Top 8 Fastest Programming Languages - A 2024 List

The programming world is moving swiftly into the future. The computational potential of computers and consoles is now great enough to snare the attention of even casual tech enthusiasts.

What are the fastest programming languages? Developers create programming languages constantly, but only a few gain a significant following. The most successful languages tend to be well-designed, user-friendly, efficient, and practical. However, it's hard to rank them in terms of performance. 

While the programming world moves towards more efficient languages, developers are still debating what is the fastest programming language. 

Did you know that the ease or difficulty of compiling a program is a factor in deciding its portability? GitHub has published its Octoverse report, which analyzes the popularity of programming languages on the platform.

The top programming languages in the world are changing faster than ever. Just a few years ago, one of the hottest topics was Python vs. Ruby vs. Java. Nowadays, this is ancient history — as new tech like blockchain and AI (Artificial Intelligence) have taken over.

In this article, we'll examine the top 8 fastest coding languages in 2024, the history of programming languages, and how they've developed over time. So without further ado, let's take a look at those.

What are the Fastest Programming Languages?

You know what they say—the future is written in code. And as the world becomes more and more digital, the demand for software developers increases. The question is: What are the fastest programming languages to learn?

Why Should You Care?

"Programming is the closest thing we have to a superpower." - Drew Houston

If you're a programmer, knowing which programming languages are the fastest can help you decide which ones to learn.

Learning the fastest-growing programming languages can also help you figure out which fields to apply for jobs in the US and Canada. If there's more demand for programmers in a certain field, it means there are more jobs available.

Here are some of the fastest languages in the world to learn, as well as how they've evolved.

1. C Language

C has influenced the development of many other popular programming languages, such as C++, Java, and Python, and it remains widely used today. Here are a few interesting facts about C:

• Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs created C in the early 1970s as a systems programming language that is efficient and portable. Developers have used it for developing a wide range of software applications, including operating systems, compilers, and games.
• C is a compiled language, which means that code written in C must be compiled into machine code before it can be run. This process of compiling code is one reason why C is known for its speed and efficiency.
• It is known for its low-level programming capabilities, which allow developers to access and manipulate hardware directly. This makes it a popular choice for programming embedded systems, such as microcontrollers and industrial automation devices.
• It has a relatively small set of keywords and constructs, which makes it relatively easy to learn and use. However, this simplicity can also make it more challenging to write large, complex programs in C.
• The C coding language has influenced the development of many other programming languages, including C++, Objective-C, and Rust. The developers created C++ by enhancing C with object-oriented programming features and other improvements.

Overall, C is a powerful and versatile language that has had a significant impact on the field of software development. Its speed, efficiency, and low-level programming capabilities make it a popular choice for developing high-performance software applications, and its influence has ranked it at top of the fastest programming languages list.

2. C++

C++ is an extension of the C programming language, with added support for object-oriented programming, templates, and other advanced features. Here are a few interesting facts about C++:

• Bjarne Stroustrup, a Danish computer scientist, created the C++ programming language in 1985 as an extension of C that added support for object-oriented programming.
• Developers use it as a compiled language, similar to C, for its speed and efficiency. It has found applications in developing various software applications, including video games, operating systems, and scientific simulations.
• All variable declarations must specify the type in C++, making it a strongly typed language. This can help catch errors at compile time and can make code more reliable and maintainable.
• It supports a wide range of programming paradigms, including procedural, object-oriented, and generic programming. This versatility makes it a popular choice for developing complex software systems.
• C++'s syntax is powerful and complex, which can make learning and using the language more challenging compared to other programming languages. However, its advanced features and performance benefits make it a popular choice for developing high-performance software applications.
• It has a large and active community of developers, who contribute to a wide range of open-source libraries and frameworks. These resources can help developers get up and running quickly with C++ and can make it easier to develop complex software systems.

Its support for object-oriented programming and other advanced features have made it a popular choice for developing complex and high-performance software systems.

3. Python

Python is a popular high-level programming language that is known for its simplicity, readability, and ease of use. Here are a few interesting facts about the Python language.

• Guido van Rossum designed Python as a successor to the ABC programming language, and it was first released in 1991. Since then, Python has gained widespread popularity as one of the most commonly used programming languages for web development, data analysis, and machine learning.
• Being an interpreted language means that developers can run code directly in it without the need for compilation.
• This makes it easy to develop and test code quickly and is one reason why Python is a popular choice for rapid prototyping and development.
• Developers often refer to it as a "batteries included" language, as it is a popular programming language. This means that Python comes with a large standard library that includes many commonly used modules and tools, so developers don't have to download and install additional libraries for basic functionality.
• Python has a large and active community of developers, who contribute to a wide range of open-source libraries and frameworks. These resources can help developers get up and running quickly with Python and can make it easier to develop complex software systems.
• The simple and expressive syntax of the Python programming language makes it easier for developers to write and read code. Its readability and ease of use have earned it a reputation as a beginner-friendly programming language.

The versatility of the Python programming language makes it suitable for a broad range of applications, such as web development, data analysis, scientific computing, and machine learning. Its flexibility and power make it a popular choice for developers across many different industries.

