Learning new programming languages is an essential part of growing as a developer. However, not all languages are worth your time, especially when they are outdated, have limited use, or simply aren’t relevant in today’s tech landscape. In a world where efficiency and staying up to date are critical, it’s important to focus on the languages that will actually help you in your career or projects.
In this blog, we’ll highlight some programming languages you should avoid, explaining why they are not worth learning or continuing to use. By knowing which languages to avoid, you can save time and focus on learning those that are relevant, in demand, and valuable for your goals.
1. Perl – Once Dominant, Now Obsolete
Why you should avoid it: Perl was once a popular language for web development, especially in the early days of the internet. It was known for its text-processing capabilities and was often used for creating CGI scripts and handling server-side programming. However, its popularity has drastically declined over the years.
- Difficult to maintain: Perl’s syntax can be messy, often leading to “write-only” code—code that’s hard to read and even harder to maintain.
- Replaced by better languages: Languages like Python and Ruby have taken over the roles Perl used to dominate, offering cleaner syntax, better readability, and stronger community support.
- Dying ecosystem: The Perl community has shrunk, and there are fewer new projects or job opportunities related to Perl.
If you’re starting out or looking to expand your skill set, Python is a much better option than Perl.
2. Objective-C – Replaced by Swift
Why you should avoid it: Objective-C was once the go-to language for iOS and macOS development, but Apple introduced Swift in 2014 as a more modern, faster, and easier-to-use alternative.
- Obsolete for iOS development: Swift has completely overtaken Objective-C as the preferred language for iOS development. It’s more efficient, easier to read, and offers better performance.
- Steep learning curve: Objective-C’s syntax is cumbersome and can be difficult to understand, especially for new developers.
- Limited outside Apple ecosystem: Objective-C is rarely used outside of the Apple environment, making it less versatile compared to other languages.
If you’re interested in developing apps for the Apple ecosystem, Swift is the way forward. Learning Objective-C is only useful if you need to maintain legacy code.
3. COBOL – Still Around, But Outdated
Why you should avoid it: COBOL (Common Business-Oriented Language) was widely used in the 1960s and 1970s for business applications, particularly in banking, finance, and government systems. While it’s still in use today, it’s considered a relic of the past.
- Outdated and hard to learn: COBOL has an extremely verbose syntax that can be painful to work with. Its structure and paradigms are outdated, making it a chore for modern developers to learn and use.
- Limited use: COBOL is mostly found in legacy systems, especially in industries like banking. While there is still demand for COBOL maintenance, it’s not a growing field and learning it won’t open many opportunities outside of maintaining old systems.
- Lack of modern features: COBOL lacks the flexibility and functionality of modern languages, making it unsuitable for new projects.
Unless you’re specifically tasked with working on a legacy system, learning COBOL in 2024 is largely unnecessary.
4. Ruby – Losing Its Shine
Why you should avoid it: Ruby, particularly with the Ruby on Rails framework, was incredibly popular in the mid-2000s for web development. It was known for its developer-friendly syntax and rapid development capabilities. However, its popularity has significantly declined in recent years.
- Falling out of favor: Ruby on Rails has lost market share to more modern web frameworks like Node.js, React, and Django. There are fewer job opportunities and new projects in Ruby compared to its heyday.
- Slower performance: Ruby’s performance is often criticized for being slower than other languages like JavaScript, Python, or Go, especially for large-scale applications.
- Small community: As other languages have gained popularity, Ruby’s community has shrunk, meaning fewer updates, libraries, and learning resources.
While Ruby still has some loyal followers, it’s no longer the dominant force it once was. If you’re starting out, consider learning JavaScript or Python for web development instead.
5. Visual Basic (VB.NET) – The Language That Won’t Die, But Should
Why you should avoid it: Visual Basic was once a popular choice for Windows-based applications, particularly in the 1990s and early 2000s. It was often used in the Microsoft Office suite for automation through VBA (Visual Basic for Applications).
- Largely obsolete: Modern Windows development has moved on to languages like C# within the .NET framework, and VB.NET is rarely used in new projects.
- Limited career prospects: The job market for VB.NET developers is small, as most companies have moved to more modern programming languages and platforms.
- Outdated syntax: Visual Basic’s syntax and structure are considered outdated, and there are much better alternatives available for desktop or web development.
If you’re interested in .NET development, C# is a far better option than VB.NET, offering more versatility and better job prospects.
6. Haskell – Niche and Complex
Why you should avoid it: Haskell is a functional programming language known for its advanced type system and mathematical precision. It has been used in academic circles and some specialized industries, but it’s not practical for most developers.
- Steep learning curve: Haskell’s functional programming paradigm and syntax are difficult to learn, especially for developers who are used to imperative or object-oriented languages.
- Limited practical use: While Haskell is interesting from a theoretical standpoint, it’s rarely used in commercial applications. The job market for Haskell developers is small, and the demand is niche.
- Better alternatives: If you want to learn functional programming, languages like Scala, Elixir, or even Python (which supports functional programming) are more widely used in real-world projects.
While Haskell is an impressive language for academic purposes, it’s not worth your time unless you’re specifically interested in functional programming research or certain niche fields.
7. LISP – A Historical Language with Limited Relevance
Why you should avoid it: LISP is one of the oldest programming languages, developed in the late 1950s for artificial intelligence (AI) research. While it played an important role in the history of computing, its relevance has waned in today’s programming landscape.
- Outdated for modern AI: Most modern AI and machine learning applications use languages like Python, R, or Julia, which are more accessible and have stronger community support.
- Unusual syntax: LISP’s parenthetical syntax is unusual and can be difficult for new developers to grasp. It doesn’t translate well to other programming paradigms or languages.
- Niche use cases: Outside of certain academic circles or very specific AI applications, LISP is rarely used in modern programming.
While LISP is historically significant, you’re better off focusing on languages like Python for AI and machine learning projects.
8. ColdFusion – A Dying Web Development Language
Why you should avoid it: ColdFusion was developed in the 1990s for rapid web development, and it was popular for building dynamic websites. However, it’s now considered a dying language.
- Limited demand: There are very few new projects or job opportunities for ColdFusion developers, as the language has been largely replaced by more modern web frameworks like Node.js, Django, and Laravel.
- Expensive: ColdFusion is a proprietary language, and its licensing fees can be expensive. This has pushed many businesses to switch to free and open-source alternatives.
- Dated ecosystem: ColdFusion’s ecosystem is outdated, and the community is shrinking as developers move to more modern and flexible languages.
If you’re interested in web development, you’re better off learning languages like JavaScript, Python, or PHP, which are more widely used and have larger, more active communities.
Conclusion: Focus Your Time on the Right Languages
Learning new programming languages can be exciting, but it’s important to be strategic about which ones you invest your time in. Some languages, like Perl, COBOL, and Objective-C, have lost their relevance, while others, like ColdFusion and Visual Basic, have been replaced by more modern and efficient alternatives.
Instead of wasting time on dying or obsolete languages, focus on those that are in demand and have a strong future. Languages like Python, JavaScript, Java, C#, and Go offer robust job opportunities, active communities, and modern frameworks that will keep your skills relevant in the ever-evolving tech landscape.
