What is application development?

Application development, or app development, is the process of planning, designing,

creating, testing, and deploying an application to perform various business operations. It
can be done by massive organizations with large teams working on projects or by a
single freelance developer. Application development defines the process of how the
application is made and generally follows a standard methodology.

There are lots of factors that go into developing an application. You must consider the
size of the project, how specific the requirements are, how much the customer will want
to change things, how large and experienced the development team is, and the
deadline for the project.

Building custom business apps is now a necessary step for enterprises that want to
future-proof their businesses, increase collaboration and efficiency, and improve
customer experiences.

However, most CIOs are already aware that the demand for business apps is increasing
beyond IT’s ability to deliver. App development methods are outdated, and resources
are outstretched.

Understanding application development and implementing it at scale requires actively

involving IT and business users to increase application velocity.

What are the benefits of developing applications?

An app builder can help businesses build and strengthen their brand, giving them a
competitive advantage in their industry. Some benefits of developing apps are

Improved customer engagement

The application provides businesses with an additional channel to engage with their
customers. It allows customers to access products or services quickly, receive updates,
and provide feedback.

Enhanced branding
Apps help businesses build and strengthen their brand by providing a platform to
showcase their products or services and share their values and mission.

High efficiency
Composable applications can also help businesses improve their internal operations,
allowing them to streamline processes, reduce costs, and improve productivity.

Data collection and analysis

An app can provide businesses with valuable data on user behavior and preferences,
which can be used to improve marketing strategies and enhance customer experiences.

What are the main steps in application development?

The app development process is complex and multi-staged, requiring careful planning,
designing, building, testing, and launching. It is a collaborative effort that involves
different teams and professionals working together to create an app that meets the
needs and expectations of users.

App development is linked with software development life cycle. The basic stages and
steps of app development SDLC are as follows

1. Planning and research

The app's purpose must be clearly laid out to all parties in the planning stage.
Developers research hardware and software requirements, marketers study feasibility
and demand on the market, and business teams analyze competition and opportunities
for growth, among other things.

2. Design and prototyping

Developers define a design to satisfy the requirements. They usually start on paper with
draft sketches. They can then create wireframes to visualize the app's structure better
and create a prototype to identify potential problems.

3. Code development
Developers now write the code the app needs to function as intended based on the
iterations and initial testing. This stage has two types of development: front-end
development, which includes the user side, UX, and UI, and back-end development,
which is the server side.

4. Testing and optimization

The app undergoes formal testing with users to verify the functions and usability of the
app and identify user difficulties that may have been overlooked during prototyping.

5. Release and maintenance

Once testing is done, the app can undergo final production and be released. After
deployment, the team needs to monitor for possible bugs or other issues and respond to
them quickly. Changes and enhancements to the app can be done after release, but
they must undergo strict testing and control to measure their effectiveness.

Application Development Methodologies

There are several methodologies for application development, each with its own
approach to managing the software development process. Some of the most commonly
used methodologies are:

1.​ Waterfall: The waterfall methodology is a linear, sequential approach to

software development, where each phase of the development process is
completed before moving on to the next. The phases typically include
requirements gathering, design, development, testing, and deployment. The
waterfall methodology is best suited for projects with well-defined
requirements and a clear scope.
2.​ Agile: The Agile methodology is an iterative approach to software
development, where the development process is broken down into smaller,
more manageable stages, called sprints. Each sprint involves planning,
development, testing, and review, and the process is repeated until the project
is completed. Agile is best suited for projects with changing requirements and
evolving scope.
3.​ DevOps: DevOps is a methodology that emphasizes collaboration and
communication between development and operations teams, with a focus on
continuous integration, testing, and delivery. The DevOps methodology aims
to improve the speed, reliability, and quality of software development.
4.​ Rapid Application Development (RAD): The RAD methodology is a faster,
more iterative approach to software development, where the focus is on
building a working prototype as quickly as possible. The RAD methodology is
best suited for projects with tight deadlines and changing requirements.
5.​ Scrum: Scrum is an Agile methodology that emphasizes teamwork,
collaboration, and accountability. Scrum involves short sprints, daily stand-up
meetings, and regular reviews and retrospectives. The Scrum methodology is
best suited for complex projects with changing requirements.
6.​ Lean: The Lean methodology emphasizes continuous improvement,
eliminating waste, and maximizing customer value. The Lean methodology is
best suited for projects with a focus on delivering high-quality software quickly
and efficiently.
Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

