7 Most Difficult Programming Languages to Learn and Their Uses in the Tech Industry

In the world of programming, there are various programming languages with different levels of difficulty. Some programming languages are very easy to learn, while others require more perseverance and dedication to master. In this article, we will discuss seven programming languages that are considered the most difficult to learn, but of course, they must have their uses in an industry.

1. Rust

Rust is a systems programming language developed by Mozilla Research. This language is intended to achieve a high level of performance, along with a strong security system. The Rust language uses a “borrow checker” that strictly checks memory management to prevent errors such as null pointers and data races.

Rust is very suitable for developing operating systems, cryptographic applications, and projects that require high security and performance.

Examples of Rust’s Use in Industry:

• Development of operating systems such as Redox OS.
• Games and graphics with engines like Amethyst.
• Cryptography projects such as the Parity Ethereum client.

2. Haskell

Haskell is a functional programming language that focuses on computation through mathematical functions. This language uses lazy evaluation and a strong type system. Haskell is suitable for use in developing artificial intelligence applications, data analysis, and applications that require complex mathematical modeling.

Examples of Haskell’s Use in Industry:

• Development of artificial intelligence algorithms for optimization and prediction.
• Data analysis and scientific computing with libraries such as HMatrix and Data.List.

3. Prolog

Prolog is a logic programming language that is fundamentally different from programming languages in general. This language uses a declarative approach by stating facts and relationships between objects, then the Prolog engine searches for solutions based on the given knowledge.

Prolog is very useful in modeling artificial intelligence, natural language processing, and high-level logic problem-solving solutions.

Examples of Prolog’s Use in Industry:

• Development of expert systems for medical diagnosis.
• Application of natural language processing in chatbot applications.
• Knowledge-based recommendation systems.

4. C++

C++ is a high-level programming language that has additional features for accessing hardware resources directly. This language allows for high performance and deeper control, but also requires in-depth knowledge of programming concepts such as pointers and memory management.

The C++ programming language is widely used in game development, critical software applications, and hardware infrastructure.

Examples of C++’s Use in Industry:

• Game development using engines such as Unreal Engine and Unity.
• High-performance applications such as operating systems and hardware drivers.
• AI and parallel computing projects using libraries such as TensorFlow and OpenCV.

5. Assembly

Assembly is a low-level programming language that is directly related to computer machine language instructions. Assembly code allows programmers to optimize code to the lowest level, and provides full control over the hardware.

However, most modern programmers rarely use Assembly except for the development of distributed systems, specific hardware, or applications that are very performance-critical.

Examples of Assembly’s Use in Industry:

• Development of hardware drivers for operating systems.
• Code optimization in a very tight scope, such as embedded applications.

6. Erlang

Erlang is a functional programming language designed for applications that require a high level of concurrency and fault tolerance. This language is very suitable for the development of telecommunications and real-time distribution systems.

The Erlang language uses an actor-based programming model, where independent processing units called “actors” communicate through message passing.

Examples of Erlang’s Use in Industry:

• Development of telecommunications applications to manage calls and messages.
• Real-time distribution applications for online game platforms and messaging services.

7. Scala

Scala is a programming language that combines functional and object-oriented programming paradigms. This language offers many complex features such as type inference, pattern matching, and a functional programming style.

The Scala language is suitable for use in the development of large-scale applications with high complexity.

Examples of Scala’s Use in Industry:

• Development of web and backend applications using frameworks such as Play and Akka.
• Data analysis using libraries such as Apache Spark.

Final Words

Learning a more difficult programming language requires dedication and time, but expertise in these languages will provide significant benefits in developing safe, efficient, and high-level software. Choose a programming language according to the project’s needs and focus on developing deeper skills in that language.

With the right experience and understanding, these initially difficult programming languages can provide extraordinary potential for success in the world of programming and the technology industry as a whole.