Consider how many times you use an app throughout the day. Isn’t it several times? There is almost certainly an app for every human need waiting to be discovered in your app store. As a result, it’s no wonder that demand for mobile apps has been steadily increasing since the smartphone’s birth.
On the surface, no one disputes that mobile application development and mobile programming languages have a bright future. The days of companies ignoring mobile users are gone! Having already passed a significant milestone, if your company isn’t mobile-ready, you’re in serious trouble today.
Suppose you’re going to develop a mobile app to attract users’ attention. In that case, you should concentrate on selecting the right technology and programming language to design a robust, inventive, and user-friendly app.
With so many mobile programming languages to select from, you must consider a variety of factors, including advantages and disadvantages and the language’s popularity, before deciding to develop the most popular mobile app.
In this article, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 mobile app programming languages that are the best for application development, and help you get started with your app.
Table of contents
#1 — JavaScript
“JavaScript will be important as long as people use the internet,” William Ting once stated. JavaScript is ideal for cross-platform app development, cross-platform mobile app development, and online surfing. It operates nicely in contexts other than browsers and can be compiled using a variety of computer languages. As a result, JavaScript gets my vote for the most excellent programming language.
Pros Of JavaScript
- JavaScript is a versatile and flexible programming language that can be used in various ways with Node.js.
- Client-side browsing is faster and does not need compilation.
- It’s simple to operate with and maintain control over.
- There is no fixed standard, and there is a lot of space for creativity.
Cons Of JavaScript
- It is susceptible and, in some cases, can be used for malicious purposes.
- In certain situations, you may run across browser support difficulties.
- Client-side scripts are a little more unpredictable than server-side scripts.
#2 — Kotlin
Kotlin called the “improved version of Java” is a statistically typed programming language used to create modern Android apps. Kotlin is a beautiful language for creating applications. Kotlin can impact other programming languages, such as JAVA, to create high-performance and reliable programs. Trello, Evernote, Coursera, and a slew of other famous apps have Kotlin support.
Pros Of Kotlin
- The use of clear, concise, and insightful syntax boosts team productivity.
- Interoperable and adaptable, it can easily overcome JAVA’s limitations.
- Has complete Google and IDE compatibility, including Android and SDK toolkit installation packages.
- When compared to JAVA, it generates code that is concise, straightforward, and cleaner.
Cons Of Kotlin
- Still, a new language on the market is challenging to learn, so think carefully before choosing it.
- It might be a little sluggish sometimes.
- There are a finite number of learning resources available.
#3 — C++
C++ is a well-known programming language for mobile app development. It’s an object-oriented, general-purpose language with low-level memory manipulation capabilities. C++ is a programming language used to create games, GUI-based programs, real-time mathematical simulations, banking software, and other applications. Because it can quickly adapt to changing hardware or ecosystems, C++ is popular among Cloud computing programs.
Pros Of C++
- Fast and stable, with a large number of pre-built libraries and compilers.
- If you know C++, you can learn JAVA, C, and C# rapidly.
- In the background, there is no waste collector.
- You have complete control over the program, which can operate on any platform and utilize any hardware.
Cons Of C++
- The syntax is complicated, and the standard library is small.
- The most demanding programming language to learn.
- Garbage collection and dynamic memory allocation are not supported.
- In comparison to other languages, object orientation is quite essential.
#4 — Python
Python is a widely-used programming language for creating online applications, desktop applications, video tools, machine learning, network servers, and other applications. YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest are all examples of Python. Excellent library support, robust integration, and increased control capabilities are all provided by the language. Python is the ideal language to use if you’re a startup looking to create an app.
Pros Of Python
- Fast, simple-to-use, quick-to-deploy, simple-to-learn, and highly readable.
- A high-level programming language for analyzing, processing scientific and numerical data, and developing applications.
- An interactive language that supports GUI applications and is used to create scalable apps.
- Multiple systems and platforms are supported.
- It has a large number of frameworks that make programming more versatile.
Cons Of Python
- Execution time is slow.
- Python is not great with modern mobile app development.
- When it comes to memory-intensive tasks, this isn’t the best option.
- There are specific issues with data access.
#5 — PHP
For mobile apps that require database access, PHP is one of the most popular programming languages. It’s an open-source programming language for server-side scripting, command-line scripting, and application development. It’s commonly used to create eCommerce, content-heavy, dynamic web, and mobile apps. It’s a universal language that can be included in HTML or HTML5. Wikipedia, Facebook, and Yahoo are just a handful of the significant PHP-based websites.
Pros Of PHP
- It’s simple to learn, platform-independent, and highly compatible with seamless integration.
- Is great for apps with a lot of content and loads rapidly, even with a poor internet connection.
- Security measures are built-in to guard against sophisticated security threats.
- Learners will benefit from this language since it will enable them to understand complex programming concepts rapidly.
Cons Of PHP
- Because of the open-source nature of the language, bugs may be identified rapidly to exploit its flaws.
- Not recommended for large-scale applications.
- It’s not modular, and it’s tough to keep up with.
- Error handling in the framework has to be improved.
