With so many different programming languages available, it is not always easy to choose the right one for a project. In this article, we will explore some basic criteria for picking the right one.
Picking a programming language is one of the most fundamental decisions developers can make when starting a new project. It will determine how development will occur as well as which tools, frameworks and libraries will be used not only for development, but also for building, deploying and running the application.
Of course one important aspect of choosing the right language should not be forgotten: finding developers. If the language is too obscure, undesirable or outdated then it will be difficult to find any. That is a crucial part that could make or break a project, but is often overlooked.
What is the purpose of your project?
Not all programming languages are designed with the same goals in mind. Some are, for example, better than others for web development while others are better for application development. There are highly specialized languages like R as well as more generic languages like Java. So first, it is important to determine what the purpose and goals of your project are.
If you are developing a web application, you might want to start with looking at languages that are popular in web development such as Node.js, Java, PHP, ASP.NET, etc. However, if your project is a native application, you might be better off with whatever language your target platform has the best support for such as C++ or Swift. If you have a small team and need to support a multitude of platforms, you might consider a framework such as Electron or React Native.
Of course it is possible to create a web application in C++ and there are even frameworks available for exactly that purpose, but is it worth the extra time and effort it takes to make a stable application in C++? On the other end, it would be almost impossible to write a complex 3D rendering tool using Node.js. The low-level performance that languages like C++ or Rust offer just wouldn’t be there.
Availability of Frameworks
Determining the purpose of your project as well as the target platform (web, a specific operating system, etc) is the best starting point for picking a language as it not only allows you to narrow down the number of languages to a select few, but will also make it possible to check framework availability.
A plethora of well-supported frameworks offers flexibility and reduces development time. The less you have to program because a framework can handle the task, the more time can be saved on boilerplating. Developers can then focus more of their efforts on what makes the application unique.
Needless to say, it is critical that your language of choice has well-supported frameworks if they are going form part of the core of your application. Often these are community-driven, but some can also be backed by major sponsors or developers such as Microsoft, Google, etc. Frequently, both are the case.
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