. It was developed during the early 1990-s
by Sun Microsystems (acquired by Oracle in 2010) and was released to the market first in 1996.
It is widely used for building enterprise-scale web applications as it is one of the most stable
languages on the market. Java’s advantages include platform independence, multi-threaded
processing, automatic garbage collection, and security.
Cross-platform
Java was developed with the “Write Once, Run Anywhere” approach in mind, meaning that the
code written in Java can be run on any platform, regardless of where it was originally created.
Such platform independence is provided by Java Virtual Machine – the environment where Java
code is executed. In this respect, Java is different from other languages that require compilers.
Multi-threaded Processing
A great Java’s feature is the use of a multi-threaded web server. Such a server processes each
request in an independent thread. This feature allows avoiding queueing of the events by
executing requests concurrently. For this reason, Java is a great tool for CPU-overloading tasks,
such as transcoding a video, compressing files, financial modeling, etc.
Security
Java is said to be more secure than any other programming language. Its security is obtained
from a large set of APIs, tools, and implementations of commonly-used security algorithms,
mechanisms, and protocols. A vital role is played by the abovementioned Java Virtual Machine
(JVM) that verifies the byte-code. The JVM provides guarantees that there is no unsafe
operation going to execute. Other Java’s security mechanisms beloved by professionals include
cryptography, public key infrastructure, secure communication, authentication, and access
control.
Java’s disadvantages:
While being a reliable and steady backend language, Java has some drawbacks:
Choosing Node.js is a wise decision if you are developing games, chats, streaming services or
Internet of Things products. It also suits well for microservice-based products. Such Node.js
utility is accomplished by such characteristics as support of a non-blocking input-output and a
significant number of connections.
Concurrency
One of the key features of JavaScript’s Node.js is the use of non-blocking input-output which
provides concurrency. JavaScript execution is single-threaded so that the event loop is capable
of executing callback functions only after completing other work. Any code that is expected to
run in a concurrent manner must allow the event loop to continue running as non-JavaScript
operations. The asynchronous input-output makes Node.js a perfect tool for uploading video or
audio to the server, which in turn will process it.
The other benefit achieved by the use of a single thread is the support of a huge number of
simultaneous connections and the distribution of messages across channels. The number of
concurrent connections can reach up to 1 million and the number of concurrent WebSocket
connections up to 600 thousand! For the development of a real-time application, such a feature
is essential.
If your future software is planned to be divided into separate functional modules in containers,
using Node.js is a great choice. It is a lightweight technology that makes it easier and cheaper
to parallelize development, test separate modules, and conduct ongoing support.
● As the code is executed on the user machine, many people choose to disable JavaScript
due to the fear of being exploited for a malicious intent;
● Might be interpreted differently by different browsers;
● Node.js responsiveness may be blocked by any CPU intensive computation;
● JavaScript doesn’t suit the development of financial products because of the use of the
floating decimal point which can lead to accumulation of errors in variables;
● The hiring of developers with extensive experience might fail due to Node.js’ young age.
Contact us and we will gladly assist you in recruiting true professionals.
PHP is fast
The use of PHP makes website pages load faster as compared to many other web development
technologies. For instance, PHP is three times faster than Python. A higher application speed
makes customers satisfied and helps to keep their attention. In addition, lower loading time is an
important SEO ranking factor that enhances a product’s promotion on the web.
Among many PHP extensions, there is one particularly helpful for debugging. It is called Xdebug
and was released in 2002 by Derick Rethans. Xdebug uses DBGp protocol and provides such
information as stack and function traces in error messages, memory allocation, code coverage
analysis, etc. Convenient debugging tool results in the reliability and safety of the final product.
Being one of the oldest backend development languages on the market, PHP is known by many
programmers. A large number of available specialists results in high competitiveness and lower
demanded wages, which is beneficial for the quality of the final product and reducing
development costs.
The most common operation scenario for a PHP website is the LAMP stack. It means that a
website runs on an Apache HTTP web server deployed on a Linux system and the database is
managed by MySQL. Both elements are open-source which reduces the development costs.