#6 — Swift
A potential game-changer in mobile app development, Swift is an open-source programming language created with the iOS, OS X, and tvOS platforms in view. The language is adaptable, scalable, and quickly adapt a safe programming pattern to add updated functionality to any project. Swift is a scripting language that is expressive and enjoyable to work with and has the first industrial-quality systems. Lyft, LinkedIn, Hipmunk, and other apps developed in Swift are examples.
Pros Of Swift
- It can be used on both the Cocoa and Cocoa Touch platforms.
- It has fewer requirements, requires less maintenance, and avoids some of the problems that Objective-C has.
- Projects are more easily scaled.
- The programming language is powerful, intuitive, and simple to learn.
- Swift code is interactive and enjoyable to write, with a syntax that is both expressive and concise.
- It has a variety of features for a smooth and safe design while still producing lightning-fast software.
Cons Of Swift
- The development of heavy apps is still in its infancy and can be regarded as relatively young.
- Because it is a new language on the market, it is considered unstable and requires constant upgrades.
#7 — Java
Java is an official object-oriented programming language for Android development. JAVA is simple to use with a variety of built-in open-source libraries to select from and provides the most precise documentation and community support. You can create the most excellent cross-platform apps, Android apps, games, server apps, embedded space, websites, and more with JAVA’s diverse set of capabilities.
Pros Of Java
- Popular because of its reusability and portability of code.
- JAVA code can execute in a variety of contexts, including virtual machines, browsers, and platforms.
- Protects developers against vulnerabilities such as memory leaks, which are common in native code.
- The programming language is flexible, adaptable, portable, and platform-independent.
- Simple, machine-independent language with an explicit interface.
Cons Of Java
- While running JAVA on a virtual machine (JVM), some problems may arise.
- In certain situations, poorly designed class libraries and complicated syntax.
- Due to inadequate trash collection, complex implementations are required.
#8 — Ruby
Ruby is a back-end object-oriented programming language for web applications, servers, system utilities, and standard libraries. Ruby has grown into a multi-paradigm, high-level, general-purpose interpreted programming language over time. It’s a functional language that executes instructions directly rather than turning them into machine code. Twitter, Bloomberg, Airbnb, and Shopify are just a handful of the well-known websites built with Ruby.
Pros Of Ruby
- Dynamic typing allows you to make changes on the glide without affecting the final result.
- Duck typing is enabled, allowing you to focus on operations rather than class objects.
- Code that is simple to maintain performs well and is intuitive. It is also garbage-collected and concise.
- Beginners will find it simple to learn and execute.
Cons Of Ruby
- It is regarded as a sluggish language and is not widely used for web or mobile app development.
- The framework has a lack of flexibility and takes a long time to boot up.
- Low performance and a slow runtime pace.
- Bug fixes and development take a long time.
#9 — Rust
For the fourth year in a row, Rust has been the most popular language on Stack Overflow. Rust is a system programming language sponsored by Mozilla that has a syntax that is quite close to C++. Rust is helpful in a time-constrained environment and for developing applications across several areas because of its high compile-time accuracy, quick performance, intuitiveness, and safe memory. Dropbox and Yelp are two examples of Rust.
Pros Of Rust
- Errors are caught during the compilation process.
- Developers are urged to develop code that is efficient and fast.
- Supports the imperative and functional procedural approaches.
- The language that is safe, concurrent, and useful.
- Low-level programming language for embedded systems.
Cons Of Rust
- The installation process for Windows is not simple.
- In comparison to other languages, it lacks built-in libraries.
- For novices, it isn’t easy to learn and perform.
- There is a significant learning curve.
- Compilation takes a long time.
#10 — Lua
Lua is a mobile-first business communication solution that is lightweight and easy to use. It’s a multi-paradigm, cross-platform programming language. It is quick, safe, and holds developers accountable, and drives in-built communications for companies. Real-time encrypted texting, an analytics dashboard, simple file sharing, and two-touch conference calling are popular features. Lua is ideal for embedded applications if you wish to enhance your programs’ speed, flexibility, portability, and dependability.
Pros Of Lua
- One of the most efficient languages in terms of runtime memory use.
- For bundling, it has the smallest memory footprint and is valid for error handling.
- The Lua C API is well-documented and straightforward to connect with C.
- API is reduced, and the learning curve is reduced.
Cons Of Lua
- The documentation has improved, although it is still a little unclear in general.
- With the fewest number of code comments, it is not sufficiently documented.
- Beginners will find it challenging to learn and execute.
- Garbage collection capacity is inadequate.
The Bottom Line
In the world of programming languages, things are constantly changing. Some evergreen languages, such as JAVA and JavaScript, have earned a permanent spot on the list. In contrast, others, such as Kotlin and R, have raced to the top of the most popular programming languages list at a breakneck speed.
With a list of questions to ask, things to consider, and the pros and cons outlined above, we’re confident you’ll be able to make an informed decision about which language to learn. After all, choose the appropriate mobile programming language that will help you create flexible mobile apps that can adapt to changing business demands in the future.
So, what are you waiting for? Dive into the nitty-gritty of programming languages, pick the ideal, and provide your company with the most-needed mobile app to attract a larger audience.