Top Programming Languages for Internet of Things
Day-by-day, the internet is connecting all aspects of life, bringing the world closer to every individual. This is only achievable due to the emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT) technology, which is seen as the future of the world. The technological sphere is rapidly changing and IoT is trending, necessitating developers and tech professionals to upgrade their skillset to keep up. If you’re a newcomer to IoT and wondering which programming language to learn first, you’ll find the answer below.
1. Java
Java is renowned and widely used among programmers, and is the best selection for IoT developers due to its Write Once Run Anywhere (WORA) concept. According to the Eclipse Foundation survey of 2018, Java tops the list with 66.5 percent. Coding can be drafted and debugged on a computer, and then be transferred to any chip through a Java Virtual Machine (JVM). As a result, it can be executed anywhere JVMs are available, and on any minor/smaller machines. This makes it perfect for IoT software. At present, Java SE Embedded is mainly focused on embedded development, making it an ideal solution for IoT applications. Java‘s object–oriented nature and lack of hardware dependency, in addition to its hardware support libraries, make it an optimal option for IoT development.
Java is useful in IoT for several reasons:
- It is a high-level language that allows developers to write code more efficiently and with fewer lines of code.
- It has a large developer community and a wealth of libraries and tools for IoT development.
- It is an object-oriented language, making it well-suited for developing complex systems with many interconnected devices.
- It is platform-independent, meaning that Java code can run on a variety of hardware and software systems, including IoT devices.
- It has built-in support for network communication, making it easier to develop IoT applications that communicate over a network.
2. C
The highly–regarded C language, often referred to as the ‘mother of all programming languages‘, is still the most important language for the development of IoT. According to a survey conducted by the Eclipse Foundation in 2018, C was the most popular language amongst developers, achieving 56.9% of overall preference compared to Java. Its portability and compatibility for programming micro–controllers for computing on IoT devices make it a preferred choice for developers working on low level hardware with constrained RAM. Its low processing power and RAM requirements have made it the language of choice for the popular Arduino micro–controller.
C language is useful in IoT for several reasons:
- It is a low-level language and can efficiently control the hardware resources.
- It provides a high degree of control over memory allocation and usage, crucial for IoT devices with limited memory and processing power.
- It is widely used in embedded systems and has a large developer community for support.
- It has a small footprint and can be easily embedded into IoT devices.
- It provides fast execution speed, which is essential for real-time applications in IoT.
3. Python
Python is most popular language in world because it is very easy to use and user friendly. It is the perfect programming language for data-driven-intensive applications. 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.
Nowadays we are used “MICROPYTHON” for many micro-controller. For more information please visit given below links:
Python can be useful in Internet of Things (IoT) in several ways:
- Prototyping: It has a simple syntax and is easy to learn, making it suitable for quickly prototyping IoT projects.
- Interfacing with hardware: There are several libraries such as
RPi.GPIOandAdafruit_GPIOwhich allow easy control of GPIOs, I2C, SPI, etc. - Data analysis and visualization: Python has a rich set of libraries for data analysis, machine learning and data visualization, making it ideal for analyzing and visualizing IoT data.
- Network programming: Python provides libraries such as
socketandTwistedwhich are useful for implementing IoT protocols such as MQTT, CoAP, etc. - Cross-platform support: Python code can run on various platforms such as Raspberry Pi, BeagleBone, PC, etc., making it easier to develop IoT applications that work on multiple devices.
- Automation: Python can be used for automating tasks such as data collection, data processing, and controlling devices.
4. JavaScript
JavaScript has established itself as a go–to language for IoT app developers. With a focus on edge nodes, gateways and cloud applications, JavaScript is the language of choice for many developers; Espruino and Tessel are two micro–controllers that make it simple for JS developers to delve into IoT development.
JavaScript can be useful in IoT for the following reasons:
- It is a high-level language that is easy to learn and use, making it accessible for a wide range of developers.
- It has a large developer community and a wealth of libraries and tools for IoT development.
- It can be used for both server-side and client-side development, making it a versatile option for IoT applications.
- It is widely supported in web browsers, allowing for the creation of web-based interfaces for IoT devices.
- It can be used in conjunction with Node.js, a JavaScript runtime, to develop server-side IoT applications.
5. PHPoC
PHPoC (PHP on Chip) is a programmable Internet of Things (IoT) solution for the creation of dynamic web applications. This programming language and platform has been developed from the base of the PHP language, with its syntax being almost identical to the original. PHPoC inherits the core functions of PHP and expands them onto a small chip. There are three versions of PHPoC, which are PHPoC Black, PHPoC Blue, and PHPoC Arduino Shields. All of these have a PHPoC interpreter and are based on PHP, making it a popular choice for developers in the fields of IoT development and web application development.
PHPoC (PHP on Chip) can be useful in IoT for several reasons:
- It is a full-featured, open-source platform that allows developers to use the popular PHP language for IoT development.
- It provides a web server and a PHP interpreter that can run directly on IoT devices, eliminating the need for external servers.
- It provides an easy-to-use, web-based interface for controlling and managing IoT devices, making it accessible for a wide range of developers.
- It supports multiple communication protocols, including HTTP, MQTT, and WebSocket, making it easy to integrate with other IoT devices and services.
- It provides libraries for accessing a wide range of IoT devices and sensors, including GPIO, ADC, PWM, I2C, and SPI.
Finally, the selection of a programming language is totally reliant on the developers and necessities. All the top programming languages have their own advantages and applications. Yet, we generally accept that for gadgets there is C and C++; for gateway and IoT applications, Java and Python; for Cloud, Java, JavaScript, and PHP are the most ideal decisions.
