Is C# still relevant in 2020?

When you discuss programming languages, what are the qualities that make a language relevant? What will be important in 2020 and beyond for C# programmers to know if they want their skillset to stay competitive.

One might say there is no single answer as it depends on who’s asking or how one defines “relevant.” Still, I’ll offer my opinion anyway: being up-to-date with current technologies and finding ways of implementing them into a project can help keep one afloat when these new tools come out. 

The relevance of C# in 2020 cannot be disputed. But basically, that will depend on the application you want to put this programming language into. Programming languages like Python or R. well handle applications such as data science. However, if you intend to develop Video games, C# will offer you the best working environment, thanks to an ecosystem of tools to handle such applications. 

Besides, you can use C# to develop web apps and a host Windows application. That makes it one of the broadly used programming languages, though not as popular as Python. But, it is a well-designed and thought programming language with an exquisite design. Though high-level programming, it has some properties of low-level programming languages C & C++). That means it supports different programming paradigms. 

The advent of .NET Core is likely to make C# continue to grow. Microsoft cares very well about the framework. The new C# versions provide functional improvements – precisely what developers would want. It’s a different approach by Microsoft – .NET Core to open-source and cross-platform. For cross mobile, use Xamarin. However, .NET 5 merges everything: .NET Framework, .NET Core, and Xamarin, making an up-and-coming framework. The expected thing is that C# will continue to grow in the year to come. 

Is C# losing popularity?

There are many surveys carried out to determine the popularity of different programming languages. The results from these surveys are usually contradicting. However, a general decline in the popularity of C# has been declining, according to SlashData. 

SlashData ranks programming languages based on their popularity and use. Its latest report ranks C# 5th after JavaScript, Python, PHP, Java, and C/C++. Previously, it was number 3. The decline of its popularity is of particular interest to—NET-centric coders. The point of interest is for C# is its fall in popularity for cloud apps; however, it is still a significant player in app development. 

Other studies show increasing popularity for C#, the absolute language in the .NET Core world. Two studies are indicating an increase in popularity in C#, and both are from Visual Studio. Take a look at the theme here and here. And this contradicts the results from the 18th edition of SlashData, which show a considerable loss of traction, i.e., it stopped growing over a year ago. 

The Slashdata analysis differs from other “popularity” index studies such as StackOverflow and Redmonk because Slashdata researchers measure the absolute number of users of a programming language instead of just determining the relative popularity of each programming language.

According to the study, 6 million developers were using a significant slip – from position three to position six. During this period, C# lost about 1 million developers. It was even beaten by PHP, which had 6.1 million users. 

Though there is a decline in the number of users, C# sustains its dominance in the game and AR/VR developer ecosystem. But the report indicated that C# was also losing its edge in desktop development. This was due to the development of other cross-platform tools based on web technologies. 

Is C# good for jobs?

C# seems to have a lot of jobs available, which a great language to learn. With 6+ million users across the globe using C#, it certainly is a popular programming language. That should also indicate plenty of opportunities for work as an engineer if you know how to code with this versatile programming language.

But is it a good career choice? 

The true answer to that question depends on what you are specializing in – but it is primarily used to develop third-party applications for Windows and mobile devices. C# is a widely sought out skill due to its broad appeal in the IT industry, especially when it comes to job screening processes and interviews for C# developer jobs.

Taking a career in C# can be rewarding and satisfying. Many developers love it for its rich toolsets and frameworks. Additionally, Microsoft’s backing for this language is significant, and Microsoft’s Visual Studio is currently one of the wealthiest and most robust development environments.

C# and .NET framework offer versatile tools for software developers of all levels, limits the tendency to jump across different stacks if you need exposure from other platforms. There are two impressive frameworks for creating web applications, i.e., ASP.NET and ASP.NET MVC. 

The impressive thing about these frameworks is that they offer tools and development speed at par with other advanced frameworks in different programming languages – the only competitor being Ruby on Rails. Microsoft acquired Xamarin making mobile development for the central platform even better.

Azure, Microsoft’s cloud platform, is a fast-growing platform and offers various tools for your backend API code and storage. Besides, it works great for machine learning, enterprise solutions, background jobs, various cognitive services, and security and identity management. 

With C#, many things can make software developers work incredibly easy. 

Does C# have a future?

Different surveys show the popularity of other programming languages. Among all surveys, C# features among the top ten most used languages indicate that it is a popular language. 