Software development life cycle (SDLC) is a structured process that is used to design,
develop, and test good-quality software. SDLC, or software development life cycle, is a
methodology that defines the entire procedure of software development step-by-step.
The goal of the SDLC life cycle model is to deliver high-quality, maintainable software
that meets the user’s requirements. SDLC in software engineering models outlines the
plan for each stage so that each stage of the software development model can perform
its task efficiently to deliver the software at a low cost within a given time frame that
meets users requirements.

What is the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)?

SDLC is a process followed for software building within a software organization. SDLC
consists of a precise plan that describes how to develop, maintain, replace, and
enhance specific software. The life cycle defines a method for improving the quality of
software and the all-around development process. ​
​
Stages of the Software Development Life Cycle
SDLC specifies the task(s) to be performed at various stages by a software engineer or
developer. It ensures that the end product is able to meet the customer’s expectations
and fits within the overall budget. Hence, it’s vital for a software developer to have prior
knowledge of this software development process. SDLC is a collection of these six
stages, and the stages of SDLC are as follows:

The SDLC Model involves six phases or stages while developing any software.
Stage-1: Planning and Requirement Analysis

Planning is a crucial step in everything, just as in software development. In this same

stage, requirement analysis is also performed by the developers of the organization.
This is attained from customer inputs, and sales department/market surveys.
The information from this analysis forms the building blocks of a basic project. The
quality of the project is a result of planning. Thus, in this stage, the basic project is
designed with all the available information.

Stage-1 : Planning and Requirement Analysis

Stage-2: Defining Requirements

In this stage, all the requirements for the target software are specified. These
requirements get approval from customers, market analysts, and stakeholders. ​
This is fulfilled by utilizing SRS (Software Requirement Specification). This is a sort of
document that specifies all those things that need to be defined and created during the
entire project cycle.
 Stage-2 : Defining Requirements

Stage-3: Designing Architecture

SRS is a reference for software designers to come up with the best architecture for the
software. Hence, with the requirements defined in SRS, multiple designs for the product
architecture are present in the Design Document Specification (DDS).
This DDS is assessed by market analysts and stakeholders. After evaluating all the
possible factors, the most practical and logical design is chosen for development.
 Stage 3: Design

Stage-4: Developing Product

At this stage, the fundamental development of the product starts. For this, developers
use a specific programming code as per the design in the DDS. Hence, it is important
for the coders to follow the protocols set by the association. Conventional programming
tools like compilers, interpreters, debuggers, etc. are also put into use at this stage.
Some popular languages like C/C++, Python, Java, etc. are put into use as per the
software regulations.
 Stage 4: Development

Stage-5: Product Testing and Integration

After the development of the product, testing of the software is necessary to ensure its
smooth execution. Although, minimal testing is conducted at every stage of SDLC.
Therefore, at this stage, all the probable flaws are tracked, fixed, and retested. This
ensures that the product confronts the quality requirements of SRS.
Documentation, Training, and Support: Software documentation is an essential part
of the software development life cycle. A well-written document acts as a tool and
means to the information repository necessary to know about software processes,
functions, and maintenance. Documentation also provides information about how to use
the product. Training in an attempt to improve the current or future employee
performance by increasing an employee’s ability to work through learning, usually by
changing his attitude and developing his skills and understanding.
 Stage 5: Testing

