Why JavaScript: If You Could Learn Just One Programming Language, It Should Be JavaScript

Learning a new programming language is not a trivial ordeal. Before committing to a programming language you must consider if its the right fit for you.

In most cases, you want to learn software development so you can build your app ideas and launch your career as a software developer. Here are a few reasons how JavaScript will serve you in the short term as well as in the long term.

Get started with JavaScript in 5 minutes.

When newbies get started with programming, most other programming languages require them to have a certain computer specification. When those requirements are met, special software has to be installed on the computer for the student to start writing code. Before a single line of code is written the student may have to configure the software in a certain way. After all the setup is done, then they can finally start writing code.

In most cases, the student has to write 5 lines of code for the program to do anything. Importing libraries, setting up classes, compile code, understand the console and getting familiar with it takes time. By the time the student is able to display anything on the screen, he/she has invested 3 hours into the setup.

JavaScript is different. You do not need to install any extra software.

• There is no mandatory setup
• There is no mandatory configuration
• There is no compiling of code

You can get started with JavaScript within literally 5 minutes. You can get started with JavaScript faster than any other programming language on the planet.

Since all computers come with a Web browser installed, and all browsers have JavaScript in it, you can write your JavaScript code and run it in the browser.

To run your JavaScript code outside the browser, you would need Node.js installled

JavaScript Developers are highly paid

For the longest time, JavaScript was not taken seriously. However, in the last decade, the language and the community has matured. As a result, companies both large and small are aggressively hiring JavaScript developers to work for them. The good news for you is that this skill is in demand, and there are not as many people who do JavaScript well.

This means that a JavaScript developer..

• is in high demand
• can control the recruiting conversation
• has more options as to which company he/she wants to work for
• commands a higher salary

JavaScript is used everywhere

Unlike other languages, JavaScript is used everywhere. JavaScript is the only language on earth that is used to build applications on every platform imaginable. You can build Web applications, Mobile applications, Desktop Applications, Kiosk Applications, TV Application; you name it, you can build it.

When it comes to building applications on the browser, JavaScript has NO competitors. If you are going to build a decent website, you must know and use JavaScript.

JavaScript is one of the easier languages to learn

JavaScript is one of the easier programming languages to learn, if learned correctly. JavaScript has a straightforward syntax that is highly logical to grasp. It has fewer components that make up the language, that means faster learning. JavaScript is a very flexible language, and although it has fewer components, less is more in this case.

JavaScript is powerful

Here are some of the ways companies are using JavaScript

• United Airlines built its new Customer Checkin Kiosk app with JavaScript
• Trello made a project management app with JavaScript
• Geekli.st made a social media platform like Facebook with JavaScript
• Ghost is a blogging platform built with JavaScript

Since 99% of all top websites use JavaScript, there are countless examples of how and where JavaScript is used.

JavaScript is free!

JavaScript is an Open Source language. Which means that its source code is openly available to the public. It's free to use, that is that you don't have to pay anyone to use the language. JavaScript specifications are managed by a committee comprising of several companies, including all major browser vendors who contribute to the development of the language. Many of these companies are competitors, that means that there are checks and balances in place so the development happens for the greater good of the community.

JavaScript is here to stay

Since JavaScript has such high adoption and no competition, we can’t really foresee JavaScript going anywhere, anytime soon. If JavaScript were to be replaced, we must have some sort of competitor language in sight, right? Well, we don’t know of any. Even if there was a good alternative, it would take many years for millions of websites to migrate their code to a different language. And that competitor has to be good to really change the tide.

If you are serious about becoming a Front-End or Full-Stack JavaScript developer, consider joining iLoveCoding. iLoveCoding takes you deep into learning JavaScript correctly so you can build modern front-end, back-end, mobile, and full-stack applications.