Why Developers Should Learn More than One Programming Language

Learning your first programming language is a huge step in your journey to becoming a developer.

We are living in an age of rapidly changing technology. Technology is emerging at an unprecedented pace, with new coding languages created every year to keep up with this rapid innovation.

Currently, there are currently more than 500 programming languages, and that number continues to grow.

There are pros and cons of all the languages and their adoption is becoming application-specific. While there are specialized roles in single languages, the majority of companies and jobs require the knowledge of multiple programming languages.

**Learning a second language will require you to program at a higher level. You won’t truly understand the first programming language until you’ve started to learn a second one where the mindset is different. **

Programming languages will have similarities and differences too. Learning how to map the concepts that are similar from a different programming language to a new one, is an experience that helps developers level up.

Why should you learn more than one language?

Though there are countless benefits of not sticking to a single programming language, it makes a lot of practical sense for your skill development, employability, and career prospects.

Learning multiple languages and frameworks puts you at a higher advantage in the job market and gives you flexibility in making better programming choices.

10 reasons to learn multiple programming languages.

1. Open Up the Job Market.

Learning a second language can sometimes double the number of positions you could fill. It depends on which language you learn, however. Either way, you become qualified for more opportunities, which improves your job search.

Having a solid grasp of multiple programming languages, means you qualify for a wider range of job opportunities. You can pick the role and company you love, rather than settle with limited options.

2. Tackle different problems.

Knowing different languages gives you more options. In theory, you can use any programming language to build an application but when you consider factors like efficiency, performance, and usability, you realize that certain languages are best suited to solve particular kinds of problems.

Learning programming on the extremes of different programming paradigms will teach you how to break down problems in different ways. As with everything in programming, there are tradeoffs to each approach. There are some situations where using a traditional object-oriented language is practical. And there are some situations where using functional programming languages is practical.

3. Increase Your Earning Potential

Most companies look for developers who can work across a number of different functions, and they are prepared to pay more to get someone who can switch between projects.

The software industry undergoes numerous technology shifts. Jobs in one technology suddenly become more rewarding than others.

There are several contributing factors when it comes to determining a developer’s salary. One is whether or not someone is a front-end, back-end, or full-stack developer. Full-stack developers are of course more valuable to a company because they can bring more to the table than a single language programmer would.

4. Become a Versatile Developer

Your skills will never become outdated. Languages that were not in use in the past years suddenly find wide application. Python, having existed for over two decades, has suddenly gained popularity with the demand for data scientists.

Knowing different programming languages equips you to handle those market swings.

You can use your knowledge to keep your job opportunities varied and fresh. Even if you get hired on to work for a specific programming language, it’s not unusual for companies to switch courses and decide to move to or bring in new technologies.

5. Get a Bigger Picture

It will help you see how things could be better. Sometimes you just don’t know how good you have it in your main language until you try something new.

You’ll appreciate the concepts of your favorite language. At the same time, the new language might have some features that you’re surprised you lived without for so long.

Getting bored of doing the same thing for years is an intrinsic human nature. A multi-lingual developer will be likely more alert and he will develop out-of-the-box thinking for solving problems.

6. Become a Better Developer

The path to becoming a self-sufficient developer, who understands how to learn programming concepts, is more important than the details of the programming language itself.

Learning new languages helps you improve skills that are transferable between all languages, e.g., designing and building algorithms or handling different data structures.

7. Languages comes and goes

The fact that programmers will need to learn a new language over the course of their careers is almost guaranteed.

If you learn new languages, you’ll stay current with technology trends, and get an idea of where the industry is headed.

8. You’ll have more Tools

You’ll be able to use the best tools for the job. There is no perfect language; some languages are better than others at particular things. Knowing more than one language gives you the option to choose the best tools for the job.

Different programming languages have different uses, and you will need to use the right programming language to get the website or application built properly.

9. Get a Reputation

Learning multiple languages indicates that you are a quick learner, and it also shows that you’re able to learn new things. Your potential employers will understand you’re not rigid or traditional.

**Good programmers not only know code but how to think and produce efficient code to solve difficulties. **

Learning Python will teach you how to break apart problems in a traditional object-oriented manner. This will prepare you to solve programs using that approach. Learning JavaScript and how to solve problems with a more functional programming approach will allow you to understand that, as well. The more languages you learn, the likelier you will be able to solve many different problems with different approaches.

10. It’s fun

Learning something new will help you grow and improve in a new area.

Once you have learned one programming language the hard work is done. Learning another programming language will be easier because you are already familiar with the first programming language, its syntax, and semantics.

Knowing multiple programming languages will mean that your work will come with some variety. This will give you new challenges and keep your mind alert.