Stage-6: Deployment and Maintenance of Products

After detailed testing, the conclusive product is released in phases as per the
organization’s strategy. Then it is tested in a real industrial environment. It is important
to ensure its smooth performance. If it performs well, the organization sends out the
product as a whole. After retrieving beneficial feedback, the company releases it as it is
or with auxiliary improvements to make it further helpful for the customers. However,
this alone is not enough. Therefore, along with the deployment, the product’s
supervision.
 Stage 6: Deployment and Maintenance

Software Development Life Cycle Models

To this day, we have more than 50 recognized SDLC models in use. But None of
them is perfect, and each brings its favorable aspects and disadvantages for a specific
software development project or a team.
Here, we have listed the top five most popular SDLC models:

1. Waterfall Model

It is the fundamental model of the software development life cycle. This is a very simple
model. The waterfall model is not in practice anymore, but it is the basis for all other
SDLC models. Because of its simple structure, the waterfall model is easier to use and
provides a tangible output. In the waterfall model, once a phase seems to be completed,
it cannot be changed, and due to this less flexible nature, the waterfall model is not in
practice anymore.

2. Agile Model

The agile model in SDLC was mainly designed to adapt to changing requests quickly.
The main goal of the Agile model is to facilitate quick project completion. The agile
model refers to a group of development processes. These processes have some similar
characteristics but also possess certain subtle differences among themselves.
3. Iterative Model

In the Iterative model in SDLC, each cycle results in a semi-developed but deployable
version; with each cycle, some requirements are added to the software, and the final
cycle results in the software with the complete requirement specification.

4. Spiral Model

The spiral model in SDLC is one of the most crucial SDLC models that provides support
for risk handling. It has various spirals in its diagrammatic representation; the number of
spirals depends upon the type of project. Each loop in the spiral structure indicates the
Phases of the Spiral model.

5. V-Shaped Model

The V-shaped model in SDLC is executed in a sequential manner in V-shape. Each

stage or phase of this model is integrated with a testing phase. After every development
phase, a testing phase is associated with it, and the next phase will start once the
previous phase is completed, i.e., development & testing. It is also known as the
verification or validation model.

6. Big Bang Model

The Big Bang model in SDLC is a term used to describe an informal and unstructured
approach to software development, where there is no specific planning, documentation,
or well-defined phases.

How to Choose an SDLC Model?

Choosing the right SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle) model is essential for
project success. Here are the key factors to consider:
1.​ Project Requirements:
●​ Clear Requirements: Use Waterfall or V-Model if requirements
are well-defined and unlikely to change.
●​ Changing Requirements: Use Agile or Iterative models if
requirements are unclear or likely to evolve.
2.​ Project Size and Complexity:
 ●​ Small Projects: Use Waterfall or RAD for small, simple projects.
●​ Large Projects: Use Agile, Spiral, or DevOps for large, complex
projects that need flexibility.
3.​ Team Expertise:
●​ Experienced Teams: Use Agile or Scrum if the team is familiar
with iterative development.
●​ Less Experienced Teams: Use Waterfall or V-Model for teams
needing structured guidance.
4.​ Client Involvement:
●​ Frequent Client Feedback: Use Agile, Scrum, or RAD if regular
client interaction is needed.
●​ Minimal Client Involvement: Use Waterfall or V-Model if client
involvement is low after initial planning.
5.​ Time and Budget Constraints:
●​ Fixed Time and Budget: Use Waterfall or V-Model if you have
strict time and budget limits.
●​ Flexible Time and Budget: Use Agile or Spiral if you can adjust
time and budget as needed.
6.​ Risk Management:
●​ High-Risk Projects: Use Spiral for projects with significant risks
and uncertainties.
●​ Low-Risk Projects: Use Waterfall for projects with minimal risks.
7.​ Product Release Timeline:
●​ Quick Release Needed: Use Agile or RAD to deliver products
quickly.
●​ Longer Development Time: Use Waterfall or V-Model for projects
with no urgent deadlines.
8.​ Maintenance and Support:
●​ Long-Term Maintenance: Use Agile or DevOps for projects
needing continuous updates and support.
 ●​ Minimal Maintenance: Use Waterfall or V-Model if little future
maintenance is expected.
9.​ Stakeholder Expectations:
●​ High Stakeholder Engagement: Use Agile or Scrum if
stakeholders want ongoing involvement.
●​ Low Stakeholder Engagement: Use Waterfall or V-Model if
stakeholders prefer involvement only at major milestones.

