If you want to know which programming languages might suit your ambitions for the new year, we have a few ideas of where you should direct your attention.
Whether you prefer a golden oldie or are obsessed with the new program on the block, learning how to code has the potential to open many doors. There are literally thousands of languages out there and despite best efforts, no one person is likely to master them all. But you can perfect a few.
So, as we move further into 2026, what programming languages might aid your growing career?
Green code
If you are operating in a field within sustainability, or simply want to do a little good in your role by minimising personal impact on the environment, then there are a few programming languages you should consider learning. Green coding is defined as environmentally sustainable computing practice that seeks to minimise the energy needed to process lines of code. It enables organisations to take control of their waste and consumption by prioritising responsible software usage.
If this sounds appealing then why not prioritise learning a ‘green language’ for example C, Rust or Ada. These are considered among the languages that require the least amount of energy and time to execute prompts. C is also among the languages that needs the least amount of space on average to run a solution.
Complex code
Cybersecurity careers require a much higher degree of safety protocols than other professions, due to the high potential for risk, borne of both mistakes and malicious activity. With that in mind, coders looking to work in this space should ensure that the programming languages they learn have a reputation for high performance and can manage complex tasks.
For example, Python is often considered a heavy hitter for cyber experts due to its readability and large collection of libraries. Popular and widely used, Python has a broad community, which is one aspect of the language’s significant online resources. SQL is another language cyber professionals should turn their attention to as it is useful in identifying and exploiting database vulnerabilities, protecting databases from unauthorised access, and preventing SQL-based injection attacks.
Creative code
Despite being a highly technical and complex field, there is significant room for creative thinking in STEM, requiring less traditional programming languages. For example, software developers, game developers, graphic designers, UX/UI designers and those in robotics, among other roles, frequently get to flex their creative muscles when innovating.
For those who want to add some flair and technical prowess to their skillset there are a range of fun and unique languages to learn, such as LaTeX, an unusual and difficult method particularly useful to those dealing with complex data and number-heavy projects.
If you want something aesthetic, Piet is a really beautiful and creative language that takes data and turns it into an abstract painting in an array of colours, in the style of geometric artist Piet Mondrian. For STEM professionals looking for something different, Piet offers an opportunity to step outside the boundaries of text-based coding, in order to create something of substance with a little more colour.
Modern code
Just because something is older, does not mean that it lacks value, or that it doesn’t compare or can’t compete with the innovations of the modern world. Fortran was conceptualised in the 50s and many of the most widely used languages are decades old, such as SQL which was invented in the 70s. But, if you are in a STEM career and have both eyes firmly on the future, you may want to keep your skillset as up to date as possible, which means using the most modern form of programming.
If that is your goal, focus on the languages created since the turn of the century, such as Rust, Swift, C#, Clojure, Elixir, PureScript and Julia, among others. By learning the most modern languages you make the future a little bit more accessible to yourself, as with any luck, when technologies evolve, you are about as current as you ever can be in a changing world.
The best way to ensure that you stay abreast of developments is to keep informed, follow breaking news in the STEM space and enquire about the ‘next big thing’. That is the beauty of this particular industry, static is a word that rarely ever applies and there is always an opportunity to be seized.
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