PHP’s disadvantages
Although PHP could be the best backend language, some of its key features make it vulnerable.
Ruby on Rails
Developed in the mid-1990-s in Japan by Yukihiro "Matz" Matsumoto, Ruby is an interpreted,
object-oriented programming language. It focuses on objects and data, rather than single
actions and a specific logic behind them. These objects are then treated as units within a
program, which interact with one another. Although the language is recently losing in popularity
(according to the State of Octoverse 2020 Ruby has the lowest rating) its main framework -
Rails, is doing just fine. The spheres where Ruby shines at its best include social networking
and e-commerce. Since Ruby has the ability to support traffic-heavy apps, it is perfect for
products like Twitter. It’s also capable of managing a great number of transactions and bookings
which is crucial for companies like Airbnb and Couchsurfing. Other reasons to consider Ruby as
the best backend language are a catalog of sophisticated development tools, stability, strong
devotion to standards.
Ruby on Rails provides fantastic instruments that help deliver more features in less time. It
provides a standard structure for web apps, where all the common patterns are taken care of for
you.
Ruby is reliable
Ruby on Rails is mature and offers stability that directly translates into successful, hassle-free
maintenance for years. Skilled developers know how to create a steady commercial website
with good revenue.
One of Ruby on Rails’ advantages is a strong backing of web standards for every part of an
application. Applications that are made with Ruby on Rails are expected to follow established
software design paradigms, such as “convention over configuration” (logical situations are
assumed by default which saves time on decision-making), “don’t repeat yourself”
(encouragement to avoid code duplication and to create abstractions instead) and “active record
pattern” (specific way of accessing data in the database).
Golang
Golang is a young and ambitious open-source programming language delivered by Google. The
design of Golang was initiated in 2007 while the first stable version was released in 2011. Since
the very beginning, the language has kept the developer’s attention as a promising project. The
first major event that proved the new language’s efficiency was the Droboxes’ decision to switch
from Python to Golang in 2014. In 2016, Golang was introduced to the Tiobe index’s
Programming Language Hall of Fame as a language that has the highest rise in ratings in a
year.
The list of companies using Go throughout the world is impressive. Among them Alibaba,
Xiaomi, Medium, Mozilla, etc. The advantages of the new language are obvious: it is safe, agile,
convenient for testing, and has good scalability.
Great performance
Good performance is a crucial characteristic you should look for in the best backend language.
If you want your product to run quickly and smoothly, then hiring a Golang development team is
a wise decision. Tests have proven that Golang has a better performance compared to Java and
Python. High execution speed is provided by the language design. While other back-end
languages require an interpreter to run, Golang is directly translated into formats that a
processor understands. The other strong side of Golang is a better memory management
system which helps to eradicate the notorious memory leakage issues when programmers do
not release unused memory by mistake.
Safety
Golang’s simple and clear syntaxes make it safer than languages with complicated code. As a
statically typed language, Golang produces fewer errors than dynamic languages, such as
Python or Ruby. Those errors are easy to identify and fix which makes the final product more
secure.
Scalability
The price for Golang’s productivity is the high cost of development in terms of money and time.
The pace of development is slowed down by the absence of generic functions. Without support
for generic functions, programmers will need to create multiple footprints of functions to deal
with different types of parameters on their own. For that reason, Golang doesn’t suit occasions
when a quick demo for the investors has to be crafted. Also, it’s not the best choice for the
minimum viable products.
Laying down a strong foundation for your building is essential for it to hold on. And choosing the
right backend framework is quintessential to the efficient operation of the software.
A backend framework is a collection of tools, code libraries, and other software that enables the
building of server-side logic that powers websites and apps from behind the scenes.
They eliminate the need to build and configure everything from the ground up by offering
ready-made components for developing dynamic web applications.
Top 10 backend frameworks
According to Github Stars, the top 10 backend frameworks as of February 2021 are:
1. Laravel
2. Flask
3. Django
4. Express.js
5. Ruby on Rails
6. Meteor
7. Spring
8. Koa
9. NestJs
10. Strapi
Let’s dive into the details of the top 13 backend frameworks for web development.
