Top Programming Language for Startups (2024)

Every startup’s journey begins with a single line of code. As a startup leader, you may have your brilliant idea and business plan, but how do you pick the best programming language for startups? This technical aspect can make or break a project.

Read on, as we’ll revise the programming languages that startups can use and give insights on what to consider when picking the coding language to take your product from napkin sketch to market launch.

What should you consider when picking a programming language for a startup?

Is there one ideal programming language for startups? No. It severely depends on what you are trying to do.

Aside from fine-tuning the language choice to your project requirements, several factors come into play when choosing the best programming language for startups.

Application requirements

The application type significantly influences the best programming language for business applications. For instance, game development, AI-based applications, and simple front-end applications have different requirements that suit other languages.

Target platforms

Consider platform compatibility. Coding languages like C require different compilers depending on whether you’re targeting Windows or Linux. Mobile app development languages also have their limitations when it comes to either iOS or Android products.

Maintainability

Evaluate the ecosystem of libraries and vendor support available for the language. A robust ecosystem simplifies maintenance and future updates.

Top programming languages have many free, shared code that anyone can use. This can make developing your product faster. Languages like Java, JavaScript, and Python have significant communities that share much of this code.

Scalability

Assess how the language handles scaling. The ability to support increasing users without performance degradation is crucial, especially for applications expected to grow.

Security requirements

Different applications have unique security needs. For instance, healthcare apps often require HIPAA compliance, while financial applications must adhere to PCI standards. Picking the best programming language for business applications has to consider these factors.

Industry standards

Using the programming languages in startups that are typical in your industry is usually a good idea. This makes working with other companies and platforms easier and helps you use tools and code that others in your industry already use.

Here’s a breakdown of the top languages for startup used in various industries:

1. Automotive: C and C++. These coding languages are favored for their efficiency and the ability to handle low-level machine operations.
2. Cybersecurity: JavaScript. Its widespread use in web development makes it a valuable language for identifying potential security vulnerabilities.
3. E-commerce: Java. Its robustness and ability to handle complex transactions and data management make it the go-to choice.
4. Engineering: Objective-C. Engineers may also use MATLAB, C, C++, and Java for various applications.
5. Finance: Python is essential in this sector due to its simplicity and the availability of libraries related to mathematics and data science.
6. Healthcare: Python. Especially for developing telemedicine and healthcare apps, where data security and HIPAA compliance are paramount.
7. IT & Cloud-based Solutions: SQL. It is excellent for database management and handling large data sets in cloud computing.
8. Marketing: SQL, for its data analysis capabilities, is crucial for understanding market trends and customer behavior.
9. Science: MATLAB is commonly used for data visualization and complex algorithm development in scientific fields.
10. Retail: JavaScript for crafting dynamic web applications and handling various aspects of online retail operations.
11. Security: C is significant in the security industry, especially for embedded systems.
12. Media: C++ is the top choice, useful for applications from production to special effects.

Look around and answer a few questions: What language does your team know? What programming community could be most helpful in your case? What programming languages do your competitors and peers use? Based on this, you will know your best programming language for startups.

Best programming language for startups

Below, you may find the Top Hits among the best programming languages for startups. Someone may have a different viewpoint, but still, this list will be helpful for those about to face the dilemma of picking the proper framework for a new startup project. Here we go.

1. Python

This one is the most popular and universal among top languages for startup that may quickly help you skyrocket from the start. And here’s why:

• With Python, you may build web applications, develop machine learning models, automate routine tasks, and browse the web.
• For Python web development, you may use two frameworks, Django and Flask.
• Django is a rich, fully functional framework. Flask is more minimalistic.
• For machine learning development, there are the Pandas, SciKit-learn, and TensorFlow machine learning libraries.

The main advantage of Python is its numerous freely available packages. Just find a suitable package or library and include it in your Python project.

The average cost of backend development services on Python is around $75-$150 per hour. It is one of the most widely applied backend technologies.

2. JavaScript

JavaScript is a cornerstone of web development, indispensable for front-end and backend development. It’s a versatile language for creating interactive and responsive web applications. With frameworks like Node.js and React, JavaScript’s capabilities have expanded, making it a must-have language for startups aiming to create dynamic web experiences.

• Almost every modern website uses JavaScript to some degree.
• JavaScript creates a more integrated and efficient development process.
• An extensive ecosystem with powerful libraries and frameworks like React, Angular, and Vue.
• Enables the creation of highly interactive and dynamic web pages with real-time content updates, interactive features, and responsive designs.

What makes JavaScript one of the best programming language for startups, particularly from the perspective of web development, is its versatility and ubiquity.

Find our Java Script Development Services here.