4. Java

Sun Microsystems originally developed the Java programming language in the 1990s and released it as open-source software in 2006. Since then, it has become the fastest programming language in use today, with over 10 million programmers using it to build everything from small web apps to large-scale enterprise solutions.

Here are a few interesting facts to learn about Java.

• A robust ecosystem of tools and libraries, including the popular Spring Framework, exists in Java for building web applications and microservices.
• This language introduced the "applet," a small web browser application, making it an important early innovation, though applets are now less common.
• The Java platform includes a wide range of APIs (application programming interfaces) for things like networking, file I/O, and database access, which make it easier for developers to build complex software systems.
• The creators of Java developed the language with a "write once, run anywhere" philosophy in mind. This philosophy allows Java code to run on any platform with a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) without needing to recompile the code for each platform.
• Considered to be a strongly-typed language - which means that all variables and expressions must have a specified type at compile-time. This helps catch errors before they become a problem.
• Many different industries, including finance, healthcare, and government, use Java. It is particularly popular in the banking and financial services industries, where security and reliability are of paramount importance.
• Other programming languages, such as C#, Kotlin, and Scala, were influenced by Java to address certain limitations of the language.

Java, being 25 years old, remains a popular choice for Java developers with its active community and regular updates. The strict coding style ensures that developers follow best practices and minimizes unexpected behavior.

5. Rust

Rust is a modern systems programming language released in 2010 by Mozilla Research, designed to be a safe, concurrent, and efficient alternative to C and C++. It's popular among developers for its performance and memory safety.

Let’s dig a little deeper into some of the interesting facts about Rust programming language.

• Rust is a new programming language that was designed for speed, safety, and concurrency. It provides similar performance benefits as C and C++ but also incorporates features like memory safety and garbage collection.
• It has a strong focus on memory safety, which means that it has several features designed to prevent memory-related bugs and security vulnerabilities. This includes features like ownership and borrowing, which help to prevent memory leaks and other problems.
• Rust also has a simple syntax, and the compiler will give you helpful error messages and other feedback. This makes it a great language for beginners, as well as for experienced developers who want to be more productive and efficient in their work.
• Rust's growing ecosystem of libraries, including the Rust Standard Library, provides a wide range of data structures and algorithms as well as more specialized libraries like Tokio, which is used for building asynchronous network applications.
• Examples of Rust projects include the Rust compiler, Firefox, and Dropbox, showcasing its versatility for small to large-scale systems.

Conclusively, Rust offers unique features and benefits, making it a great choice for systems programming where performance and reliability are key.

6. Julia

Julia is a high-level, dynamic programming language that was first released in 2012. The language was designed to be fast, easy to use, and versatile. It has a syntax that is similar to MATLAB and Python.

"Julia is the future of scientific computing." - Jeff Bezanson, co-creator of the Julia language.

Julia's popularity stems from the fact that it is fast, accurate, and has a rich set of libraries and packages available. Here are some interesting facts that make Julia a unique and powerful language for scientific computing and other applications.

• A group of researchers including Jeff Bezanson, Stefan Karpinski, Viral Shah, and Alan Edelman created Julia to address the limitations of scientific computing languages like MATLAB and Python, providing a more efficient and flexible alternative.
• This fastest coding language uses just-in-time (JIT) compilation to optimize code on the fly, resulting in comparable speed to low-level languages like C and Fortran.
• Julia has a strong focus on numerical accuracy, with built-in support for complex numbers, rational numbers, and arbitrary-precision arithmetic. This makes it a popular choice for scientific computing, where accuracy and precision are critical.
• It has a growing ecosystem of libraries and packages, with over 5,000 packages available on the official package repository, the Julia Package Registry. These packages cover a wide range of domains, from machine learning and data analysis to optimization and simulation.
• Julia is ideal for a wide range of projects, including scientific simulations, machine learning models, and web applications. Examples include the Celeste project for astronomical data analysis and the Flux. jl library for machine learning.

Overall, Julia is a fast-growing, open-source language that has gained popularity among scientists and other data analysts.

7. Node.JS

JavaScript server-side applications can be created using the popular Node.js technology. It is widely used in the development of real-time, data-intensive applications due to its efficiency and ease of use. Here are some interesting facts about Node.js that you might find useful.

• Node.js is an open-source, cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment built on the V8 engine. The first version of Node.js was released in 2009 by Ryan Dahl.
• It has a lightweight, efficient non-blocking I/O model that enables it to handle many concurrent connections.
• Node.js is a popular framework for building real-time apps, such as chat apps, streaming services, and social networks.
• The Node.js ecosystem is rich with useful modules and libraries, including Express.js, Socket.io, and Mongoose.
• Netflix, LinkedIn, Walmart, and PayPal are among the many companies that have adopted Node.js.
• It has a strong and active community of developers and contributors, who regularly release new modules and tools for the platform.
• Embedded systems make use of a software platform called the Internet of Things (IoT), which is growing in popularity as more people create applications for embedded devices.

In conclusion, Node.js is a powerful and versatile technology that has become an essential tool for web developers in building fast and scalable applications.