1. Laravel
Laravel is a free, open-source PHP web framework based on the MVC architecture. It is ideal
for developers who love to program in PHP. Key benefits include authentication, simple API,
caching backends, logs, and tests. Plus, it’s easy to get started with great documentation, queue
management, and an eloquent ORM. Laravel is perfect for building blogs, news portals, and
e-commerce websites.
2. Flask
Flask is a Python-based micro web framework. It is micro in the sense that Flask aims to keep
the core simple but extensible. Developers that have a grasp of Python can easily adapt to
working with Flask. As a micro-framework, it’s perfect for applications that require heavy
customization.
3. Django
Django is one of the most popular frameworks written in Python language. It follows the model
view controller (MVC) pattern. Django is arguably one of the cleanest frameworks in terms of
architecture. Django is used for the development of sophisticated database-driven websites.
Many developers prefer Django over other server-side frameworks due to its flexibility, REST
frameworks for APIs, and battery functions.
4. Express.js
Express.js, aka Express, is a backend web application framework designed for building web
applications and APIs. It provides a thin layer of fundamental web app features. And with a
myriad of HTTP utility methods and middleware, creating a robust API is quick and easy.
5. Ruby on Rails
Ruby on Rails, also known as Rails, is a server-side framework written in Ruby. It offers default
structures for a database, web pages, and web service. Scalability is one of the main reasons
for many users to opt for Ruby on Rails.
6. Meteor
Meteor is an open-source framework for building web, mobile, and desktop applications in
JavaScript. It’s known for the smooth running of data between client and server. Meteor can be
used with any popular front-end JS framework, including Vue, React, Svelte, Angular, or Blaze.
Developers using Meteor can code for front-end and backend with one single language. This
framework guarantees seamless real-time communication between a client and a server.
7. Spring
Spring is the most popular framework for enterprise Java. It leverages the Spring platform and
third-party libraries to enable the developers to get started with minimum hassle. It focuses on
the “plumbing” of enterprise applications so that teams can focus on application-level business
logic.
8. Koa
Koa is a lightweight and scalable Node.js framework that provides a robust set of features for
web and mobile apps. By leveraging async functions, it allows you to greatly increase error
handling. Koa was built by the team behind Express to be a more robust foundation for APIs
and web applications. It is often referred to as the lightweight version of Express. Koa provides
an elegant suite of methods that make writing servers fast and enjoyable.
9. Nest.js
Written in: JavaScript and TypeScript
10. Strapi
Strapi is a Node.js API framework with headless CMS capabilities. It is a cross between a
content management system (CMS) and a Node.js framework. Strapi is the most advanced
Node.js content management framework, saving developers weeks of API configurations. It
comes with an impressive set of features and useful plugins.
● It is foremost to understand the purpose behind the use of a framework and whether it’s
suitable or not.
● The best backend frameworks ensure that security is a central part of the framework’s
infrastructure.
● Migrating from one backend framework to another is expensive and risky. Therefore, it’s
critical to pick a framework that can grow with your business.
● Ease of installation. The best frameworks contain a simple setup and run as fast as
possible.
● If you choose a framework with poor documentation, you’ll end up spending more time
figuring out the basics than developing features.
● Learning curve. If you’re familiar with a particular programming language, you may
want to use a framework that employs that language.
● If you’ll go for a backend framework that has a large and supporting community, you can
always ask for help.
There are a bunch of backend frameworks in the market. However, only a handful of them can
deploy a scalable application. Truly versatile frameworks are based on powerful and expressive
languages and enable developers to build web applications and APIs.
