Ever since Bitcoin entered the market, there has been a demand to create blockchain programming languages that could improve the current systems. Today, high-performance languages combine streamlined protocols and classics upgraded to remain relevant. These projects aim to make it easier for programmers to create reliable and secure dapps.

The first programming language was Bitcoin script. This code was limited in its capabilities but was perfectly suited to handle the strict and immutable nature of Bitcoin. Remember, before Ethereum’s introduction, there were no smart contracts, and higher-level constructs were just a vision.

Nowadays, there are blockchain programming languages that are geared towards specific applications. These protocols streamline logic and enable developers to compose complex distributed network actions in a  trustworthy manner. These languages continue to drive the DeFi (decentralized finance) and smart money revolutions. Here are the top 10 blockchain programming languages you need to know (in no particular order).

Solidity is among the most popular blockchain programming languages today. The language entered the market in 2014 and has been one of the premier ways Ethereum developers create on the network. Notably, the code was conceived by Gavin Wood and developed in cohesion with Solidity team leader Christian Reitwiessner.

Solidity is a Turing complete language. This designation means that all functions can be coded using the language; as such, it’s very efficient as a standard within the ecosystem. Notably, Solidity is now used on a variety of different blockchains.

Solidity was designed to leverage familiar symbols and strategies of other popular languages, including Java and C. Developers gain an advantage because they already know how to integrate vital aspects of the process, such as using curly brackets–delimited functions, inheritance, and objects.

Solidity is one of the top languages in the blockchain industry, and for good reason. Its simplicity and polarity make it a smart option for most projects. Additionally, its structure allows developers to create elaborate actions while reducing waste code.

Vyper is another Ethereum programming language that continues to see growing adoption. This code has some significant advantages over its predecessor. For one, it was designed to streamline the coding process and improve auditing procedures.

Auditing is a crucial component of all dapp development as it enables developers to locate and repair bugs or issues in their coding. Vyper operates as a low-level language. This designation means that all code remains within the computer’s instruction set architecture.

This approach makes it ideal for all simple coding needs. The simplistic nature of the code makes it highly transparent and eliminates common Ethereum programming issues like overloading. Notably, Vyper shares many features and coding steps with the Ethereum programming language Python.

Javascript is one of the most popular programming languages in the world. As such, it shouldn’t be a huge surprise to learn that it has been adapted to program blockchains. The Node.js code has gained popularity as a simple way to track smart contracts.

Javascript has been around since 1995 and was created by Brandan Eich. The Netscape programmer reportedly spent 10 days developing the language, which can be accredited for +92% of all websites in use today. Notably, Facebook, YueTube, and many of the world’s largest websites use this language

Javascript provides a way to add functionality to platforms. As a client-side language, it executes within a browser. Notably, the Node.js version enables the execution of Javascript from servers and network nodes. This structure is ideal for decentralized networks. Additionally, the code’s simplicity and functionality make it a smart option to consider for your next blockchain project.

Plutus is the programming language that is used primarily to create assets and dapps on the 3rd generation blockchain, Cardano. This PoS (proof-of-stake) network provides programmability on par with Ethereum and shares some characteristics and personnel with the network.

Plutus shares many similarities with the Haskell programming language. This approach provides more efficiency as data flows are used to ensure static typing is optimized and secure. Due to its multi-layered structure, it’s an ideal programming language for dapp creation and DeFi platforms.

Plutus contracts support simultaneous on and off-chain operations. Both on and off-chain coders can use familiar Haskell programming lines, which lowers onboarding time. Notably, the code runs on chain and uses the Plutus core VM, enabling developers to create programs in the Plutus compiler. They can also create off-chain code that gets compiled using the GHC (Glasgow Haskell Compiler). This unique structure improves programmability and efficiency while remaining functional.

Rholang entered the market in 2018 specifically to serve distributed networks. This object-oriented programming language improves efficiency through a combination of features. For example, you can create reusable and modular code, which can considerably shorten dapp creation time.