By now, you know that C# is an incredibly versatile language, allowing developers to develop all types of applications, including desktop, APIs, web, cloud, mobile, IoT, games, and libraries. Beyond that, You can use C# to develop windows applications and applications targeting Linux, iOS, macOS, and Android operating systems. 

Did you know that C# is one of the fastest evolving languages? So, can it not have a future? In fact, game developers and windows applications mainly rely on this programming language. Game engines like Unity utilize C# for developing games.

Novice programmers will find C# both attractive and unique because it is pretty straightforward yet robust. It’s clean syntactically, like Java and simple as Visual Basic, and a plentiful ecosystem like C++. So, it is clear that C# has a bright future. 

Here are some reasons why the C# programming language will stick around for long despite the evolving technologies.

• C# is evolving: since its inception in 2000, C# has undergone several changes. Currently, it is in version 9.0 and has millions of subscribers worldwide. Each version comes with fresh and powerful features.
• It supports emerging technologies: you can use C# to build almost any software – data science, cloud, enterprise, AI, and machine learning, as well as report-centric applications. That makes it possible to create emerging technology-based applications.
• Simple, clean, and modern: being a high-level language, anyone can quickly learn it. Its syntaxes are clearer with each new release. 
• A language for all software apps: the versatile nature of C# makes it possible to create applications targeting desktop, mobile, web, Internet of things, gaming consoles, TVs, and cloud applications.

C# popularity

For the past 20 years, C# has witnessed a growth in its user number, thanks to many factors. Good news; the platform is continuing to grow in popularity, especially for Microsoft apps and games development. Millions favor C# not only for its versatility but for an easy-to-read syntax.

While that sounds great, it is essential to note that the popularity of C# as other programming languages fluctuates. Such a rise and fall is attributed to many factors, including developing newer languages to solve emerging issues. But, no programming language can completely be phased – 60+ years old COBOL is still relevant today.

That said, C# has its fair share of ups and downs. The April TIOBE Index ranks C# at position five. This ranking is based on traffic to the official C# site. Similarly, GitHub Octoverse ranks C# at position five – its ranking bases on the commits to public code repositories.

Keep in mind that C# shares much with Java but has evolved significantly along its path thanks to Microsoft’s extensive support. C# was developed as part of the .NET framework and was Microsoft’s answer to Java – in form and function, the main aim being keeping customers on the Windows platform.

C# saw its good days between 2010 and 2012. during this period, it was adopted by many organizations – governments, banks, governments, and other large enterprises, i.e., the majority of enterprises that had heavily invested in Microsoft’s ecosystem. After 2012, C# started losing traction while Ruby, Python, and Node.js gained ground. But that wasn’t the end because, at the start of 2019, it began rising again. 

The C #’s limiting factor could be its limited reach, i.e., it was used majorly in the closed-source .NET framework on Windows — it did run on Linux. Embracing the open-source approach again made better. A big part of C#’s popularity is due to the tendency to embrace new features quickly. 

C# future scope

There are so many questions surround C# and .Net, their future, and the range of applications you can build, especially for beginners. The truth is; C# is one of the most used languages in the world, the number of its users is expected to rise in the future. This object-oriented language supports multi-paradigm and is highly flexible.

By now, you know that C# is principally used with the Windows .NET framework. However, you can use it within an open-source framework.

.NET is a full-stack platform with three layers, i.e., front-end, middleware, and backend. It can be a simple software or a web application. In the case of a web app, web pages make the front-end and are usually written in HTML and JavaScript but hosted in ASP.NET. on the other hand; the middleware is designed in C# as a library/API. Simultaneously, the backend is a code running on a Web server and talks to a data source.

.NET works as a unified platform, and it powers many applications – practically the majority of applications requiring software. And, here is where the C# future scope will inevitably expand. Being a modern framework, .Net is designed for modern applications, and it takes advantage of the abilities of the latest browsers, cloud, and other devices to deliver outstanding performance. 

C# is evolving, and so is the .Net. Currently, .NET 5 is the latest version, while the current version of the C# language is C# 9.0. what’s more encouraging is that Microsoft has outlined a clear path and evolution of .NET for the next many years. Keeping this in thought, it is apparent that the future of C# is still bright. 

Remember, C# designing was from the ground upwards but retaining simplicity all through the versions. This language takes inspiration from C, C++, and Java – where the designers took only the best parts and combined them with new innovative concepts. 