What is a programming paradigm?

A programming paradigm is a fundamental approach or style of programming that

provides a set of principles, concepts, and techniques for designing and implementing
computer programs. It defines the structure, organization, and flow of the code, as well
as the methodologies for problem-solving and expressing computations.

Programming paradigms dictate how programmers should think about and structure
their code. They influence the way programs are written, the techniques used to solve
problems, and the overall design philosophy. Different paradigms have their strengths
and weaknesses, and choosing the right paradigm for a given task can greatly impact
the efficiency, maintainability, and scalability of a program.

Each programming paradigm has its own set of concepts and features. For example,
procedural programming focuses on procedures and functions, object-oriented
programming revolves around objects and classes, functional programming emphasizes
immutability and pure functions, and so on. These paradigms provide guidelines and
best practices for organizing code, managing data, controlling program flow, and solving
specific types of problems.

It’s worth noting that many programming languages support multiple paradigms,
allowing programmers to combine and leverage different approaches to suit their needs.
Additionally, new paradigms may emerge over time as the field of programming evolves
and new techniques are developed.

Types of Programming Paradigm

1. Imperative programming paradigm: It is one of the oldest programming paradigm.
It features close relation to machine architecture. It is based on Von Neumann
architecture. It works by changing the program state through assignment statements. It
performs step by step task by changing state. The main focus is on how to achieve the
goal. The paradigm consist of several statements and after execution of all the result is
stored.
Advantages:
1.​ Very simple to implement
2.​ It contains loops, variables etc.

Disadvantage:
1.​ Complex problem cannot be solved
2.​ Less efficient and less productive
3.​ Parallel programming is not possible

Imperative programming is divided into three broad categories: Procedural, OOP and
parallel processing. These paradigms are as follows:

●​ Procedural programming paradigm – ​

This paradigm emphasizes on procedure in terms of underlying machine model.
There is no difference in between procedural and imperative approaches. It has
the ability to reuse the code and it was boon at that time when it was in use
because of its reusability.
●​ Object oriented programming – ​
The program is written as a collection of classes and object which are meant for
communication. The smallest and basic entity is object and all kind of
computation is performed on the objects only. More emphasis is on data rather
procedure. It can handle almost all kind of real life problems which are today in
scenario.

Advantages:
 ●​ Data security
●​ Inheritance
●​ Code reusability
●​ Flexible and abstraction is also present
●​ Parallel processing approach – ​
Parallel processing is the processing of program instructions by dividing them
among multiple processors. A parallel processing system posses many numbers
of processor with the objective of running a program in less time by dividing
them. This approach seems to be like divide and conquer. Examples are NESL
(one of the oldest one) and C/C++ also supports because of some library
function.

2. Declarative programming paradigm: ​

It is divided as Logic, Functional, Database. In computer science the declarative
programming is a style of building programs that expresses logic of computation without
talking about its control flow. It often considers programs as theories of some logic.It
may simplify writing parallel programs. The focus is on what needs to be done rather
how it should be done basically emphasize on what code is actually doing. It just
declares the result we want rather how it has be produced. This is the only difference
between imperative (how to do) and declarative (what to do) programming paradigms.
Getting into deeper we would see logic, functional and database.

