What is the best programming language to use?

[o.paxton]

Hi, my name is Odin, and I'm completely new to the pi, and I'm wondering what language I should use to work with it. Help would be awesome!

[topguy]

The one you know, or the one you want to learn.

[ShiftPlusOne]

If there was a best language, then it would be the only one used by 80% of programmers. The best language to use depends on your specific project.

[pi2r2]

C is pretty awesome but not the easiest language to begin with.

Python is easy to learn, the documentation is great and there is plenty of example for the pi.

I personally always try to use Nodejs when possible because it makes it very easy to add a web interface.

[ElEscalador]

What's the best automobile? Sedan? SUV? Pickup truck? Work van?... You can probably make any of them work but some are better than other for various things.

[Gavinmc42]

Learn all of them, it gets easier after the first half dozen
But if you are going to use it on Pi's, start with Python.

There is no "best", if there was, no new languages would be invented every year.

[jahboater]

The good thing about Linux and the Pi is that you have a huge choice of available languages.
There is nothing stopping you from using any of them.

Most "real" software is written in C or Python.

[wildfire]

Most "real" software is written in C or Python.

Erm, Define "real".

@OP, As others have posted choose the language you are happier with. *nix has plenty of options.

[jahboater]

Erm, Define "real".

By "real" I mean major software that users rely on day to day.
Of course there are exceptions (I did say "most").

I should probably include C++.

Take a look at Raspbian:-
The OS (linux kernel) is written in C.
The development software (GCC and the support tools) are written in C.
The office suites (Libre office) will be in C or C++
The GPIO support libraries are in C and/or Python.
Bash is written in C
I bet much of Python is written in C.
Most of the commands you type every day (cp, mv, rm, grep etc etc etc) are written in C.
The desktop will be in C++ or C.
Web browsers, databases, I don't know, but I would put money on C or C++ being involved somewhere.

Most scripts are in Bash or Python.

These languages tend to have the best support.
So if you chose to write a beginner program to light up a LED in Ada or prolog or scala or haskell you might find it difficult, but in Python or C it would be comparatively easy.

Take a look at the number of posts in the programming section of this forum to see which languages have the most user interest.

What do you call "real" software?

[mfa298]

The good thing about Linux and the Pi is that you have a huge choice of available languages.
There is nothing stopping you from using any of them.

Most "real" software is written in C or Python.

You should probably at least add ruby and rust to that list as well, and if you want to include languages used for webapps add in php, node, go and a few others.

For someone starting out Ruby or Python are probably the best options to start with. Lots of examples, fairly easy to create something functional etc.

[bensimmo]

Hi, my name is Odin, and I'm completely new to the pi, and I'm wondering what language I should use to work with it. Help would be awesome!

I would go with Python if you are new to the Pi and don't know a lot about other languages. (?)
I say this since there is a lot of support from the RaspberryPI Foundation and people simplifying its use. Not least on this (RaspberryPI.org) website itself.
Then pick up something else if you cannot do it with Python or find, after getting into the Pi, something else fits your style better.

[hooda]

You can start with any language you are comfortable with. Python, ruby, etc would be a good start. If you are starting off with programming then you can try https://hackr.io to find great programming courses and tutorials.
Just start with any language of your choice. All the best.

[vale88]

The one you know, or the one you want to learn.

This is a good suggestion. But if you want to learn my choice: Java and Python.

Valentin S.
Java developer
Interests: JavaFX, NetBeans and Raspberry Pi

[hippy]

Hi, my name is Odin, and I'm completely new to the pi, and I'm wondering what language I should use to work with it. Help would be awesome!

Python.

Or, if you know any other languages which you like using, then choose one of those. As long as it's not a particularly obscure or proprietary language it will probably be supported on a Pi.

[o.paxton]

Erm, Define "real".

By "real" I mean major software that users rely on day to day.
Of course there are exceptions (I did say "most").

I should probably include C++.

Take a look at Raspbian:-
The OS (linux kernel) is written in C.
The development software (GCC and the support tools) are written in C.
The office suites (Libre office) will be in C or C++
The GPIO support libraries are in C and/or Python.
Bash is written in C
I bet much of Python is written in C.
Most of the commands you type every day (cp, mv, rm, grep etc etc etc) are written in C.
The desktop will be in C++ or C.
Web browsers, databases, I don't know, but I would put money on C or C++ being involved somewhere.

Most scripts are in Bash or Python.

These languages tend to have the best support.
So if you chose to write a beginner program to light up a LED in Ada or prolog or scala or haskell you might find it difficult, but in Python or C it would be comparatively easy.

Take a look at the number of posts in the programming section of this forum to see which languages have the most user interest.

What do you call "real" software?

thank you, this was very helpful.