C# applications

C# has excellent traction in the Microsoft world, and that’s why it features among the top best programming languages. There are lots of applications you can build using this programming language. However, for satisfactory results and ease of you, experts recommend that developers should use the latest versions – .Net 5.0 and C# 9.

Here are some applications:

Windows Applications: Microsoft designed c # for Microsoft; that is why it is a popular platform for windows applications. The creation process is smooth, thanks to multiple powerful functionalities and community support, and documentation. 

Components and Controls: these are potent libraries that let developers create easily sharable apps for Microsoft – for instance, chart control. Besides, you can build and distribute a GPS library to other developers. Visual Studio 2013 supports five project templates – Portable Class Library, Class Library, WPF User Control Library, WPF Custom Control Library, and Windows Forms Control Library. Typical windows applications are Photoshop, Skype, Internet Explorer and Microsoft Office.

Web Application Development: C# works on all platforms to create dynamic websites and apps using the .NET platform or open-source platforms. Good thing; you can combine it with JavaScript, HTML alongside other libraries and APIs to create modern web applications. You can use any of the three Visual Studio ASP.NET project templates, i.e., ASP.NET MVC web app, ASP.NET web apps, and ASP.NET server controls.

Games: C# is the most preferred language for creating games for its robustness. Note that the Unity game engine―a popular game engine ―is built using C++ and C# and develops video games. Currently, this trusted engine has over a billion users and over 1.5 million active users who create award-winning games and AR/VR experiences. C# integrates with the Unity engine, and developers can use it virtually on a wide range of mobile devices.

Most in-demand programming languages 2020

As the demand for programmers rises, so does their pay. But what programming languages are in high demand? A survey conducted by Stack Overflow found that Python is one of the most popular skills required among employers (along with JavaScript and Ruby) as well as being a favorite language to learn, according to developers surveyed on GitHub’s “most wanted” list.

JavaScript

JavaScript is one of the most favored languages and features on almost every platform; it’s been used to create games, video players, interactive websites, or apps like Instagram – basically, anything you can think of! JavaScript even powers Google search: When someone types something into their browser bar, they are querying an API that queries many different databases at once. This query is processed using JavaScript before returning results to your web page.

Python

The Python programming language is a powerful and expressive tool. It’s designed to be easy to read, which means programmers of all skill levels can use it for both simple scripts and complex programs like the GUI we’ve been using in this course.

Java 

Java is a programming language for creating interactive, object-oriented programs. Built-in 1991 and has become quite popular as it accommodates programmers of any skill level to learn. It’s used to develop both desktop and mobile apps and create games or other software programs on the Java Platform that uses the Apache Software License (ASL).

PHP

PHP is an in-demand server-side scripting language – it runs on the webserver rather than in your browser. It’s relatively easy to learn and powerful at creating dynamic websites. HTML can transmit information from one computer to another through an internet connection over various networks.

C++

C++ is a high-level programming language that has been around since the 80s. It’s designed to be easy for programmers to understand and create, but it can also work on multiple platforms like macOS or Windows 10 systems because of its CPU independence. 

Others include C#, C, Swift, and Ruby. 

Conclusion 

What’s your opinion on the demand for C#?

The C# programming language is a great way to learn how to program. One reason why it’s so popular with programmers new and old is because its design makes it easy for beginners but powerful enough that experienced developers can always find something else they need from this versatile language.

The C# Programming Language has an excellent syntax explicitly designed for introductory-level learners. It provides plenty of practical features, including automatic memory management and inbuilt support libraries that make app development easier than ever before!

Simply put, its popularity is that it has a good balance between power, efficiency, simplicity, and flexibility.

The C# programming language is used to build software that can be executed on a Windows desktop. It was initially developed in 2001 by Microsoft as the successor of their first-generation languages, BASIC and QuickBASIC. This modern, object-oriented programming language is designed with simplicity in mind and was built by Microsoft as part of the .NET Framework to easily integrate into various other technologies like Visual Studio or SQL Server. Additionally, it can be used for everything from creating simple web pages to complex software.

Though great for building software, it has its limitations. The syntax can be tricky to understand, and the IDE often crashes when I’m typing in my code, which makes me lose a lot of time.

The best thing about this programming language’s shortcoming is that many experts know how to get around these problems using other languages such as Java or Python with their IDEs like Netbeans and Pycharm, respectively, without having any difficulty at all!

Another limitation of this system is its lack of support for specific file formats and editors, such as Unity’s .fbx format or Unreal Engine 4 editor. You’ll need third-party plugins to make edits to those files since they are not fully supported by default yet.