●​ Logic programming paradigms – ​

It can be termed as abstract model of computation. It would solve logical
problems like puzzles, series etc. In logic programming we have a knowledge
base which we know before and along with the question and knowledge base
which is given to machine, it produces result. In normal programming
languages, such concept of knowledge base is not available but while using
the concept of artificial intelligence, machine learning we have some models
like Perception model which is using the same mechanism. ​
 In logical programming the main emphasize is on knowledge base and the
problem.
●​ Functional programming paradigms – ​
The functional programming paradigms has its roots in mathematics and it is
language independent. The key principle of this paradigms is the execution of
series of mathematical functions. The central model for the abstraction is the
function which are meant for some specific computation and not the data
structure. Data are loosely coupled to functions.The function hide their
implementation. Function can be replaced with their values without changing
the meaning of the program. Some of the languages like perl, javascript
mostly uses this paradigm.
●​ Database/Data driven programming approach – ​
This programming methodology is based on data and its movement. Program
statements are defined by data rather than hard-coding a series of steps. A
database program is the heart of a business information system and provides
file creation, data entry, update, query and reporting functions. There are
several programming languages that are developed mostly for database
application. For example SQL. It is applied to streams of structured data, for
filtering, transforming, aggregating (such as computing statistics), or calling
other programs. So it has its own wide application.

What is a Programming Language?

In general, the word language refers to the mode of communication used amongst a
group of individuals or entities to exchange ideas, give commands, etc. Similarly in the
world of programming, the language that software programmers, software engineers,
coders, developers, etc. use to communicate with a computer or software is referred to
as a programming language.

Definition of programming language: It is a tool programmers use to communicate with

and control the behavior of a machine, more often a computer.
There are thousands of programming languages in use today with many new and
upcoming features. So let's move on to discussing the various types of programming
languages and discuss some prominent features.

Features of a Programming Languages

Now, let us look at the features of programming languages.

●​ Syntax: The specific guidelines and arrangement that computer languages

employ to produce code.
●​ Data Types: the several types of values that may be kept in a program, including
strings, integers, etc.
●​ Variables: Named memory locations that can store values.
 ●​ Control Structures: loops and conditional statements are examples of statements
that regulate how a program executes.
●​ Functions/Methods: Blocks of code that can be called from other parts of a
program to perform specific tasks.
●​ Abstraction: The ability to hide complex details and provide a simplified interface
for users.
●​ Memory Management: The process of allocating and deallocating memory for
variables and data structures.
●​ Parsing: The process of analyzing code to determine its structure and meaning.
●​ Markup and Control Language: The ability to add comments and other
annotations to code to make it more readable and maintainable.

Types of Programming Language

There are over 700 types of programming languages, used for various purposes and
functions. There are also many ways to classify the types of programming languages.
We will start with the most commonly used classification:

1. Low-level languages

Low-level programming languages are languages that provide little to no abstraction

between the language itself and the processor's instructions. In other words, these
low-level languages closely resemble the machine code and are hence referred to as
'close to hardware'. The advantage here is that the processors can run low-level
programs directly, without the need for an interpreter or compiler. This is why programs
written in low-level programming languages are extremely fast to run.

Examples of low-level programming languages are- Binary code, Machine language,

and Assembly language.

2. Middle-level language (MLL)

As the name suggests, a mid-level language refers to all the languages that lie between
high and low-level programming languages. An MLL acts as a bridge between raw
hardware and programs by interacting with the abstraction layer. This is why they are
often referred to as pseudo or intermediate-level programming languages.

Examples of mid-level languages are- C, Java, and C++.

3. High-level languages (HLL)

The high-level programming languages allow for the greatest amount of abstraction
between machine code and the language itself. So much so, that they appear close to
human languages rather than machine languages. For computers to then understand
and execute the commands we use compilers that first convert the HLL into computer
languages. The primary benefit of high-level programming languages is that it's simple
to learn and write in, as well as maintain.
Examples of high-level programming languages are Python, Java, JavaScript, Pascal,
PHP, Swift, etc.