Neighborhood Lender
MyRank
Python Pinterest
2. Flask
LinkedIn
Python Instagram
3. Django
Spotify
Coursera
National Geographic
YouTube
DropBox
JavaScript Uber
4. Express.js
Accenture
IBM
PayPal
Ruby Airbnb
5. Ruby on Rails
Shopify
GitHub
SoundCloud
Crunchbase
JavaScript Mazda
6. Meteor
IKEA
Honeywell
Java Trivago
7. Spring
Via Varejo
Intuit
NodeJS Roche
8. Koa
Adidas
Capgemini
Starbucks
JavaScript IBM
10. Strapi
NASA
Walmart
All these frameworks have large communities and good documentation. Selecting one for your
project will depend on required features, what technology pairs with it, development goals, team
strength, etc. A good choice would be a framework with the programming language you are
more familiar with. However, venturing into uncharted waters can be a great learning
experience.
Final Word
To conclude our overview of the best backend language for web development we want to outline
that there is no single solution suitable for all kinds of projects. It is always a trade between
productivity and demanded resources, scalability and safety, simplicity of production, and
effectiveness. If you are not sure which backend development technology will be the best for
your project, get in touch with us. Our software consultants will help you define your business
needs and pick the right technology and our skilled backend developers matched with your
industry and company culture will help you create your product.
If you’re new to the field of software development, the toughest part of learning programming is
deciding where to begin. There are hundreds of programming languages in widespread use,
each with its own complexities and idiosyncrasies.
The good news is that as you begin your journey as a software developer, you’ll start to discover
which programming language will be most suitable for you, your interests, and your career
goals.
In the list below, we go over the best and most in-demand programming languages for many of
the most common use cases including web development, mobile development, game
development, and more.
1. JavaScript
It’s impossible to be a software developer these days without using JavaScript in some way.
According to Stack Overflow's 2020 Developer Survey, JavaScript is the most popular language
among developers for the eighth year in a row. Nearly 70 percent of survey respondents
reported that they had used JavaScript in the past year.
Along with HTML and CSS, JavaScript is essential to front-end web development. A majority of
the web’s most popular sites, from Facebook and Twitter to Gmail and YouTube, rely on
JavaScript to create interactive web pages and dynamically display content to users.
Although JavaScript is primarily a front-end language run on the browser, it can also be used on
the server-side through Node.js to build scalable network applications. Node.js is compatible
with Linux, SunOS, Mac OS X, and Windows.
Because JavaScript has a forgiving, flexible syntax and works across all major browsers, it is
one of the friendliest programming languages for beginners.
In the video below, learn why we chose to focus our curriculum on Javascript back in 2012 and
why our founders continue to stick with the programming language for 2021 and beyond.
2. Swift
If you’re interested in Apple products and mobile app development, Swift is a good place to
start. First announced by Apple in 2014, Swift is a relatively new programming language used to
develop iOS and macOS applications.
Swift has been optimized for performance and built from the ground up to match the realities of
modern iOS development. Not only does iOS run on every iPhone and iPad, but it’s also the
basis for other operating systems such as watchOS (for Apple Watches) and tvOS (for Apple
TVs). In addition, Apple isn't going anywhere as a tech industry leader, and iOS apps continue
to be the most profitable in the mobile app marketplace.
3. Scala
If you’re familiar with Java—a classic programming language in its own right—it’s worth
checking out its modern cousin, Scala. Scala combines the best features of Java (such as its
Object-Oriented Structure and its lightning-fast JVM runtime environment) with a modern twist.
As a functional programming language, Scala allows engineers to elevate the quality of their
code to resemble pure math. Scala allows for concurrent programming, allowing complex
procedures to be executed in parallel. Furthermore, it is a strongly typed language. Engineers
can create and customize their own data types, allowing them to have the peace of mind
knowing entire swaths of bugs are impossible at runtime.
4. Go
One of the core languages favored by Google, Go is the little language that could. As a
low-level language, Go is ideal for engineers who want to enter the field of systems
programming. It encompasses much of the same functionality of C and C++ without the difficult
syntax and steep learning curve. It’s the perfect language for building web servers, data
pipelines, and even machine-learning packages.
As a compiled language, Go runs “close to the metal,” allowing for a blazing-fast runtime. It’s an
open-source language, and ambitious developers can see their personal contributions adopted
and enjoyed by programmers worldwide.
