20 Best Programming Languages to Learn in 2025- Expert Picks

7. Ruby

Ruby is famous for rapid development in the startup world. Although it’s not as dominant as in the past, Ruby is still among the best programming languages to learn in 2025. Also, it’s ideal for web developers who want to rapidly prototype web apps.

Key Features of Ruby

Some useful features of Ruby are:

• A dynamic and object-oriented language
• Elegant syntax
• When combined with Rails, Ruby offers built-in conventions

Ruby Pros and Cons

Key advantages and common drawbacks of using Ruby are given below in the table:

Skills Required to Work with Ruby

Ruby is a beginner-friendly scripting language, but knowledge of MVC architecture and object-oriented concepts is a plus to working with Rails.

Ruby Developers Salary

The average salary of a Ruby developer in the USA in 2025 is around $105,000 per year.

Practical Use Cases of Ruby

Ruby is generally used to build:

• Web application
• SaaS platforms
• MVPs

Top Platforms using Ruby

• Shopify
• Airbnb
• GitHub

Coding Example

With Ruby, you can follow the given coding example:

ruby

# Ruby Hello World

puts “ Hello , World! ”

def greet ( name )

“ Hello , # { name }”

end

puts greet (“ Sam ”)

8. Go (Golang)

One of the fastest growing programming languages of the past decade, Go or Golang, is developed by Google. It’s an excellent coding language to learn in 2025-all because of the rising popularity of microservices and cloud-native applications.

Key Features of Go

Some useful features of Go are:

• Compiled and statically typed language
• Built-in concurrency support via goroutines
• Clean and minimalistic syntax

Go Pros and Cons

Key advantages and common drawbacks of using Go are given below in the table:

Skills Required to Work with Go

Some previous exposure to programming languages is enough. However, for advanced apps, an understanding of concurrency and distribution systems is crucial.

Go Developers Salary

The average salary of a developer in the USA in 2025 is around $125,000 per year.

Practical Use Cases of Go

Go is mostly used for:

• Cloud-based systems
• Backend APIs
• DevOps tools

Top Platforms choosing Go

• Google
• Uber
• Dropbox

Coding Example

Here’s how you can write code in Golang:

package main

import “ fmt ”

func main (){

fmt.Println ( “ Hello , World!” )

}

9. Rust

Within no time, Rust has become a developers-favorite language due to its memory safety and performance. It was created for system-level programming and increasingly adopted for web assembly projects and blockchain.

Key Features of Rust

Some useful features of Rust are:

• Memory safety with garbage collection
• Supports concurrency

Rust Pros and Cons

Key advantages and common drawbacks of using Rust are given below in the table:

Skills Required to Work with Rust

The steep learning curve of Rust demands a good grip on memory management and systems programming. Developers who are experts in C/C++ find Rust easy to grasp.

Rust Developers Salary

The average salary of a Rust developer in the USA in 2025 is around $130,000 per year.

Practical Use Cases of Rust

Rust is a suitable choice for:

• Operating systems
• Blockchain
• Game engines
• IoT devices

Top Platforms utilizing Rust

• Mozilla
• Dropbox
• Discord

Coding Example

Here’s how to write code in Rust:

fn main () {

println! ( “ Hello , World1” );

}

10. Kotlin

Kotlin is the official language for Android development, and it has replaced Java in many mobile apps. It is expressive, concise, and interoperable with Java-making a go-to option for building apps for billions of Android devices.

Key Features of Kotlin

Some useful features of Kotlin are:

• Concise syntax
• Null safety
• Complete Java interoperability

Kotlin Pros and Cons

Key advantages and common drawbacks of using Kotlin are given below in the table:

Skills Required to Work with Kotlin

A good knowledge base of Java and OOP is preferred to get along with Kotlin. Also, for mobile developers, it is recommended to learn Android Studio and app lifecycle management.

Kotlin Developers Salary

The average salary of a Kotlin developer in the USA in 2025 is around $105,000 per year.

Kotlin Practical Use Cases

Kotlin is usually preferred for:

• Android app development
• Server-side development through Ktor

Top Platforms using Kotlin

• Trello
• Coursera
• Pinterest

Coding Example

Kotlin is also preferred for smooth coding:

fun main (){

println ( “ Hello , World!” )

}

11. Scheme

Scheme is a functional programming language from the Lisp family-minimalist in nature. Its key focused areas are clean syntax, symbolic computation, and recursion. It has also influenced many programming languages, including JavaScript, Python, and Ruby.

Key Features of Scheme

Some useful features of Scheme are:

• Functional programming backed by first-class functions
• Simple and minimal syntax
• Tail recursion optimization

Scheme Pros and Cons

Key advantages and common drawbacks of using Scheme are given below in the table:

Skills Required to Work with Scheme

Knowledge of symbolic computation, strong problem-solving abilities, and experience with functional paradigms is required to learn Scheme.

Scheme Developers Salary

The average salary of a developer in the USA in 2025 is around $80,000 to $105,000 per year.

