Why Does Every Developer Need to Know Multiple Programming Languages?

All developers have their own preferable development environment, but not all of them understand what they are putting themselves into. Learning multiple languages ​​and frameworks gives you more advantages on the job market, develops strategic approach, and allows more flexibility when it comes to choosing the best programming method.

POLYGLOT PROGRAMMING

“I’m a Ruby developer!”

“I hate JavaScript!”

“Only functional languages!”

Most developers hear this a lot. In a world of many languages ​​and frameworks, specialization makes sense. Some people may choose their favorite stack and stick with it for the whole life. But industry trends suggest that this approach would abort such programmers sooner or later.

Polyglot programming is generally defined as “the practice of writing code in multiple languages ​​for additional functionality and efficiency that is not available in one language.”

This may seem trivial in the world of web applications that uses a front-end and back-end stack. But in recent years, the term has referred to the practice of using multiple stacks even within the same organization.

Everyone thought that having a single ecosystem is better than the costs of different structures. But for now many developers feel that it is better to sacrifice some consistency if it means using the right tool for the right job.

It is also driven by the widespread adoption of microservices, where multiple independently deployable applications exist for the same product. And each one has different requirements.

For example, Ruby on Rails is a great choice for building a standard web application. But an information-intensive service would benefit from the efficiency of Golang. For simpler tasks, Javascript is best, thanks to its huge community and versatility. Programming like Polyglot means the flexibility to make the best choice.

Following a 2019 study, CodingDojo stated, “While specific assignments may focus on a specific language, this study shows that one language can become a long-term dead end.

Novice and established developers must learn the common building blocks of coding and ultimately be fluent in multiple languages ​​to have the flexibility and options to build a successful career. “

This may sound daunting, but the key is to focus on basics that are common to all software technologies.

Developers are often worried that exploring new stacks will affect their knowledge, but in fact, everything is opposite. Learning new technologies gives a deeper understanding of the fundamental principles of programming. The result is more versatile and adaptable engineers, who can solve different problems in the most efficient ways and who work in our app and web development company SoftUUP.