Top Programming Languages for Internet of Things

Years back, we had never imagined that the day will come when we would just stand in front of our door and it could automatically open, the lights would automatically turn on when we enter the room, the AC temperature would be automatically adjusted, we would be testing self-driving cars that can navigate traffic autonomously, real-time monitoring of patients remotely, we will walk and our watch will count steps and list continues. Yes, now all these are a reality, not our imaginations. If we wonder about how these things are made possible then IoT technology comes into the picture. Internet of Things (IoT) technology is growing faster than expected.

Day by day, everything is getting connected to the internet, That’s why today it seems like the whole world is coming closer to every human. Yes, it’s the reality and is only possible due to this emerging technology, the Internet of Things (IoT), and why the future world is seeing IoT as the future technology. Today, it has been seen the technological market/industry is changing and IoT is trending. Developers and Techies from all across the world are preparing themselves with the skills needed to run in the current changing world. But you are a newbie to the Internet of Things and you may have thought about which programming language should I start learning? Then, you will get your answer below. 

Here, is the list of programming languages that are best for IoT Development:

1. Java 

Java is the most well-known and popular language among developers and it is probably the best choice for IoT developers as a programming language for its Write Once Run Anywhere (WORA) principle. According to the Eclipse Foundation survey, 2018 Java is the top choice with 66.5 percent popularity. Developers can create and debug code on their computer then it can be transferred to any chip through a Java Virtual Machine (JVM). So, it can be run on any place where JVMs are used and on any other minor/smaller machines as well making it ideal for IoT software. Today Java SE Embedded is more focused on embedded development. It is one of the best choices for IoT applications. Java’s object-oriented and least hardware dependency and its’ hardware support libraries have made it one of the best choices for IoT development.

Java is a popular choice for developing software for Internet of Things (IoT) due to its platform independence and security features. Some of the benefits of using Java for IoT include:

1. Platform independence: Java code can run on any device that has a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) installed, making it easy to develop and deploy IoT applications on a wide range of platforms and devices.
2. Security: Java has built-in security features, such as automatic memory management and type checking, that help prevent common security vulnerabilities and ensure the safety of IoT devices and networks.
3. Scalability: Java is a platform-independent language that can be used to build large-scale IoT systems, making it a good choice for IoT projects that require high performance and scalability.
4. Large community: Java has a large and active community, which provides a wealth of resources, including libraries, tutorials, and support forums. This makes it easier for developers to find the resources they need to build IoT applications.

In IoT development, Java is often used to develop software for gateways and other intermediate devices, as well as to create applications that collect and process data from IoT devices. Java is also used to develop applications that control and monitor IoT devices, as well as to implement security protocols for IoT networks.

Overall, Java is a powerful and versatile language that is well-suited for developing software for IoT devices and systems. Its platform independence, security features, and scalability make it an ideal choice for large-scale IoT projects, and its large community provides developers with the resources they need to build sophisticated IoT applications.

2. C

C language which is known as the mother of every programming language is still the most essential programming language for IoT development. According to the Eclipse Foundation survey, 2018 C is the Developer’s language of choice with 56.9 percent overall popularity after Java. Developers who work in the low level means with hardware and constrained RAM loves the C language most. C language is well-known for its portability and micro-controllers programming for IoT devices for computing. Less processing power-constrained RAM and more towards low level have made it a top language of choice. Now it is one of the most choices of language for the popular micro-controller Arduino.

C language is a popular choice for developing software for Internet of Things (IoT) devices due to its low-level nature and efficient use of system resources. Some of the benefits of using C for IoT include:

1. Efficient use of system resources: C is a low-level language, which means it is closer to machine code and operates more efficiently than high-level languages. This makes it a good choice for IoT devices with limited processing power and memory.
2. Portability: C code can be easily ported to different platforms and devices, making it a versatile choice for IoT development.
3. Legacy code: C has a long history and is widely used, making it easy for developers to find existing code and libraries that can be reused in IoT projects.
4. Performance: C is a fast language, making it well-suited for real-time systems, such as those used in IoT.

In IoT development, C is often used to program microcontrollers and other low-level hardware components, as well as to write firmware for IoT devices. It is also used to develop software for gateways and other intermediate devices that act as intermediaries between IoT devices and the cloud or other higher-level systems.

Overall, C is a powerful and efficient language that is well-suited for developing software for IoT devices and systems. Its low-level nature and efficiency make it an ideal choice for IoT projects with limited resources, and its wide use and long history make it a reliable and well-understood option for developers.

3. Python

Python is the perfect language for data-intensive applications. For example, if there is a lot of data processing work, Python is the best to use. It is the best choice for IoT development which includes data application, data science, and analytics capabilities to the edge. Now it is the language of choice for one of the most popular microcontrollers on the market, i.e Raspberry Pi. Python is quite a simple, flexible, and uncomplicated language. Its large set of libraries and tools has made it compatible with IoT.

Python is a high-level programming language that is widely used for Internet of Things (IoT) development due to its ease of use and rich libraries. Some of the benefits of using Python for IoT include:

1. Ease of use: Python has a simple and intuitive syntax, making it easy for developers to write and understand code, especially for those with limited programming experience.
2. Large community: Python has a large and active community, which provides a wealth of resources, including libraries, tutorials, and support forums. This makes it easier for developers to find the resources they need to build IoT applications.
3. Rich libraries: Python has a vast collection of libraries that support a wide range of tasks, from data processing and visualization to machine learning and network communication. This makes it easier for developers to build sophisticated IoT applications.
4. Cross-platform compatibility: Python is a cross-platform language that runs on many different operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and macOS, making it easy to develop and deploy IoT applications on a variety of platforms.

