Top Programming Languages for Internet of Things (IoT) Development

With the development of Industry 4.0, self-driving vehicles, connected gadgets, home automation systems, and wearable health devices, the need for IoT-based applications is on the rise.

Several developers are continuously improving to stay relevant and future-proof their professions, putting them ahead of the competition. You should know a few programming languages if you are a developer seeking to make it big in the IoT app development industry.
We will go through that in detail in this article.

The need for IoT-based applications is on the rise

The Internet of Things (IoT) Overview

As the IoT develops, determining which technologies are best suited for various jobs may grow more complex. Similarly, determining the relative popularity of programming languages without knowing the requirements can be difficult.

Finally, attempting to determine the most popular IoT programming languages among millions of IoT developers makes the task much more complicated.

The market for IoT developers is predicted to increase at a rate of 10% each year through 2030. Several programming languages are widely used on the Internet of Things.

Here is the list of the top IoT programming languages for 2022 and beyond.

Java

Java is the most popular programming language for IoT application development. It was the most popular programming language in 2019, with an aggregate score of 16.61 percent. Nearly three billion devices have been powered by the programming language alone.

The ability to code once and run anywhere is one of the main reasons why Java is so popular. Developers can write their software once and have it operate on any device that supports the programming language.

Additionally, you can write programs for cloud and edge nodes because Java is object-oriented. It is a suitable programming language for IoT development because of its extensible functionalities and huge library offerings.

Java SE Embedded makes it possible to send code to very small computers and provides more features than Java ME. Developers can transfer code to tiny embedded cards using the latest features of the Java 8 platform.

C Programming Language

This programming language is familiar to every developer alive today. Its widespread appeal is due to its ease of use.

Despite its sometimes-incomprehensible syntax and several opportunities for errors, the C language remains the preferred language of many low-level engineers, particularly those with prior hardware experience.

The language allows you to run many tests by changing different parts of the code to get the most outstanding performance out of a low-end device.

Each bit in the stack can be reversed, and each value in the stack can be accessed. However, because the C language lacks numerous safety nets, it is best not to make too many mistakes.

For many CTOs, C is the language of choice for resource-constrained devices, such as a simple task scheduler written in C.

C is also used in more advanced or more extensive devices. However, Java is becoming more popular in this situation.

C ++

If there is one advantage that C++ has over C, it is computing power. Because of this, C++ is an excellent preprocessing catalyst for C. C++ increases the processing capacity of C, allowing it to run higher-level languages.

C++, on the other hand, is a complex language in which developers can make several errors. Nonetheless, it is a programming favorite.

With its ability to create abstractions and object layers, C++ shines in Linux applications and embedded programming. C++ also supports using other languages such as C#, Python, Java, and others.

Python

Because of its easy comprehension and syntax, Python is another popular programming language for developing IoT products. It works well with object-oriented, organized, and functional programming since it is an interpreted language.

Developers may use whichever language they choose on small devices with sufficient memory and processing capacity, and Python is becoming increasingly popular.

Python is ideal for IoT programming since it is both simple to learn and has a large community behind it.

Furthermore, Python is used in a lot of paperwork, and many schools use it to teach computer programming to students. If the project is simple and therefore does not demand much power, it is possible to create valuable tools using the same libraries used in schools.

Some versions are also developed for smaller devices. One is the MicroPython, a tiny microcontroller that runs Python on bare metal and provides a low-level operating system for controlling a wide range of electronic projects.

JavaScript

JavaScript is well-known for providing device compatibility

All of the programs we use to interface with the internet are written in this language. This scripting language, which is not really considered a standard programming language, is what all HTML programs, web applications, and browsers use.

Despite the fact that it appears to share Java’s language library and borrows parts from languages such as C and Python, it is essentially its own master. JavaScript is well-known for providing device compatibility. Its widespread use in modern programming is also deserving of mention.

Today, Node.js, a more hub and server-focused offshoot of JavaScript, is an ideal choice for receiving and transferring data from sensors to hubs.

The biggest benefit here is that developers who already know JavaScript will not have to learn a new language before diving into IoT development.

Swift

Swift stands out among the others on this list. While the other programming languages mentioned earlier can be used to create IoT applications for websites, smartphones, and devices on various platforms, Swift is built exclusively for developing IoT apps for iOS devices.

It follows Apple's design rules, allowing developers to create IoT applications that fulfill Apple's benchmarking requirements. It is quick, safe, and error-free, with plenty of programming patterns.

This is the best programming language to choose if your IoT application development aims are solely focused on iOS devices. It is one of the simplest programming languages to master due to its basic syntax and ease of writing.

With Swift's growing popularity, ambitious IoT developers should start using it immediately.

PHP

When we consider that PHP’s popularity has stood the test of time on the internet, we might speculate on why it is so popular for IoT development. However, PHP is an excellent server language for administering microservices.

However, the language demonstrates a significant level of interest. Several Raspberry Pi developers are exploring building up a complete LAMP stack on Linux, with Apache, MySQL, and PHP, and are attempting to shift paradigms by turning the Internet’s lowest level into a full-fledged web server.

Planning to set up a LAMP stack on a Raspberry Pi with enough cycles simplifies development. All of the server-side code that has been written over the last 20 years can then be delivered to a little sensor.

Why deprive yourself of something that is not really traditional but is clearly effective?

Go

Because of its wide range of capabilities and benefits, this relatively new programming language is quickly gaining popularity in the IoT application development industry. To begin with, Go provides optimized code, making it ideal for tasks involving small computer devices with low power and memory.

It is also extremely concurrent, meaning it can seamlessly route thousands (or perhaps millions) of data streams and process several asynchronous data streams at the same time. Developers that want to learn Go will have a short learning curve because the language is very simple and user-friendly.

Rust

Savvy engineers say C and C++ are the most popular programming languages for IoT projects. They are used all around the world because of their memory management and runtime features. On the other hand, a programming language that is extremely similar to the other two computer languages is praised as a viable alternative, Rust.

Rust is a programming language that allows developers to enjoy all of the benefits of C and C++ while working a little faster. Rust is a fantastic programming language for beginners and veterans alike, thanks to its comprehensive documentation, helpful error messages, and reliable compiler.

Final Word

Undoubtedly, there is consensus on the top IoT programming languages, but rivals each have their own set of benefits and applications. Java, the most common IoT programming language, can run in a variety of contexts, from backends to mobile apps, and it leads to gateways and cloud computing.

The C programming language is widely regarded as the most important for embedded IoT devices, whereas C ++ is the most popular choice for more advanced Linux implementations. Python is an excellent choice for data-hungry applications.

Although Java is the most popular language for IoT application development, JavaScript and Python are closely followed in certain sub-areas. But the clearest projection that can be found all over the internet is that IoT development is multilingual, and that this trend will likely continue.

Do you require IoT development services? Our team of professionals can assist you in determining the best technology to match your needs. Let’s connect to Groove Technology today.