When it comes to building a web project, there are numerous programming languages, web development technologies, and platforms that your development company can use in order to create the final product that you’ve asked for.
Agencies profile in different development stacks. Some of them are suitable for websites and other digital projects, others play well with mobile applications. Niche development companies profile in embedded technologies for microwaves or smart TVs, smart computers in automobiles, robotics, handling big data — you name it.
Selecting the right technology for your web project is the first step of outlining a strategy for your digital business.
In this article, we provide an overview of the most prominent web development technologies, explained in layman’s terms. Business owners and webmasters may obtain a deeper understanding of the website building process, and make informed decisions when choosing a web development agency.
What Are The Most Popular Programming Languages?
TIOBE is one of the most reputable sources in identifying the popularity and distribution of programming languages across the globe. This is their latest, and in it you can see a list of platforms and languages
To sum things up, here’s the list of the top programming languages right now:
- C
- Python
- Java
- C++
- C#
- Visual Basic
- JavaScript
- PHP
- Assembly Language
- SQL
Is Every Programming Language Suitable for Web Projects?
Programming languages serve different purposes.
- Java and C# are multi-purpose, high-level languages capable of delivering desktop and web applications, mobile apps (Android is built in Java), and different embedded or server-side solutions.
- SQL is exclusively designed to manage relational databases. It is a complementary language to applications handling structured data.
- Objective-C (currently not in the top 10) is the language behind iOS, recently followed by Swift.
Our development team at DevriX has prepared a breakdown of the top programming languages and frameworks depending on the type of development service that clients need. This is not a complete list due to the large variety of platforms and languages, but is based on our 11 years of practical experience in the IT industry with different multinational technical corporations and organizations:
The complete breakdown can be downloaded as PDF – Programming-Languages-and-Platforms Guide.
Technical Stack Consideration For Corporations
Default choices are available for small and simple projects like blogs, photographers’ portfolio sites, or business card brochures. However, larger organizations tend to have more complex needs and require in-house applications or additional custom business solutions influencing the selection of a programming language or framework.
Example: A Microsoft Partner
Microsoft offers strategic partnerships to larger companies using Windows extensively at work. The technical giant is the founding company of C# (listed in the top 10 above) and the SQL Server database suite.
Organizations handling data access, login, desktop-based ERPs or CRMs likely take advantage of other tools and services by Microsoft. Extending these commonly requires C# or VB.NET, both languages appearing in the TIOBE list.
As a result, building a new web application often requires integrations with single sign-on, an active directory at the office, or other technical solutions for data and user management. In case the company employs software developers proficient in C# already, building a web solution in ASP.NET MVC is often the preferred choice for ongoing maintenance reasons.
ASP.NET works well in a Windows environment while some web technologies are better adjusted for Linux servers.
Of course, this isn’t the only option available.
Distributed Web Systems
A photo printing company in NYC we worked with operated a .NET-based photo editing software and a .NET based front-facing website. This solution wasn’t optimal for the marketing team — the user experience was tedious and the original application was far from flexible.
Our WordPress solution integrated seamlessly with their photo editing software. We built a new web application with a shared header across both platforms for visual consistency. Throughout application programming interfaces, we pulled the required pricing and product data, along with other spec sheets, from the original solution, further displaying and integrating them into the web application.
Both options are possible, but different considerations are discussed for each specific use case. Especially when comparing a custom web application with an established PHP-driven solution such as WordPress.
PHP Powers Most Online Websites
W3 Techs reports that PHP is currently used by 82% of the websites worldwide. In other words, 4 out of every 5 sites that you browse daily are likely powered by PHP – Facebook being one of the most famous examples.
The vast majority of web projects online are content-centric, i.e. providing information in some form as the main type of service that their visitors are interested in when browsing. Some examples being:
- Blogs
- News websites and magazines
- Product catalogs
- eCommerce businesses
- Business/Brand websites
- Forums
- Social networks
PHP Getting Traction For Web Development
PHP’s broad adoption started back in 2000 and kept accelerating since phpBB, one of the most popular forum systems, was founded then, followed by other forum applications, Gallery2 in 2005, and a number of frameworks and CMS applications like Joomla, Drupal, WordPress.
Affordable web hosting with Apache and PHP made it the preferred language for development. Easier configuration and customization attracted beginner developers and tech-savvy hobbyists eager to study programming in a practical manner.
This broad, international adoption made PHP the leading programming language for small and mid-sized web applications and success stories like Facebook and Wikipedia alike.
WordPress – The Leading Content Management System
In addition to the web development technology that sustains the website framework, businesses that rely on standardized content for their online presence, need a content management system (CMS). A CMS is a software that allows you to manage your website and upload content without any coding skills.
Businesses can opt for a custom solution designed and built especially for their company’s needs or can choose a universal CMS like WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, etc.
WordPress is the most popular CMS in the world and currently powers over 42.5% of all online websites online. What makes it the preferred choice for major brands and small businesses alike, is that it comes with a variety of free out-of-the-box options, but, at the same time, is completely customizable, highly scalable, and tremendously user-friendly.
Furthermore, WordPress is an open-source system and has a dedicated community of contributors working on developing it and fixing bugs. This makes it easier to service and more cost-effective to maintain.
Content management systems are built around the concept of content entities.
- They allow you to publish news or pages and extend the core platform to any other type of content as well.
- They do support users and different roles (such as administrators, editors, customers), and provide you with the opportunity to extend your platform, both in terms of design (with little to no constraints), and functionality (through custom plugins integrated within your core system).
- You receive media management out of the box — a powerful media panel for uploads, organization, resizing images, setting up thumbnails and the like, and even editing media on the fly.
- WordPress comes with a broad collection of plugins and themes. However, being extremely careful in terms of quality is crucial and it’s advisable to rely on custom, or officially approved solutions.
What We at DevriX Offer
DevriX specializes in WordPress development for SMEs and large publishers and has been actively contributing to the Core community through patches in the Core platform, free themes and plugins, organizing WordPress events around the world, translating WordPress and providing support for users.
Check out our Services and contact us when you’re ready to start your new online venture. We offer a complete range of services – technical development, creative design, marketing, business development and server management, which would put your business on the online map and let you focus on your unique selling propositions.
Bottom Line
A business owner doesn’t necessarily need to know how to build a website. However, having basic knowledge of the web development technology involved into creating a web solution, allows decision-makers to understand their company’s needs better and make informed choices.
The rest is up to the professionalism and skills of the web development agency they partner up with.
Team DevriX
This article is crafted by DevriX's seasoned marketing team, boasting over four decades of collective expertise in crafting sophisticated marketing funnels, devising comprehensive content frameworks and pillars, implementing engaging email campaigns, and creating impactful social media content designed for scalability.
Our marketing experts specialize in the complete spectrum of inbound marketing strategies. As an accredited HubSpot Agency Partner and a Semrush Partner, we engage in meticulous research, blending our extensive experience with the unique insights of our highly skilled team.
We set benchmarks in content creation by incorporating cutting-edge marketing trends, leveraging in-depth industry research, and utilizing state-of-the-art AI tools for data segmentation and captivating content hooks. Our proficiency extends across a diverse range of sectors, including working with SMEs, Fortune 1000 companies, global B2B brands, major publishing entities, WooCommerce platforms, business directories, and affiliate networks.
