Blockchain has brought about different possibilities in different sectors for developers. At its core is a varying set of programming languages that are used to create smart contracts, decentralized applications, and the overall blockchain infrastructure which is the foundation of it all.

According to this article by CodeAcademy, the most popular programming languages used in blockchain development are Solidity, C++, JavaScript, Go, and Python.

This article discusses major programming languages used in blockchain and their functionalities.

Solidity

Image source: Solidity official website

Solidity is a statistically curly-braces programming language launched in 2014 by Gavin Wood and developed by Ethereum’s Solidity team, led by Christian Reitwiessner. It is designed for developing smart contracts that run on Ethereum. Smart contracts help maintain the state of Ethereum contracts. It targets the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). Solidity can be used to create contracts for multi-signature wallets, voting, crowdfunding, and blind auctions. They have a non-breaking release every month, with a breaking release each year.

Solidity can be used to develop decentralized applications (DApps) and create custom tokens (ERC-20 and ERC-721). DApps are used to build the decentralized applications that exist on the Ethereum blockchain. These can be used for the automation of several processes, such as supply chain management and financial transactions. ERC-20 and ERC-721 are fungible and non-fungible tokens, respectively, used to power blockchain assets and collectibles.

Solidity’s learning curve is steep and can prove to be tasking for beginners. Also, there are some vulnerabilities in smart contracts concerning it that can lead to security issues. However, this can be resolved by writing secure, audited code.

JavaScript (Node.js)

Image Source: JetBrains Academy

Javascript is a programming language used to produce front-end applications, and for blockchain, it is used to build decentralized applications (dApps). Node.js, a JavaScript library, is used to enable server-side scripting. The uses of JavaScript and its supporting libraries include front-end apps for dApps, developing blockchain-related tools and utilities, and interaction with smart contracts using web3.js and ether.js. Some of the libraries used for blockchain development are node.js, web3.js, crypto.js, Hyperledger Fabric, and IOTA.

While JavaScript offers room for versatility, coupled with the continuous development of node.js, it can be challenging to build blockchains from scratch. It is often advised to use existing blockchain frameworks to ease the process.

Python

Image source: Python official website

Python is an object-oriented, high-level language created by Guido van Rossum in 1991. It has unique features which include built-in structures, dynamic typing/dynamic binding, and functions as a scripting language for connecting existing components.

Python is not in demand as Solidity when it comes to blockchain, but it is used by a lot of developer teams due to its attention to Object-Oriented Programming (OOP), its simplicity, cross-platform usage, and English-like syntax, which makes readability easier.

Common use cases of Python are the creation of blockchain nodes, and writing smart contracts, blockchain analytics, the creation of decentralized applications (dApps), and cryptocurrency trading bots.

Python tends to perform slower compared to lower-level languages for applications that require large scalability.

Go (Golang)

Image source: Go official website

Go, short for Golang, is a programming language used for blockchain development because of its, scalability, concurrency, and efficiency. It was created at Google in 2009 by Robert, Griesemer, Rob Pike, and Ken Thompson. Go-ethereum, Ethereum’s official implementation of Go, is used for developing Ethereum-based applications using Golang. It is widely known as Ethereum’s most popular client.

Golang is used to develop blockchain protocols and consensus algorithms. It is also used for creating simple blockchains from scratch and high-performance nodes, like geth for Ethereum.

C++

Image Source: Studyreadeducate.com

C++ has a long history in blockchain development, as it was used to develop Bitcoin, the highest-valued cryptocurrency at the moment. It is an object-oriented, general-purpose programming language developed from C, which is a process-oriented language. It serves as a tool for creating the core of blockchain infrastructure, which includes the consensus mechanism, smart contracts, and the main blockchain network.

It is used to create blockchains on the EOSIO blockchain. C++ also develops low-level functionalities, e.g., mining algorithms and cryptographic operations. Major blockchain clients, like Bitcoin Core, are implemented in C++.

While C++ offers efficient memory control, advanced multi-threading, code isolation, move semantics and compile time polymorphism, it can provide a steep learning curve for beginners, as it is a complex language.

Java

Image source: Java official website

Java provides a wide variety of libraries and frameworks used in blockchain development. It is used for blockchain development due to its scalability and is a suitable choice for enterprise-grade blockchain solutions. It also serves as a tool for creating Android mobile applications with blockchain integration. This facilitates mobile payments and blockchain interactions.

Java can be used to implement simple blockchains.

Conclusion

While developing blockchains, the choice of programming language plays a vital role in the project’s success, performance, and security. Each language discussed in this article has its unique strengths and uses. These have to be considered carefully by developer teams before choosing, as they have to match their needs, budget, and project specifications.