In March 2020, there were more than 800,000 businesses that were under 1 year old, an increase from the same time the previous year. With the competition being so intense, entrepreneurs have a lot to consider when they’re entering the business market. One factor that can play a huge role in the success or failure of a startup is the programming language or languages they choose to launch the organization.
Today, the products startups put forth are almost always digital. And these products must stand up to their competitors, both new and old. There are also many considerations when it comes to your language of choice. Entrepreneurs need the right tools to build a solid foundation, one that will not only take your MVP from minimum to thriving but will also lay the groundwork for a strong business that will persist well into the future.
7 Best Programming Languages for Getting Your Startup Off the Ground
Different programming languages offer a range of purposes and benefits to startups. Some help solidify the foundation of your burgeoning business. Some serve as the backbone of your MVP. Others will complement your branding and image, bringing attractive aesthetics to your company. Others still will give your application or website its very essence and core functionalities.
Here, we have rounded up the top startup programming languages that will help you launch and tackle various aspects of your new business and set it up for success and growth.
Ruby
Ruby is often the language of choice for getting a startup off the ground. It can be used to build a vast array of products, particularly web applications. It’s also known to be an appealing language for developers of all skill levels — and makes for a hassle-free development experience.
Some of its best features and qualities are:
- Visual appeal
- Readability
- Efficient development process
Ruby on Rails, the framework for which Ruby itself is best known, has gained extraordinary popularity, as it augments the Ruby development process.
The language is ideal for web projects of varying complexity, including for MVPs. And because it’s scalable and leads to a fast project turnaround, it’s perfect for launching your startup.
Python
If you want to count yourself among companies like Google, Facebook, Netflix, Dropbox, and Instagram, consider turning to Python as a language of choice for building your startup. That’s because it’s easy to use, easy to read and write, and highly scalable — which will help your startup grow. It also lends itself to accelerated development, a quality you certainly want in your startup language, particularly as you get your MVP off the ground.
Python also integrates with other tools and languages, so it’s a good programming language to have in your stacks. It’s written in English, too, and comes with a huge community to lend support to developers of all skill sets and experiences.
Swift
For startups working on iOS or Mac iOS products, Swift is an excellent choice. The programming language was developed by Apple specifically for building Apple software. Although it’s relatively young compared with other options, it already has a large community, with plenty of support.
Swift is easy to learn, read, and write. In addition to being high performance — something that’s critical when you’re getting into the software development market — the debugging process is simple and straightforward.
PHP
So many new and long-established businesses have embraced PHP to facilitate stronger web development. Released in the 1990s, the language has stood the test of time and has only gained popularity since its initial development. It’s supported by a number of open-source frameworks and libraries, a large community, and other tools.
Because PHP is such a popular, widely-used language, you won’t have trouble finding developers with experience in the language to recruit to your startup, bringing it up a notch — or several.
Java
Java is a household name. It remains one of the most popular languages for both web and mobile development, thanks to its many features. If your startup is looking to build Android products, this is a good choice, given that it’s one of the 2 official Android languages.
As an open-source language with qualities like scalability and platform independence, Java is often found in the stacks of both startups and seasoned businesses. It’s also fairly straightforward to learn, and it releases updates with some frequency. Its community continues to thrive, and Java developers have plenty of resources to leverage.
JavaScript
JavaScript consistently ranks as one of the most popular and commonly used languages in the world. Perhaps this is why so many startups embrace the language when they are launching their startups. A front-end language, Javascript facilitates development for web and mobile applications, websites, servers, and many additional products.
The main purpose of JavaScript is to make software and websites more dynamic and interactive, ultimately drawing users in early on — even when your startup is still in its infancy.
C#
This general-purpose language is flexible, object-oriented, and widely used. While it’s predominantly used to build software on Windows, it can also be used on other platforms. Its popularity means that the language comes with plenty of support and a vast community, which assists with troubleshooting and any questions you might have.
Developers apply it to a huge range of products, including web and mobile apps, but it can be particularly powerful for game development when built via the Unity game engine. A high-level language, C# is fairly easy to read and write, although there is a bit of a learning curve.
What Else Should You Keep in Mind?
When choosing a programming language for your startup, there are a number of key considerations to have in mind. Some of the most important are:
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Security
Consumers need to be able to trust you to form a relationship, and when you’re just starting out, you need to earn that trust. Ensuring your projects are secure is one important step. Some languages are safer than others, and many even have built-in features to make the language even more secure, helping you minimize vulnerabilities.
Whatever language you choose, you should confirm that your developers are using best practices to guarantee strong security.
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Speed of Development
Quick development is a priority when it comes to launching your startup. You need to create your MVP in as little time as possible, so you should select a language that’s easy to use and leverage for faster turnaround.
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Quality of Your Team
Of course, your products are only as good as the developers who create them. In addition to helping you produce top software, skilled developers will also know the best languages to use for different projects.
Are you in search of that quality team? BairesDev could be the answer. We employ only the top 1% of tech talent to help you launch your first products and make your startup successful from the very beginning. We’ll also support you with your software and IT needs as you grow your business.
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Open-Source Resources
Some languages are open-source with a large community and free resources, such as libraries and frameworks. Not only do these languages provide opportunities for more cost-effective development, but they can also mean a speedier process since you’ll be able to reuse code offered through libraries without having to build it from the ground up.
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Industry Standards
It’s important to pay attention to the most commonly-used languages in your industry. While you don’t necessarily need to follow suit, it will give you an idea of what developers in the field find advantageous when building their products. There may be certain perks and benefits when the languages are used with your industry’s specifications in mind.
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Scalability
As you scale your startup, you need a language that will allow movement and growth. But you must also account for different scenarios. That’s why it’s essential to choose a language that is flexible and growth-friendly.
How to Choose the Best Programming Language for Your Startup
There is no single universal programming language for startups. Because each business has its own mission and purpose, the programming languages you choose depend on the nature of your organization, its goals and objectives, the talents and skills of the developers and tech professionals you have on staff, and other factors.
When you select your first programming language or languages, work with your tech team and/or consultants to determine which ones are most suitable to your specific needs as an organization. Look at the pros and cons of each language you consider. Think about how the languages have been used in the past, as well as which types of businesses tend to leverage them. While you want to set yourself apart and carve out a niche, you also want to rely on tools that have proven tried and true for your industry.
Also, determine how many developers you have and need on staff. In the early stages of your business, you might want to outsource some of the work to more established organizations while you solidify your infrastructure. A consulting or outsourcing company will probably have recommendations and languages they frequently use for organizations such as yours.
Bear in mind that there is no singular top startup programming language. Moreover, most businesses, even early-stage ones, turn to several different languages when establishing their organizations and building their products. Building a diverse tech stack will improve your capabilities as an organization and enable you to grow.