• Practical Use Cases of Scheme
• In teaching Computer Science fundamentals
• Artificial Intelligence
• Mathematical Modelling

Top Platforms using Scheme

• Linux
• MacOS
• Windows

Coding Example

Here’s how you can write code in Scheme:

( define ( factorial n )

( if (= n 0 )

1

( * n ( factorial (- n 1 )))))

( display ( factorial 5 )) ; Output : 120

12. Scala

Scala combines functional programming and object-oriented paradigms. This makes Scala an excellent programming language for data-intensive and large-scale enterprise apps.

Key Features of Scala

Some useful features of Scala are:

• Object-oriented and functional hybrid
• Powerful type inference system
• Flexible for big data applications

Scala Pros and Cons

Key advantages and common drawbacks of using Scala are given below in the table:

Skills Required to Work with Scala

To master Scala, familiarity with the JVM, a strong functional programming and OOP background, and data processing knowledge is the key.

Scala Developers Salary

The average salary of a Scala developer in the USA in 2025 is around $115,000 to $135,000 per year.

Practical Use Cases of Scala

Successful use cases of Scala include:

• Data Science pipelines
• Enterprise applications
• Big Data (Apache Spark)

Top Platforms using Scala

• LinkedIn
• Twitter(X)
• Sony

Coding Example

A practical coding example of Scala is given here; you can follow this for a better coding experience:

object HelloWorld {

def main(args: Array[String]): Unit = {

println ( “ Hello , Scala!” )

}

13. Elixir

Elixir is a functional, concurrent, and modern programming language. It is developed on top of the Erlang VM. This language is popular for its ability to manage fault-tolerance, large-scale, and real-time applications. Developers who work with chat applications, web platforms, and distributed systems.

Key Features of Elixir

Some useful features of Elixir are:

• Concurrency and fault tolerance
• Hot code swapping without downtime
• Elegant syntax and active ecosystem

Elixir Pros and Cons

Key advantages and common drawbacks of using Elixir are given below in the table:

Skills Required to Work with Elixir

To learn Elixir, knowledge of concurrency and distributed systems, OTP frameworks, and functional programming paradigms is essential.

Elixir Developers Salary

The average salary of an Elixir developer in the USA in 2025 is around $115,000 to 140,000 per year.

Practical Use Cases of Elixir

• Real-time chat apps
• Web applications
• Distributed systems

Top Platforms using Elixir

• Pinterest
• PepsiCo
• Discord
• Spotify

Coding Example

Here’s how to write code in Elixir:

defmodule Hello do

def world do

IO . Puts ( “ Hello , World!” )

end

end

Hello.world()

14. Perl

Perl is a general purpose and high-level programming language-it gained popularity in the 1990s. This language has been widely used in web development, network programming, bioinformatics, and system administration. While it’s not very popular, it still holds importance in scripting and legacy systems.

Key Features of Perl

Some useful features of Perl are:

• Text and string processing capabilities
• Offers cross-platform support
• Integration with system-level operations and databases.

Perl Pros and Cons

Key advantages and common drawbacks of using Perl are given below in the table:

Skills Required to Work with Perl

Basic knowledge of coding languages, understanding of Unix/Linux systems, and familiarity with shell and regex scripting are useful.

Perl Developers Salary

The average salary of a Perl developer in the USA in 2025 is around $80,000 to 110,000 annually.

• Practical Use Cases of Perl
• Legacy web apps
• Genomics and Bioinformatics
• Network and system administration

Top Platforms using Perl

• Amazon
• Bookin.com

Coding Example

Perl can assist you in writing clean code:

# Perl Hello World

print “ Hello , World!\ n”;

# Simple loop

for my $i ( 1..5 ) {

print “ Count: $i\n”;

}

15. Haskell

This one is a functional programming language and popular for its expressiveness and mathematical precision. Haskell is widely used in research, academia, and industries looking for high reliability.

Key Features of Haskell

Some useful features of Haskell are:

• Strong static typing
• Expressive and concise syntax
• Functional with lazy evaluation

Haskell Pros and Cons

Key advantages and common drawbacks of using Haskell are given below in the table:

Skills Required to Work with Haskell

Logical and mathematical mindset and know-how of programming concepts in important to learn Haskell.

Haskell Developers Salary

The average salary of a Haskell developer in the USA in 2025 is around $100,000 to $130,000 per year.

Practical Use Cases of Haskell

• Academia and Research
• High-assurance software
• Financial modelling

Top Platforms using Haskell

• Meta
• Microsoft
• Tesla

Coding Example

Here’s how you can write code in Haskell:

-- Haskell Hello World

main = putStrLn “ Hello , World!”

-- Factorial function

factorial :: Integer -> Integer

factorial 0 = 1

factorial n = n * factorial ( n – 1 )

16. COBOL

Common Business Oriented Language (COBOL) is one of the oldest programming languages. Despite its age, COBOL is used in banking, insurance, and mission-critical apps. Also, it’s highly relevant for the maintenance of legacy systems.

Key Features of COBOL

Some useful features of COBOL are:

• English-like and easy-to-use syntax
• Useful for batch processing
• Focusing on business apps
• Reliable and stable

COBOL Pros and Cons

Key advantages and common drawbacks of using COBOL are given below in the table:

Skills Required to Work with COBOL

Understanding of mainframe systems and patience for verbose syntax can be useful skills.