5. Python
Python is perhaps the most user-friendly programming language of any on this list. It’s often
said that Python’s syntax is clear, intuitive, and almost English-like, which, like Java, makes it a
popular choice for beginners.
Also like Java, Python has a variety of applications that make it a versatile, powerful option
when choosing the best programming language for your use case. If you’re interested in
back-end web development, for example, then the open-source Django framework, written in
Python, is popular, easy to learn, and feature-rich. Django has been used in the development of
some popular sites like Mozilla, Instagram, and Spotify.
Python also has packages such as NumPy and SciPy that are commonly used in the fields of
scientific computing, mathematics, and engineering. Other Python libraries such as TensorFlow,
PyTorch, scikit-learn, and OpenCV are used to build programs in data science, machine
learning, image processing, and computer vision. Python's science and data applications make
it a great choice for the academically inclined.
6. Elm
One of the youngest languages on our list, what began as a Harvard student’s thesis has now
grown to become a point of passion for front-end developers around the world.
Elm compiles to JavaScript, making it ideal for building fast-executing UIs with zero errors at
runtime. Elm is a functional programming language, allowing developers to create client-side
interfaces without the declarative trappings of HTML and CSS.
Furthermore, the Elm web architecture was the intellectual inspiration for Redux, the
state-management library taught here at Fullstack.
7. Ruby
Ruby is another scripting language that’s commonly used for web development. In particular, it’s
used as the basis for the popular Ruby on Rails web application framework.
Beginners often gravitate toward Ruby because it has a reputation for having one of the
friendliest and most helpful user communities. The Ruby community even has an unofficial
saying, “Matz is nice and so we are nice,” encouraging members to model their kind and
considerate behavior on Ruby’s chief inventor Yukihiro Matsumoto.
In addition to the active community and its straightforward syntax, Ruby is also a good language
to pick up thanks to its association with great tech businesses. Twitter, Airbnb, Bloomberg,
Shopify, and countless other startups have all built their websites using Ruby on Rails at some
point.
8. C#
Like C++, C# (pronounced C Sharp) is a general-purpose, object-oriented language built on the
foundations of C. It was originally designed by Microsoft as part of its .NET framework for
building Windows applications.
C# uses a syntax that’s similar to other C-derived languages such as C++, so it’s easy to pick
up if you’re coming from another language in the C family. C# is not only the go-to for Microsoft
app development, but it’s also the language mobile developers use to build cross-platform apps
on the Xamarin platform.
Additionally, anyone who is interested in VR development should consider learning C#. C# is the
recommended language for building 3D and 2D video games using the popular Unity game
engine, which produces one-third of the top games on the market.
9. Rust
Rust is a bit of an upstart among the other languages on this list, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a
valuable language to learn. Stack Overflow’s 2020 Developer Survey found that Rust was the
most loved programming language among developers for the fifth year in a row, with 86.1
percent of Rust developers saying that they want to continue working with it.
Developed by the Mozilla Corporation, Rust, like C and C++, is intended primarily for low-level
systems programming. What Rust adds to the mix, however, is an emphasis on speed and
security. Rust emphasizes writing “safe code” by preventing programs from accessing parts of
memory that they shouldn’t, which can cause unexpected behavior and system crashes.
The advantages of Rust mean that other big tech companies, such as Dropbox and Coursera,
are already starting to use it internally. While it may be a bit more difficult to master than other
beginner languages, Rust programming skills are likely to pay off handsomely, as the language's
popularity will only continue to rise in the near future.
It’s Code Time
When deciding which programming language to learn, it’s important not to get caught up in
flashy trends and popularity contests. The best programming languages to learn in 2021 are
likely the same ones that were best to learn in 2017 and 2018, and that will continue to be true
for the next several years as well.
Although the field of computer programming changes rapidly, the languages that we’ve
discussed above have a great deal of staying power. By learning one or more of these
languages, you’ll be in an excellent position not only for this year but in the years to come.