In IoT development, Python is often used to develop software for gateways and other intermediate devices, as well as to create applications that communicate with and control IoT devices. Python is also used to develop applications that collect and process data from IoT devices and perform data analysis and visualization.

Overall, Python is a popular and powerful choice for IoT development due to its ease of use, rich libraries, and cross-platform compatibility. Its simplicity and versatility make it an ideal choice for developers of all skill levels and for a wide range of IoT applications.

4. JavaScript 

JavaScript has become one of the best choices for IoT developers for IoT applications. When much focus on the gateway and edge nodes as well as on the IoT cloud applications, JavaScript is a popular choice for developers. Espruino and Tessel are two micro-controllers that use JavaScript by making it easy for JavaScript developers to work with IoT development. 

JavaScript is a high-level, dynamic programming language that is widely used for Internet of Things (IoT) development, particularly for web-based IoT applications. Some of the benefits of using JavaScript for IoT include:

1. Easy to learn: JavaScript is a simple and intuitive language that is easy to learn, making it a good choice for developers of all skill levels.
2. Dynamic nature: JavaScript is a dynamic language, which makes it easy to change and modify code on the fly, without the need for recompilation. This makes it a good choice for IoT applications that require real-time updates.
3. Cross-platform compatibility: JavaScript can run in any web browser, making it easy to develop and deploy IoT applications on a wide range of platforms and devices.
4. Rich libraries: JavaScript has a rich collection of libraries, including popular frameworks such as Node.js and React, that support a wide range of tasks, from web development to machine learning. This makes it easier for developers to build sophisticated IoT applications.

In IoT development, JavaScript is often used to develop web-based applications that control and monitor IoT devices, as well as to create user interfaces for IoT systems. JavaScript is also used to develop server-side applications that collect and process data from IoT devices and perform data analysis and visualization.

Overall, JavaScript is a popular and powerful choice for IoT development due to its ease of use, dynamic nature, and cross-platform compatibility. Its simplicity and versatility make it an ideal choice for developers of all skill levels and for a wide range of IoT applications, particularly those that involve web-based development.

5. PHPoC

PHPoC(PHP on Chip) is a programmable IoT solution for a dynamic web application. PHPoC is a programming language and IoT platform which is developed based on PHP language. The syntax is almost the same as PHP language and it inherits the core functions of PHP. Simply it is an expansion of PHP on a small chip. PHPoC Black, PHPoC Blue, and the PHPoC Arduino Shields have a PHPoC interpreter and are based on PHP. So PHPoC is a popular choice among developers for IoT development and web application development.

PHPoC (PHP on Chip) is a platform for building Internet of Things (IoT) applications using the PHP programming language. Some of the benefits of using PHPoC for IoT include:

1. Easy to learn: PHP is a popular and well-known language, making it easy for developers to learn and use.
2. Dynamic nature: PHP is a dynamic language that can be easily modified on the fly, without the need for recompilation, making it a good choice for IoT applications that require real-time updates.
3. Cross-platform compatibility: PHPoC is designed to run on a variety of platforms, including microcontrollers and single-board computers, making it easy to develop and deploy IoT applications on a wide range of devices.
4. Integration with web development: PHPoC allows developers to integrate IoT applications with web development, making it possible to build sophisticated web-based IoT systems.

In IoT development, PHPoC is often used to develop software for intermediate devices, such as gateways, that communicate with and control IoT devices. PHPoC is also used to develop applications that collect and process data from IoT devices, perform data analysis and visualization, and implement security protocols for IoT networks.

Overall, PHPoC is a powerful and versatile platform for building IoT applications using the PHP programming language. Its ease of use, dynamic nature, and cross-platform compatibility make it an ideal choice for developers of all skill levels and for a wide range of IoT applications, particularly those that involve web-based development.

6. Swift: 

A high-performance language used for developing native iOS applications and is becoming popular in IoT due to its security features.

Swift is a modern, high-performance programming language developed by Apple Inc. It is widely used for developing software for iOS and macOS, and is also used in some Internet of Things (IoT) applications. Some of the benefits of using Swift for IoT include:

1. High performance: Swift is designed to be fast and efficient, making it a good choice for IoT applications that require high performance.
2. Safe and secure: Swift has built-in safety features, such as type checking and automatic memory management, that help prevent common security vulnerabilities and ensure the safety of IoT devices and networks.
3. Easy to learn: Swift is a simple and intuitive language that is easy to learn, making it a good choice for developers of all skill levels.
4. Integration with Apple ecosystems: Swift is closely integrated with the iOS and macOS ecosystems, making it easy to develop and deploy IoT applications on Apple devices.

In IoT development, Swift is often used to develop software for Apple-based IoT devices, such as the Apple Watch and the HomePod. Swift is also used to develop applications that control and monitor IoT devices, as well as to implement security protocols for IoT networks.

Overall, Swift is a modern and efficient language that is well-suited for developing software for IoT devices and systems. Its high performance, safety features, and ease of use make it an ideal choice for developers of all skill levels and for IoT applications that involve Apple-based devices.

Finally, the choice of programming language completely depends on the developers and requirements. All of the top programming languages have their benefits and use cases. But we widely consider that for devices there are C and C++; for gateway and IoT applications, Java and python; for Cloud, Java, JavaScript, and PHP are the best choices.