Rholang includes developer-friendly features such as a behavioral typing system, similar to Haskell. It supports smart contracts, dapps, networks, and channels. Notably, Rholang improves performance through the use of a message passage protocol. This structure enables channels to operate in parallel.

Rholang developers enjoy standardized contract flow. Additionally, since Rholang was specifically designed for blockchains, it supports features such as smart contract negotiations and enforcement of terms. These are crucial components of most dapp protocols today. Currently, Rholang is a flexible language that is used on Rchain.

Rust is an open-source object-oriented programming language with a syntax that borrows many commands from C and C++. This high-performance programming language improves efficiency through the use of concurrent computing. Concurrent computing means that programs can execute their commands in parallel rather than consecutively.

Rust first entered the market in 2010 as a cost-effective and security-focused programming architecture. The system was revolutionary at the time as it leveraged memory storage restrictions to prevent  loss of performance or related errors

Today, Rust is a powerful tool that has been used to create operating systems, blockchain networks, gaming engines, and much more. Notably, Polkadot and Ethereum support Rust due to its reliability and efficiency. As such, it may be a good fit for your next project

PHP (Personal Home Page Tools) is an adaptable and established backend scripting language that first entered the market in 1994. Rasmus Lerdorf began the process of creating PHP simply as a way to track packets. Eventually, he built up his tools to include a complete framework to create simple web applications.

Today, PHP remains one of the top programming languages in use worldwide. This open-source protocol has helped improve blockchain adoption due to its familiarity and scalability. Developers leverage this language to create smart contacts and tokenize real-world assets.

PHP is ideal for any task that requires web interaction. It’s free to use and has a massive community of developers and tools to help you on your journey. Best of all, PHP works on nearly all applications and is specifically popular in the DeFi sector.

Golang (GO) entered the market in 2009 and remains a popular option in the decentralized and web selectors. Google created this high-performance programming language to support parallel computing actions. As such, developers can create more advanced applications that execute tasks simultaneously which reduces cost and time.

Go was built from day one to be minimalistic. Its straightforward approach makes it ideal for new users seeking to learn. The syntax is basic, which makes coding more efficient and helps to reduce errors.

Additionally, integrating a garbage collector protocol furthers network efficiency by helping to improve memory management in your dapps. Today, Go enables developers to build a blockchain from scratch. It supports the use of packets, which also improves development processes.

C++ is one of the most popular general programming languages in the world today. Based on the famous C programming languages developed in the 1970s, C++ provides a healthy mix of tools to build applications, operating systems, and networks. The language can handle complex contracts and is very efficient.

C++ offers high interoperability, another reason many blockchains have begun using it. Currently, there are over +4M developers that use C++ to create. The code is ideal for resource-intensive applications since it can scale vertically to suit the community’s needs.

C++ is a feature-rich and familiar option that has proven to be a reliable choice. The network supports most major operating systems and is compatible across the market. The downside of C++ for blockchain development is it lacks a garbage collection feature, which means you must manually debug dapps.

C# is a high-level C programming language derivative used widely among the blockchain community. This object-oriented language supports the use of reusable custom code to shorten development time. Additionally, it’s familiar to anyone with previous C programming language experience, which is a massive majority of the developer community.

C# entered the market in 2000. Microsoft developed and released it to support its .NET framework at the time. Since then, it has seen extensive use in creating websites, mobile apps, games, IoT, and blockchain infrastructure. All of these creations have also expanded the C# toolset.

Blockchain developers found C# to be easier to use than C++ in certain applications. Also, its web origins make it ideal for Dapps that require intensive web interactions. As such, it’s found extensive use in the cloud computing industry.

No Room for errors in the Coding Game

There’s no room for errors when you discuss programming Dapps. Any issues can become major problems or attack vectors that hackers exploit. To avoid losses and inefficient operations, it’s recommended that you stick to the top 10 blockchain programming languages you need to know.

You can learn more about exciting blockchain projects here.