When beginning your journey into coding, only you can answer the question of the best
programming language to learn. Make your selection based on your interests and the type of
software development you want to get into. Here is a quick summary of the different possibilities
that we’ve discussed:
What does your software consist of? Frontend and backend, of course. These are the main
parts to make your website or mobile app functional.
In this article:
The backend plays the most crucial part in this combination since it implements all users’
requests via the frontend part. And it is highly essential to choose the right backend technology
that will let developers build a solid ground for your software.
By the way, what is the backend in detail? What technologies developers use, and what is their
difference? How is mobile and web app backend created? These and a range of other answers
are waiting for you in our new article.
The frontend is a client-side where images, buttons, animations are displayed. The backend
part is a server-side that processes your requests when you need to search for something, send
messages, download information, etc.
The backend consists of three parts — server, application, database. So the backend's primary
goal is to store and organize data, interact with the interface, send and receive the required
information displayed as a web page.
However, it mustn’t be your headache trying to delve into all technical details. You need
to entrust the resolution of this problem to experts. Get in touch with Cadabra Studio
professionals.
The frontend may be stunning and eye-catching, but it means nothing if the application doesn’t
work. The backend is responsible for the interaction with the database, permanent calculations,
and the performance depends on how properly everything is assembled in the backend.
It is the backend where the most crucial coding stage is performed during the development
process. Thus, if there are many crashes and errors, it means the availability of backend code
issues. However, the code complexity level may depend on the selected technology since
languages and frameworks are different. That is why we prepared the backend technologies list
with their comparisons.
Note: All stacks shown here are referred to as full stacks, i.e., they include tools for both
frontend and backend development. There is no sense to use backend tools only since the
client-side and server-side are tightly connected.
MEAN stack
MEAN reflects a modern approach to web development. Each development stage applies
JavaScript-based tools. That is, the MEAN acronym stands for MongoDB (NoSQL database),
Express.js (backend framework), Angular (frontend framework), Node.js (backend platform).
This stack allows developers to build a full-fledged website using JavaScript only.
As for pros, when developers use the MEAN stack, the backend part can be created faster,
and you can save your money since a couple of JavaScript developers can build a website. You
don’t need to hire a large team of experts. Its cons include MongoDB’s particularities — this
database is suitable for small- and mid-sized web applications. Still, in large-scale projects, it
may be the reason for data loss during networking partitioning.
This article may be interesting for you: Build Netflix like Website
LAMP Stack
This stack is considered to be the primary opponent of the MEAN stack. LAMP acronym
consists of Linux (an operating system), Apache (a web server), MySQL (database), PHP (a
scripting language). Sometimes PHP in the LAMP stack can be replaced with Perl or Python
language.
As for pros, LAMP provides a secure infrastructure for web app development. When
developers choose the LAMP stack, the development process goes faster since every host and
most CMSs support backend techs like PHP and MySQL. But due to the wide adoption of the
MEAN stack, LAMP loses its popularity since it is not as efficient as MEAN, these are the cons.
It is time for the server-side technologies comparison that we have just described above. LAMP
stack vs. MEAN stack is the fight where there are no losers and winners yet. LAMP uses Linux
as an operating system, whereas MEAN has no OS at all in its components. So using LAMP
stack, you are limited to one specific OS.
Simultaneously, the LAMP stack allows developers to replace PHP with Python or Perl, but the
MEAN stack implies JavaScript-based tools usage only. It also concerns databases — LAMP
developers can replace MySQL with PostgreSQL. But MEAN stack devs can work with
MongoDB only.
Finally, as for frontend components. MEAN uses the Angular framework to enhance and
accelerate frontend development. When the website is created using LAMP, developers need to
use additional JS-based tools to improve their web app, so MEAN gains the lead.
MERN Stack
What are the particularities of the MERN stack? Backend technologies are identical to the
MEAN stack, and it is the first particularity. Second, the only difference in MERN and MEAN
stacks is the frontend framework/library.