3. PHP

PHP is deeply integrated with WordPress, the most popular content management system, making it a strong choice for web development. It’s beneficial for developing dynamic websites and online applications.

• Despite its decent age, PHP is still in demand. More than 50% of all sites work on this basis.
• The active community provides a wealth of open-source code and resources.
• PHP’s syntax is user-friendly, and the language is accessible for beginners.

The reasons to choose PHP are the flexibility and ease of integration, especially with content management systems like WordPress.

4. Ruby on Rails

Ruby on Rails is known for its ability to quickly build complex and database-driven websites, making it a go-to choice for startups that need to develop and deploy applications swiftly.

• Twitter, Shopify, and Airbnb have been built using Ruby on Rails.
• RoR allows for faster development, which is crucial for startups that want to get to market quickly.
• With RoR, developers can spend more time on unique aspects of their application rather than on basic setup.
• RoR is well-suited for agile development methodologies.

The best thing about RoR is the variety of built-in tools and modules to handle everyday tasks. It means less code is required to create basic structures, allowing the launch of products faster.

5. Swift

Swift is here because all startups need mobile apps. If your startup is venturing into mobile app development, particularly for Apple’s ecosystem, Swift is your language. Like some other best programming language for startups, it’s perfect for iOS native development.

Swift is Apple’s programming language. With it, you may create apps for iPhones and iPads. It is safe and reliable.

• Swift is designed to be a high-performance language.
• Swift includes features that prevent common programming errors, like null pointer dereferencing and buffer overflow. Safety is paramount for apps that handle sensitive user data or require stable operation.
• Being developed by Apple, Swift provides a smoother development process for iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS apps.

The reasons to choose Swift, particularly from the app development perspective, are its performance and safety features.

Find our case study written in Swift here: Tandem App Case Study

6. C

Though it rarely hits the lists of top languages for startup, using C can be a strategic choice, especially in certain tech domains where performance, control over hardware, and efficiency are crucial. It’s one of the oldest and most fundamental programming languages.

• Effective for applications where speed and resource management are key.
• Gives developers more direct control over hardware and system processes.
• Having team members proficient in C can be advantageous for solving complex problems that require an in-depth understanding of how software interacts with hardware.
• It covers various fields, including game development, desktop applications, etc.

One of the best things about the C programming language is its performance efficiency. The language’s design, focused on minimal run-time support, ensures that the overhead is low, resulting in faster execution of applications.

So, if you’re looking for the best programming language for startups to kick off or estimate the project, consider the coding languages listed above.

Trends in the field of startup programming languages

New trends in programming languages in startups are to keep an eye on. Follow these closely to ensure your product comes out modern enough and delivers a truly up-to-date experience to your users. Here’s what we’ve noticed recently in the field of programming languages for startups.

• Kotlin has emerged as a trend, particularly in Android app development. Its interoperability with Java and support from Google have made it popular among startups focusing on mobile apps. Kotlin’s emphasis on safety and clarity promises to make it a leader in mobile development.
• JavaScript and frameworks like React, Vue.js, and Angular continue to dominate. The trend towards single-page applications (SPAs) and serverless architectures has further cemented JavaScript’s role, meeting startups’ needs for fast, responsive, and affordable solutions.
• A rich set of libraries such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, and Keras have made Python a leader in AI/ML development. This trend is driven by startups leveraging AI and ML for data analysis, predictive modeling, and automation.
• Go, or Golang, is gaining traction for its system and network programming efficiency. Startups are adopting Go for its robust standard library, ease of learning, and concurrency support, which are essential for cloud services and networked applications.
• Rust is becoming famous for its focus on memory safety. With the growing emphasis on cybersecurity, startups are looking towards Rust to develop reliable applications.
• Based on the Erlang VM, Elixir is noted for its scalability and maintainability. It is used for applications requiring high availability, particularly in telecommunications and finance.
• Languages like Scala and Haskell, known for their functional programming paradigms, are seeing increased interest, especially in complex applications like financial modeling and big data processing.
• In cross-platform projects, Flutter and React Native are irreplaceable. They allow startups to develop applications that run seamlessly on multiple platforms, reducing development time and costs.

TL; DR

Are you selecting the best programming language for startup business? First, assess the specific needs of your application, consider the target platforms, and check whether you’ll need to handle an increasing user base.

For applications in sensitive sectors like healthcare or finance, you will have another set of boxes to check, like security and privacy compliance.

After considering the above, carefully pick the startup programming language — consult your team, partners, and development vendor.

Choose carefully, and you will be rewarded with a smooth development process and a successful product.

Do you still have questions? Feel free to consult our software development gurus anytime.