Where to start?
As Bitcoin is gaining more and more attention in the media, whether positive or negative, plenty of developers and enthusiasts are starting to take a liking to the technology involved. Imagine you are a(n aspiring) coder, and you want to get involved with Bitcoin coding, where do you even start? It is a question on a lot of people’s minds, but there is no single definitive answer. What we can do, is give you some pointers in the right direction.
Javascript
Javascript is the most popular programming language in the world, and Bitcoin is no exception to that fact. Especially when you consider BitPay, the world’s leading Bitcoin payment processor, has developed their own JS library which you can use on the server and client (in the form of Bitcore.io).
Furthermore, aspiring developers can start building their application with a web interface on top of it, and do all of this in one and the same programming language. More importantly, Javascript will help developers in distributing to every platform in existence, as Javascript is a universal programming language.
Most projects on GitHub are all written in Javascript, and the most famous project is Node.JS, a skill sought after by many Bitcoin companies looking to hire additional coders. Bitcoinj and Bitcore are two other examples which were created using Javascript.
Ruby
Ruby is a very interesting programming language, as it is not on the curriculum in most countries when you are trying to get a degree in computer science and programming. Ruby will come in handy when you shift your focus to developing web applications for Bitcoin and other digital currencies. Make sure to check out the Ruby on Rails framework if you decide to take this route!
Python
Python is one of those programming languages which is easier to pick up than most. Not just because Python has a very friendly syntax, but it also offers an array of data analyzing tools. I have personally dabbled around a bit with Python a few years ago, and I have to say, this is one fun programming language for novice coders.
C/C++
Both C and C++ are the most obvious choice for experienced coders in order to start developing Bitcoin-related applications and services. However, for people who just want to get their toes wet in the world of programming, neither of these languages are great choices, simply because they can, and most likely will be quite overwhelming.
If you are an experienced programmer and are proficient in C/C++ then a great path to choose to start developing Bitcoin applications checkout the book Mastering Bitcoin.
Mastering Bitcoin is a book for developers, but the first two chapters cover bitcoin at a level that is approachable to non-programmers. Anyone with a basic understanding of technology can read the first two chapters and get a great understanding of bitcoin. “Mastering Bitcoin” is now available in print and e-book formats by many book sellers including Amazon , Barnes & Nobles and O’Reilly Media. For a limited time, the book is also sold for bitcoin at the author’s site
for more info and a free online version of the book visit this repository: https://github.com/aantonop/bitcoinbook
Conclusion
There are plenty of programming languages to choose from when it comes to developing Bitcoin applications and services. A lot of your success in this area will depend on how passionate you are about creating something, and if you like the programming language you are using. Also, remember that each programming language has its strengths and weaknesses which means that certain programming languages are better tailored for certain applications. If you liked this article follow us on twitter @btc_feed