Other Types of Programming Language

There are many other ways to define categories of programming languages:

1. Procedural languages

Procedural Programming languages are the ones that follow a step-wise/sequential

format of writing commands and executing them. A sequence of commands is referred
to as a procedure and these languages are also referred to as procedural-oriented
languages (POP). A primary advantage of POP language is its simplicity of use. Some
examples of these POP languages are- Java, Pascal, BASIC, etc.

2. Functional programming languages

This refers to those languages wherein a program is written based on mathematical

functions and they are useful in performing computation. There are two types of these
languages- pure functional languages and impure functional languages. Examples-
Scala, Haskell, F#, etc.

3. Object-oriented programming languages

The languages that consider a program as a set of objects are referred to as

object-oriented languages. In other words, in such languages, programs contain
objects, which further contain data or code. Some common object-oriented
programming (OOP) languages are Python, Ruby, C++, etc.

4. Scripting languages

A scripting language is where the commands/ instructions are written for and interpreted
in the runtime environment. There is no need to compile these languages since they are
interpreted. Some common scripting languages are Python, Perl, PHP, Bash, etc.

5. Logic languages
In such languages, programs are written as a set of logical relations instead of rigid/
technical commands or instructions. Examples of logic languages are Prolong, Alma-0,
Absys, etc.

6. Front-end languages

Front-end programming languages as the name suggests, pertain to the user side or
front-end web development side. In other words, they are used to create what the users
see in their browsers, i.e. images, text, colors, etc. A front-end developer uses these
languages to create a seamless user experience for the visitors/ users. Some examples
of front-end development languages are- CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), JavaScript,
React, etc.

7. Back-end languages

Back-end programming languages are used in the back-end development end of a

website, app, program, etc. These languages are used to address the server-side
requests that ultimately produce what the user sees on the front end. Some common
languages used by back-end developers are PHP, JavaScript, PHP, Python, etc.

8. Compiled languages

As we've mentioned before, for some languages we use a compiler to convert

programming language code into machine language which the processor then
implements/ executes. These are referred to as compiled programming languages.
Some common programming languages in this category are- C, C++, Rust, etc.

9. Interpreted languages

These are those languages that skip the compiler step and instead are interpreted at
the time of execution/ at runtime, by an interpreter (think back to the explanation of
scripting languages). Some friendly languages in this category are Python, JavaScript,
PHP, etc.
Now that we know about the basics of what is a programming language, as well as
various categorizations for the same, let's have a look at some of the most popular
programming languages and their advantages.

Most Commonly Used Programming Languages

With dozens of programming languages available out there, a lot of you might be
confused as to which programming language to learn first. Well, to help you navigate
this world of confusion, here is a list of the most popular languages that you must know:

Python C++ Kotlin Perl

JavaScript Ruby Rust R

Java Swift MATLAB Dart

C# C Objective-C Lua

PHP TypeScript Scala Shell Scripting

We will study the five most common programming languages in detail:

1. C

C is a well-known easy, flexible, and simple general-purpose programming language for

computers. Dennis M. Ritchie developed it in 1972 for AT&T. The language is a mix of
both low-level programming language, as also a high-level programming language. It is
utilized to design applications such as Text editors, compilers, network devices, and
many more.
Advantages of C

●​ C language is simple to master.

●​ It's quick and efficient, it is mobile, easy to expand, and is a powerful and flexible,
beginner-friendly language.
●​ It's used to do complicated calculations and operations, like MATLAB.
●​ It uses dynamic memory allocation that allocates memory in real time.

2. JavaScript

JavaScript is a type of scripting language that can be used on both the client-side and
server side. It was developed by the 1990s to be used the 1990s for the Netscape
Navigator web browser. It allows programmers to incorporate complex features that
make websites live. It assists programmers in creating dynamic websites as well as
mobile applications, servers and games, animated graphics, and more. It is considered
the most suitable language for mobile application development.

Advantages of JavaScript

●​ JavaScript allows us to add interaction and behavior to websites.