COBOL Developers Salary

The average salary of a COBOL developer in the USA in 2025 is around $90,000 to $120,000 per year.

Practical Use Cases of COBOL

• Banking system
• Insurance apps
• Government databases

Top Platforms using COBOL

• Walmart
• Amazon
• Apple

Coding Example

A practical coding example in the COBOL language:

IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.

PROGRAM-ID. HELLO.

PROCEDURE DIVISION.

DISPLAY ‘ Hello , World!’.

STOP RUN.

17. F#

Developed by Microsoft, F# is a functional-first programming language. F# combines object-oriented, procedural, and functional programming styles. With its powerful type inference and conciseness, F# is famous for machine learning, finance, and scientific applications.

Key Features of F#

Some useful features of F# are:

• Readable and concise syntax
• Strong type inference
• Multi-paradigm

F# Pros and Cons

Key advantages and common drawbacks of using F# are given below in the table:

Skills Required to Work with F#

A good knowledge of the .NET ecosystem and functional programming is required. It runs on the .NET platform.

F# Developers’ Salary

The average salary of an F# developer in the USA in 2025 is around $95,000 to $125,000 per year.

Practical Use Cases of F#

• ML and Data Science
• Scientific computing
• Financial modelling

Top Platforms using F#

• Stack Overflow
• Grammarly
• Microsoft

Coding Example

As a developer, you can follow this example for practice with F#:

// F# Hello World

printfn “ Hello , World!”

// Factorial function

let rec factorial n =

if n = 0 then 1

else n * factorial ( n – 1 )

18. Erlang

This functional programming language is built for distributed, concurrent, and fault tolerant systems. Erlang was originally developed for telecom systems, but now it’s widely used in real-time systems, distributed databases, and messaging apps.

Key Features of Erlang

Some useful features of Erlang are:

• Distributed computing and concurrency
• Hot swapping and fault tolerance
• Functional programming paradigm
• Lightweight processes

Erlang Pros and Cons

Key advantages and common drawbacks of using Erlang are given below in the table:

Skills Required to Work with Erlang

Developers who want to start Erlang should have basic knowledge of functional programming and concurrency concepts.

Erlang Developers Salary

The average salary of an Erlang developer in the USA in 2025 is around $105,000 to $135,000 per year.

Practical Use Cases of Erlang

• Telecom systems
• Distributed databases
• Messaging applications

Top Platforms using Erlang

• WhatsApp
• Klarna
• Discord

Coding Example

You can do web development with Erlang. See this example for a clear understanding:

% Erlang Hello World

-module ( hello ).

-export ([ start/0 ]);

start () ->

io : format ( “ Hello , World!~n” ).

19. Swift

Swift is the official coding language of Apple for iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS development. Although Swift was launched in 2014, it has quickly replaced Objective-C because of its safety, performance, and cleaner syntax.

Key Features of Swift

Some useful features of Swift are:

• Concise and modern syntax
• Supports both functional and object-oriented programming
• Designed to ensure safety

Swift Pros and Cons

Key advantages and common drawbacks of using Swift are given below in the table:

Skills Required to Work with Swift

To get a grip of Swift, you should have basic knowledge of programming concepts, mobile app development, and familiarity with SwiftUI and Xcode.

Swift Developers Salary

The average salary of a Swift developer in the USA in 2025 is around $105,000 to $145,000 per year.

Practical Use Cases of Swift

• macOS apps
• iOS and iPadOS apps
• tvOS and watchOS development

Top Platforms using Swift

• LinkedIn
• Apple

Coding Example

Here’s a useful example for better code:

import Foundation

print ( “ Hello , World!” )

20. Dart

Developed by Google, Dart is used with Flutter framework for cross-platform app development. It is becoming popular due to enabling developers to build mobile apps, web, and desktop apps just with a single codebase.

Key Features of Dart

Some useful features of Dart are:

• Reactive and object-oriented
• Strong community around Flutter
• Fast debugging through hot reload

Dart Pros and Cons

Key advantages and common drawbacks of using Dart are given below in the table:

Skills Required to Work with Dart

To get fluent in Dart, you must have mobile UI design knowledge, understanding of Flutter framework and Dart syntax, and cross-platform app deployment.

Dart Developers Salary

The average salary of a Dart developer in the USA in 2025 is around $95,000 to 125,000 annually.

Practical Use Cases of Dart

• Web apps
• Progressive web apps
• Cross-platform mobile apps

Top Platforms using Dart

• Google
• Shell
• BMW Group
• Amazon

Coding Example

How to code with Dart: see below:

void main (){

print (‘ Hello , Dart!’ );

}

Conclusion

Selecting the best programming language to learn in 2025 depends on your personal interest, industry demands, and career goals. If you are looking for job security and versatility, Java, Python, and JavaScript remain safe bets. For advanced fields like IoT or blockchain Dart and Rust are good. Developers passionate about enterprise careers should rely on Scala or C#.