The MERN stack includes MongoDB as a database, Express.js as a backend framework, React
as a library for frontend, and Node.js. So Angular is replaced with React, and MERN pros and
cons are almost the same as MEAN stack has. However, MERN is one of the LAMP stack
alternatives that doesn’t play into the latter’s hands.
Although these two stacks are almost identical, it is possible to compare them to find some pros
and cons. MERN is better for faster development since React allows developers to write the
code faster. The performance of React is higher than the Angular framework has.
However, MEAN is used for enterprise applications since the maintenance of architecture is
more accessible with Angular. It is suitable for supporting MVC architecture, whereas React
cannot boast about the same features.
And MEAN allows the application of third-party tools easily since Angular comes with integrated
features for compatibility with many third-party libraries. React requires additional configuration
to work with third parties, and it takes more time. So MEAN may win this race.
RoR Stack
Another stack consists of two primary backend technologies — Ruby on Rails framework and
Ruby programming language. As for other tools, the RoR stack may include such JS libraries as
Redux, React, Backbone.js, Bootstrap as CSS framework, PostgreSQL/MongoDB as a
database, Redis as a DBMS (database management system).
Examples of RoR stack websites: if you want to have a complete picture of websites built with
RoR, you need to read our article: Websites Built With Ruby on Rails, and get acquainted with
the Ruby on Rails framework’s advantages.
As for comparison, it is rather hard to compare the RoR stack with the above ones since it has
its strict individual particularities, unlike MEAN or LAMP stacks.
What does the backend stack fit your future software better? Contact Cadabra Studio and
get your consultation.
Still, mobile apps with complex architecture require additional development of the backend.
There is a wide variety of programming tools to build a server-side for a mobile app, and we will
list the most popular ones.
Backend services development of mobile apps can be performed with the following languages:
● Ruby. A general-purpose programming language that is actively used in web and mobile
app development. It is often used in conjunction with the Ruby on Rails framework. Ruby
language contributes to faster development, and Ruby developers try to adhere to TDD
methodology (test-driven development), so tests are performed before code is written, so
the number of possible mistakes comes to naught.
● PHP. It is a general-purpose scripting language that contains all required aspects for
effectively addressing the challenges. PHP comes with robust frameworks like Laravel,
Symfony, Joomla, etc., which help reduce the development time. PHP has a reusable
code, so it also impacts the development time. Also, PHP is flexible and compatible with
many third-party technologies.
● Golang (Go). The language that was developed by Google and may be considered as
one of the fastest server-side languages. It has a simple and straightforward syntax, high
performance and compilation, compatibility with C and C++ libraries, open-source, and
many other advantages. You can also check the table below to compare languages by
speed.
Mobile App Backend Frameworks
A framework is a tool that simplifies/improves the development process and is used along with
the primary programming language. And they are actively used during the development of the
mobile app backend.
● Ruby on Rails. A multi-level MVC framework from Ruby (as we mentioned above).
Ruby on Rails is a one-size-fits-all framework since it is suitable for simple web/mobile
apps and apps with complex business logic and dynamic interfaces. Moreover, RoR is
open-source, and it is distributed under the MIT license.
● Express/Koa/Sails. All listed frameworks are referred to as the Node.js platform. The
bundle of these frameworks helps JavaScript developers build scalable mobile apps
providing them with high performance.
● Firebase. It is not a framework but a tool that is connected with backend creation. A
BaaS solution from Google that Android and iOS developers may use to create backend
faster. However, the cloud backend isn’t always suitable for mobile projects since it has
certain limitations. Anyway, this is a good topic for our next article, where we would like
to share more information about BaaS.
Okay, what is the best backend framework for mobile apps? It depends on your project’s
requirements. Besides, when you choose a tech stack for your future project, we recommend
following specific tips to avoid failures.
If you plan to launch your startup, and you need to hire backend developers, you should get
acquainted with the most appropriate backend technologies that will fit your startup in the best
way.
● Ruby with Ruby on Rails. The first best backend tech is Ruby with the RoR framework.
However, RubyGems (a package manager for Ruby language) supports other Ruby
frameworks that can be used in startups. If you want to save costs, make a secure
application, and do everything quickly — Ruby with frameworks is what you need.