●​ It is a method to reduce the time it takes to load on the server.
●​ It helps in building attractive and dynamic/ interactive websites with rich
interfaces.
●​ JavaScript is a basic, flexible, and light programming language.
●​ JavaScript along with its syntax is simple to comprehend.
●​ A wide variety of applications can be created by JS.

3. Python

Python is one of the most commonly used languages and is a user-friendly and
easy-to-use general-purpose language. It is an open-source and simple-to-master
programming language that was created in the early 1990s. It is a functional
programming language most commonly employed to develop machine learning, artificial
intelligence, game development, Big Data, GUI-based desktop applications, as well as
Robotics. The only drawback is it is not suitable for mobile application development.
Advantages of Python

●​ Python has an extremely simple syntax and is simple to read, comprehend, and
write.
●​ It is compatible with other languages of programming such as C, C++, and Java.
●​ Python executes code line-by-line making it easy for the programmer to the
mistake that was made in the code.
●​ Python is a platform-independent language, meaning you can write your code
once and execute it everywhere.

4. PHP

PHP is a shorthand for Hypertext Preprocessor. It is an open-source, powerful

server-side scripting language that is primarily used to build static and dynamic
websites. It was developed in 1994 by Rasmus Laird in the year 1994, is still a popular
go-to language for many out there. Within the PHP software, we are able to code
HTML, CSS as well as JavaScript codes. To save PHP files, the extension file .php is
utilized.

Advantages of PHP

●​ PHP is an easy-to-use and secure programming language.

●​ It is able to support the most powerful online libraries.
●​ It is compatible with different operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and
Mac.
●​ It has high compatibility with cloud services like cloud computing, cloud hosting,
etc.

5. Ruby

Ruby is an open-source, general-purpose completely object-oriented, pure

programming language that was released by the company in 1993. It is employed for
front-end and back-end web development. It was developed to create CGI (Common
Gateway Interface) scripts.

Advantages of Ruby
 ●​ Ruby has support for a variety of GUI (Graphical User Interface) tools, such as
GTK as well as OpenGL.
●​ It's used to build both web-based and intranet applications.
●​ Ruby code is written Ruby is very small and contains smaller lines.

How to Decide Which Programming Language to Learn?

It might be difficult to choose which programming language to learn, especially for

newcomers. Here are some tips and factors to consider when deciding which
programming language to learn:

1.​ Current skill level: If you are new to programming, it's best to select a language
that is beginner-friendly.
 2.​ End goals: You may want to learn a programming language to accomplish a
specific task, for example, creating a video game.
3.​ Project idea: If a project idea sparked your interest, pick a language that helps
you best complete it.
4.​ Job market: Consider the job market and demand for specific programming
languages in your area. This will provide you with information on in-demand skills
that can help you land a job.
5.​ Personal interest: Consider your personal interests and passions when choosing
a programming language.
6.​ Difficulty level: Some languages have a steeper learning curve than others, so
consider your learning style and preferences.
7.​ Popularity: Popular languages like Python, JavaScript, and Ruby have a large
community of developers and resources available. This can make it easier to
learn a new language since you have a support group.
8.​ Compatibility: Consider the compatibility of the language with other technologies
and platforms.

What is an IDE?

An integrated development environment (IDE) is a software application that helps

programmers develop software code efficiently. It increases developer productivity by
combining capabilities such as software editing, building, testing, and packaging in an
easy-to-use application. Just as writers use text editors and accountants use
spreadsheets, software developers use IDEs to make their job easier.

Why are IDEs important?

You can use any text editor to write code. However, most integrated development
environments (IDEs) include functionality that goes beyond text editing. They provide a
central interface for common developer tools, making the software development
process much more efficient. Developers can start programming new applications
quickly instead of manually integrating and configuring different software. They also
don't have to learn about all the tools and can instead focus on just one application. The
following are some reasons why developers use IDEs:

Code editing automation

Programming languages have rules for how statements must be structured. Because an
IDE knows these rules, it contains many intelligent features for automatically writing or
editing the source code.

