As a DevOps professional, staying up-to-date with the latest scripting languages is key to success. With the rapidly changing technology landscape, it is essential to be familiar with the most useful scripting languages.
What Are Scripting Languages?
Scripting languages are high-level programming languages designed to automate repetitive tasks and simplify complex operations. They are used for writing scripts and small programs that automate various tasks like software installation, system administration, and infrastructure automation.
Importance of Scripting Languages in DevOps
In DevOps, scripting languages play a crucial role by allowing teams to automate various processes and workflows. DevOps professionals use these languages to automate tasks such as continuous integration, continuous deployment, infrastructure provisioning, configuration management, and monitoring. This automation helps to reduce manual errors, speed up the deployment process, and improve the overall efficiency of DevOps workflows.
Scripting languages are also used for writing automation tests, which are essential for ensuring the quality and reliability of software. Automated testing helps to catch bugs and defects early in the development process, reducing the need for manual testing and improving the overall speed and accuracy of the software development lifecycle.
Criteria for Selecting the Top 10 Scripting Languages
Before going through the top 10 scripting languages, the criteria for choosing them are mentioned below.
Relevance in the DevOps Industry
It refers to the popularity and widespread use of a scripting language in the DevOps industry. Considering the relevance of a scripting language is crucial as it will directly impact the availability of tools, libraries, and resources that can be used in DevOps workflows.
Ease of Use
It points to the simplicity and accessibility of a scripting language. A scripting language that is easy to use will be more appealing to DevOps professionals who need to write scripts quickly and automate tasks without getting bogged down by complex syntax and technical details.
Community Support and Resources
It mentions the availability of resources and support from the wider programming community. A scripting language that has a large and active community will provide DevOps professionals with access to tools, libraries, and best practices that can be used to enhance their workflows.
Performance and Scalability
It indicates the ability of a scripting language to handle large amounts of data and perform well in demanding environments. This is important for DevOps professionals who need to automate processes and workflows that are critical to the stability and reliability of software and infrastructure.
A scripting language with solid performance and scalability will help DevOps professionals build robust and efficient automation solutions that can handle even the most complex tasks.
Top 10 Scripting Languages
The top 10 Scripting Languages for DevOps Professionals in 2023 are listed and explained below.
1. Python
Python is a high-level programming language used for various purposes, including data science, web development, and automation. Its simple and easy-to-learn syntax, large community, and wealth of libraries make it an ideal language for DevOps professionals. In addition, it is a cross-platform language, meaning you can write code on one platform and run it on any other platform without modification.
2. Perl
Perl is a general-purpose, interpreted programming language used for web development, automation, and DevOps. It is known for its powerful text-processing capabilities, making it an ideal choice for DevOps professionals who need to process large amounts of data. Perl is also available on most Unix-based systems, making it a convenient choice for DevOps professionals.
3. Ruby
Ruby is a complete programming language that lets you deal with controllers and frameworks. Its simplicity and readability make it an ideal choice for DevOps professionals. Ruby on Rails, which powers today’s complex apps, databases, and web pages, was developed using Ruby, a language known for its strength.
4. PowerShell
PowerShell is a task automation and configuration management framework used for Windows-based systems. It automates tasks, manages systems, and integrates different technologies.
PowerShell, with its scripting language “cmdlets,” is the optimal programming language to use if Windows predominantly power your internal systems. It leverages its specialized codes to seamlessly integrate with the .NET framework, enabling it to carry out scripted commands and operations easily.
The compatibility of PowerShell with Windows systems makes it an ideal choice for DevOps professionals who work with Windows-based systems.
5. PHP
PHP is a server-side scripting language used for web development, automation, and DevOps. It is a popular choice for DevOps professionals because of its simplicity, large community, and wealth of libraries.
PHP, a widely utilized general-purpose programming language, handles your internal system from start to implementation. If you seek a programming language for general coding, PHP is a viable option for DevOps professionals.
PHP is also a cross-platform language, meaning you can write code on one platform and run it on any other platform without modification.
6. JavaScript
JavaScript is a popular, high-level programming language used in web development. It can be easily integrated with other technologies and provides a rich set of libraries and tools for automation tasks.
7. Tcl
Tcl is a simple scripting language used for system administration and GUI development. Its simple syntax and rich set of libraries make it a top choice for DevOps professionals looking to automate tasks in system administration and GUI development.
Tcl, which combines IoT with application deployment automation, raises the bar for industrial IoT. If you require uniformity throughout your internal system, including testing and automation, Tcl is the ideal programming language for you.
8. SQL
A solid understanding of a programming language such as Structured Query Language (SQL) is essential for effectively dealing with the vast amounts of data in the industry. SQL excels in managing database activities and queries, and a grasp of its functioning can even protect against internal attacks.
9. Node.js
Node.js is a popular choice for DevOps professionals because it is easy to use and has a large community. Node.js is also a cross-platform language, meaning you can write code on one platform and run it on any other platform without modification.
10. Rust
Rust is a statically typed, compiled programming language used for DevOps. It is known for its speed, memory safety, and concurrency, making it an ideal choice.