● Python with Django. Python allows using multiple handy frameworks, and the Django
framework is one of them. This web framework enhances software development, speeds
it up, and makes it scalable and reliable. Besides, Python is suitable for AI-based
projects, so you can also make use of such exciting frameworks like TensorFlow if you
need to integrate AI into your startup. The combination of Python and Django provides
you with many capabilities to create brand new software.
● PHP with Laravel. PHP is the programming language that is used for minimum viable
product development. It contributes to an efficient programming process since it can be
used with the Laravel framework to create full-fledged web applications and
microservices. Also, Laravel helps speed up the development process.
● Node.js. This backend framework suits streaming web apps or messaging applications
development, and it also allows building cross-platform apps. Finally, as Node.js is part
of the robust JS package, you can create both frontend and backend with this
framework.
As for the development process, our team usually applies the following tools for frontend
creation:
● JavaScript
● HTML5
● CSS3
● React
● Angular
● Vue.js
● Node.js
● PHP
● Go
● Python
● Ruby on Rails
Recently we created a customer web portal for the RVOS insurance agency. You can delve into
details if you read our RVOS case study. But here, we will pay attention to the technology stack
and development-related issues you might be interested in.
The first thing our specialists have created was a detailed and well-thought-out specification that
included future functionality. The development specification is crucial since it contains all
technical details of the RVOS project (it is a must-have document for any other projects). It
helps developers, designers, QA engineers, and DevOps engineers avoid possible bugs during
designing, development, and testing. And it speeds up the development process entirely.
Then we proceeded to the creation stage. As you know, the development of any app is not a
“piece-of-cake” process. And there are a few challenges engineers faced and solved them
successfully:
● When the RVOS project was launched on the production server (a server used to host
website content and applications for deployment to a live environment), QA engineers
detected bugs that didn’t appear on the test server. The solution was to perform smoke
testing in a staging server (a production-similar environment where the app is tested
before it goes live). It became possible to detect even minor bugs.
● As the RVOS portal app had a few releases, there were large intervals between them,
and it would be challenging to understand what version exactly we release for the time
being. So as to avoid unnecessary confusion, we indicated the version in tickets (in a
Jira project management system).
● It was impossible to perform automated testing for the part of functionality due to
complex code. However, our QA department team did their best to perform manual
testing and ensure that everything is done correctly. It took more time, but their effort
was rewarded — the app functioned flawlessly.
● The team worked remotely, and it was rather complicated to organize the communication
between all team members and ensure that team and client collaborate as well. Our
experienced project manager (PM) led the project from the very beginning to its end and
fulfilled all tasks successfully and responsibly. Cadabra Studio pays rapt attention to the
specialists we hire.
The challenges above helped us consider specific issues so that we don’t repeat mistakes
again. We also think it necessary to share the toolset we used for the RVOS project
development and explain why one or another technology was applied.
Name Purpose
PHP A flexible language for backend development that is compatible with many
operating systems, easily integrated, and has efficient performance.
React Our developers used this frontend framework due to its benefits like virtual
DOM (performance boost), quick debugging, code stability, and fast
rendering.
Majesco A cloud-based insurance platform used to create claims and for customer
updates. The platform was selected for its reliability and features.
Web Services A handy payment gateway that provides API for multiple payment orders
creation.
Mercure An open protocol for real-time communication. It is fast and reliable, and it
is natively supported by modern web and mobile apps.
Active A directory server is used for LDAP authentication (the process of validating
Directory a username and password combination).
Finally, we prefer using a code hosting platform for version control called GitHub. And we used it
for all our projects, not only RVOS, cause GitHub allows tracking changes in code across
versions. Besides, it can integrate with common platforms like Google Cloud or Amazon, and
provides plenty of other advantages.
That is the tech stack we used for the RVOS project. But you need to know that we select tools
for each project exclusively, so when Cadabra Studio takes your application under development,
our specialists choose the tech stack that meets your project perfectly.