Syntax highlighting

An IDE can format the written text by automatically making some words bold or italic, or
by using different font colors. These visual cues make the source code more readable
and give instant feedback about accidental syntax errors.

Intelligent code completion

Various search terms show up when you start typing words in a search engine.
Similarly, an IDE can make suggestions to complete a code statement when the
developer begins typing.

Refactoring support

Code refactoring is the process of restructuring the source code to make it more
efficient and readable without changing its core functionality. IDEs can auto-refactor to
some extent, allowing developers to improve their code quickly and easily. Other team
members understand readable code faster, which supports collaboration within the
team.
Local build automation

IDEs increase programmer productivity by performing repeatable development tasks

that are typically part of every code change. The following are some examples of
regular coding tasks that an IDE carries out.

Compilation

An IDE compiles or converts the code into a simplified language that the operating
system can understand. Some programming languages implement just-in-time
compiling, in which the IDE converts human-readable code into machine code from
within the application.

Testing

The IDE allows developers to automate unit tests locally before the software is
integrated with other developers' code and more complex integration tests are run.

Debugging

Debugging is the process of fixing any errors or bugs that testing reveals. One of the
biggest values of an IDE for debugging purposes is that you can step through the code,
line by line, as it runs and inspect code behavior. IDEs also integrate several debugging
tools that highlight bugs caused by human error in real time, even as the developer is
typing.

What are the types of IDEs?

Integrated development environments (IDEs) can be broadly classified into several
different categories, depending on the application development they support and how
they work. However, many IDE software applications can fit into multiple categories.
The following are some types of IDEs:

Local IDEs

Developers install and run local IDEs directly on their local machines. They also have to
download and install various additional libraries depending on their coding preferences,
project requirements, and development language. While local IDEs are customizable
and do not require an internet connection once installed, they present several
challenges:

●​ They can be time consuming and difficult to set up.

●​ They consume local machine resources and can slow down machine
performance significantly.
●​ Configuration differences between the local machine and the production
environment can give rise to software errors.

Cloud IDEs

Developers use cloud IDEs to write, edit, and compile code directly in the browser so
that they don't need to download software on their local machines. Cloud-based IDEs
have several advantages over traditional IDEs. The following are some of these
advantages:

Standardized development environment

Software development teams can centrally configure a cloud-based IDE to create a
standard development environment. This method helps them avoid errors that might
occur due to local machine configuration differences.

Platform independence

Cloud IDEs work on the browser and are independent of local development
environments. This means they connect directly to the cloud vendor's platform, and
developers can use them from any machine.

Better performance

Building and compiling functions in an IDE requires a lot of memory and can slow down
the developer's computer. The cloud IDE uses compute resources from the cloud and
frees up the local machine’s resources.

How should I choose an IDE?

You can find many modern integrated development environments (IDEs) on the market
with a range of features and different price points. Many IDEs are open source, or free
to use and configure. The following are some criteria to consider when choosing an IDE:

The programming language

The programming language you want to code in often dictates the choice of an IDE.
Dedicated IDEs have automation features that particularly suit the syntax of specific
languages. On the other hand, multi-language IDEs support multiple languages.
The operating system

While most IDEs have multiple versions for different operating systems, they might work
better on specific platforms. For example, some IDEs can perform optimally on the
Linux platform but might be slow or difficult to use on other platforms.

Automation features

The three common features in most IDES are the source code editor, build automation,
and debugger. Additional features may vary and can include the following:

●​ Code editor UI enhancements

●​ Automated testing features
●​ Code deployment support via plugin integration
●​ Code refactoring support
●​ Application packaging support

IDE customization

Some IDEs include the ability to customize workflows to match a developer's needs and
preferences. You can download and use plugins, extensions, and add-ons to customize
your programming experience.