programming languages?

[birge]

Hi,
How many programming languages are out the market? When I was in Collage I took C and Java lessons for one semester. I can also use Matlab for engineering calculations. I heard Python, ASP.NET, Visual and Coldfusion but I'm sure there are some other languages... Any thoughts?

[nickh]

There're dozens, if not 100 or more. See Wikipedia for a large list.

Some are more popular that others, obviously. At the moment, I'd say that the most popular programming or scripting languages are:

• Ruby
• Python
• PHP
• Perl
• Java
• JavaScript
• Lisp and its derivatives
• Erlang
• C
• C++
• SQL and its derivatives
• .NET MVC
• VB.NET
• Visual Basic

That list is in no particular order, and more importantly, is nowhere near exhaustive.

[RichardLeik]

One of the easiest languages to learn for beginners is Python. I have tried developing some simple applications for Django (which is based off Python), and so far it's been a straight-forward experience.
I'm also a fan of Ruby and RoR, and of course PHP (though less of a programming language, as opposed to scripting).
I do not consider PHP or Javascript to be true programming languages.

[nickh]

One of the easiest languages to learn for beginners is Python. I have tried developing some simple applications for Django (which is based off Python), and so far it's been a straight-forward experience.
I'm also a fan of Ruby and RoR, and of course PHP (though less of a programming language, as opposed to scripting).
I do not consider PHP or Javascript to be true programming languages.

By traditional definitions, neither Python nor Ruby are programming languages: they're scripting languages.

The historic definition of a programming language requires that the program be compiled into machine code before being run, while a scripting language is interpreted by the scripting engine at run-time.

However, the line between programming and scripting languages has been blurring for a while.