As a Senior Software Developer, I could get to know different types of languages in every project that I conducted. In the current software development industry, there are more than a few choices when it comes to programming languages: from Python to Ruby and beyond, there are more than 500 languages to choose from, each with its own unique benefits. However, one language has cemented its place in the industry – JavaScript – and it is, in my opinion, the best option for developers to learn at the moment.

But what makes JavaScript stand out among the other languages, and why as developers, we should seek to understand and utilize it?

Widely utilized online

While the type of application will help decide the language utilized, JavaScript is one of the most widely-used in the virtual world today. According to statistics gathered by W3Techs in early February 2016, the vast majority of websites – more than 90 percent – are powered by JavaScript. And, as the source’s upward trend shows, JavaScript will continue to be the language of choice for website developers in the months and years to come.

Active JavaScript community

Because the platform is so widely used, there is a large community of JavaScript-proficient developers, as well as an array of available resources. This is particularly important for developers that are just starting out – there are numerous professionals and other assets to fall back on if the developer needs assistance.

The sheer amount of JavaScript resources out there is astounding and makes learning JavaScript one of the best languages to choose as your first.

From online classes and academies, to websites providing step-by-step instructions and a plethora of available books and other materials, there’s no shortage of information about JavaScript.

Test-driven ready

JavaScript also lends itself well to test-driven development, enabling developers to incorporate testing processes in the early stages of development.

At Making Sense we are used to work with this programming language, as it is particularly important in agile strategies. In addition, as JavaScript is an interpreted language, it doesn’t feature a compiler to recognize errors. This makes testing processes – including those applicable early on in the process – critical.

According to an InfoQ survey, unit testing is one of the most popular processes for JavaScript testing. Of nearly 300 developers surveyed, 40 percent utilize unit testing tools.

Through unit testing, we are able to examine and scrutinize the smallest testable portions of code – and also have the option to leverage automated solutions to do so. This helps us pinpoint and correct any coding issues early on in the development process, supporting their efforts and speeding time to market.

There are also a range of options currently available for JavaScript unit testing, including QUnit, Mocha.js, JSUnit, Unit.js and Jasmine.js. Many of these are open source solutions, enabling easier integration.

Numerous Employment opportunities

Due to high demands for specific types of platforms and applications, there are numerous opportunities for employment. In the current environment, enterprises and organizations are seeking real-time platforms, websites that rely on user interactivity, and the ability to leverage large data-sets – functions for which JavaScript is particularly well-suited.

From my point of view, if your goal is to become professionally employable as a programmer, the best option it would be JavaScript right now. Programmers adept at advanced JavaScript are commanding some of the highest salaries right now compared to other Web-based languages. It’s a hot but established technology.

Overall, understanding JavaScript is an important skill for today’s developers, making it the best choice to learn, since it’s a programming language that allows us to work on a wide variety of projects. From SPAs to websites that requires a more complex animation, realtime and high turn out projects, Javascript seems to be the smartest approach to have.

To find out more about the value of JavaScript in today’s development processes, contact us at Making Sense.