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Languages You Shouldn't Learn

First off, this isn't a list of languages, but more on my thoughts of lists such as this. These are just my own thoughts and you can completely ignore them if you disagree.

What is wrong with these lists?

Lists such as these are usually the same. They get a list off Tiobe Index or Pypl Index and they run with it. The problem with this approach is how a language is chosen or a reason to use it. The idea of a one-size-fits-all language is a terrible idea. Not all problems are the same.

The other problem is that not everyone wants to work in big tech or with the newest hottest machines. There are still a mind-boggling amount of mainframes out there and they are all dependant on COBOL and most likely nothing newer than COBOL-85. This doesn't meean everyone should learn COBOL, but it means if you want to work on mainframes in wallstreet, insurance companies, banks, etc. you could have a better shot than the person who only knows javascript or swift.

Are there languages you shouldn't learn?

Absolutely. Don't learn a lanague that isn't needed or you have no interest in. Let's say you work as a web app developer, but you want to get a deeper understanding on how computers work. Well learning COBOL won't be the best help here. However, you could learn LISP or FORTH. I don't know of any companies that use these languages currently, but it will help you understand for personal knowledge.

Don't let a list scare you away from something. People think I am crazy using Delphi. I using professionally making new, modern applications in it for my clients. They are moving away from web apps to native using Delphi. There are reasons Delphi was chosen, top of which is that it is a modern language that has all the features I need for my development and it is a language that puts a smile on my face.

What should you learn then?

Learn the language(s) that you either need for a job or that just makes you happy. Sometimes it is more than one. That is perfectly fine. My coding toolbox has many tools, but my default three are Go for the back-end api, Delphi for the native apps (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android), and vanilla js for web front-ends. A language is just a tool to help you solve a problem. Use the right tool for the right job and don't let a list make you miserable.