8. GoLang (Go)

Go, or Golang is a programming language developed by Google in 2007. It has gained popularity because of its simplicity and efficiency, as well as its concurrency support. It's used in building network and server applications.

Here are some interesting facts about the Go programming language:

• Go was developed in 2007 at Google by Robert Griesemer, Rob Pike, and Ken Thompson. It was first released to the public in 2009, and since then it has been updated several times.
• It was designed to overcome the limitations of other programming languages in building large-scale network and server applications.
• Go's syntax is similar to that of C, but it includes features such as garbage collection, memory safety, and concurrency support.
• This language makes it easy to write concurrent programs by providing goroutines and channels.
• Go has a thriving third-party package ecosystem, with tools such as "go get" and "go test".
• Many well-known companies, including Google, Uber, Dropbox, and Docker, use Go in their development processes.

In conclusion, Go has rapidly become a popular programming language due to its simplicity, performance, and concurrency support. Developers have embraced it for its unique approach to concurrency, as well as its growing ecosystem of tools and packages.

Go, the open-source programming language developed at Google is likely to remain popular for a long time.

What Are The Characteristics Of A Fast Programming Language?

Compiled languages such as C++, Go, Rust, and Swift are faster than interpreted languages because they are converted into machine code that communicates directly with the hardware.

As Python, JavaScript, Ruby, and PHP are executed, they are compiled into machine code that the computer can run. Since this conversion process occurs during runtime and introduces overhead, interpreted languages are slower than compiled languages.

There are a few other factors that can determine a programming language's speed. For example, Java and C# both compile their source code into bytecode instead of machine code (Assembly).

A virtual machine optimized to speak directly to the hardware interprets the bytecode, making Java and C# faster than JavaScript, which converts text-based source code directly into machine code.

Another factor is whether a language is statically or dynamically typed. A statically typed language determines the type of all variables at the time of program compilation, while a dynamically typed language checks types while the code is running.

This real-time type checking comes at some cost; dynamic languages are typically slower than their statically typed counterparts.

Importance of Classifying Programming Languages By Speed

Computer programming languages are used to create applications and software. These languages must be optimized for speed, so they are designed to be readable by humans and machines alike.

When you are working to determine the speed of programming languages, consider specifying the type of speed required to run efficiently. There are many different types of speed parameters that you can choose for programming language speed comparison, including:

1. Execution Speed

This is how quickly your code runs on your computer. If your program takes too long to execute, it won't function properly and may crash!

2. Compilation Speed

This refers to how quickly your code compiles into executable instructions for your computer's processor(s). A slow compile time can cause problems with execution time later on down the line!

3. Interpretation Speed

The speed at which your computer interprets code depends on how fast the computer is. If your computer is slow, it may take a long time for large programs or complex scripts to finish running.

Final Words

In software development, speed is key. Developers are always looking for the fastest computer languages, so they can create software that meets today's high-performance needs.

Looking to hire a dedicated development team for your dream project? At InvoZone, we understand the importance of fast and efficient software development. That's why we stay abreast of the latest programming languages and technologies.

We have the skills, expertise, and technologies needed to deliver custom software development solutions that are both fast and reliable.

Get in touch with us right now to find out more about how we can assist you in achieving your software development objectives.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the fastest programming language?

C++ is considered to be the fastest programming language in compilation with C. These languages are famous for building high-performance applications and allow finely tuned control of the overall code execution. 

Known for its scalability & cross-platform capabilities, C++ is used for creating critical and complex applications including:

• Operating Systems
• Game Development Engines
• Embedded Systems
• High-End Computing Systems
• Backend CRMS

2. Which is faster C# or C++?

It depends on which programming language is the fastest.

If you're talking about the speed of the compiler and compiler-based tools, C++ wins hands down. It has a more complicated syntax and more features than C#, but it also has an incredibly powerful toolchain.

However, if you're talking about running code once it's compiled and deployed, C# is faster. This is because C++ needs to be compiled before it can run on a computer—it's not a language that runs directly on the hardware as C# does.

3. Is C++ faster than Java?

Yes! C++ is faster than Java.

It's not that simple though—Java has some advantages over C++ and vice versa. The choice of language depends on what you are trying to accomplish, but if programming language speed is your main concern, then C++ will give you a boost over Java.

4. Is Python faster than C#?

Python is faster than C#.

The reason for this is that Python is interpreted and C# is compiled, so Python can run much faster than C# because it doesn't need to be compiled first.

5. Is Java faster than Python?

In general, Java is faster than Python when it comes to raw execution speed. This is because Java is a compiled language, while Python is an interpreted language. When a Java program is compiled, it is translated into machine code that can be executed directly by the computer's processor. 

On the other hand, Python code is interpreted at runtime, which means that each line of code must be translated into machine code as it is executed.

6. What are the top 10 fastest programming languages?

Determining the speed or performance of programming languages can depend on various factors and use cases. However, here is a list of some of the fastest programming languages in terms of raw performance:

1. C
2. C++
3. Rust
4. Go
5. Python
6. Node.js
7. Julia
8. Java
9. F#
10. Pascal