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Little-Known Programming Languages That Actually Pay

Nerval's Lobster writes There is no shortage of programming languages, from the well-known ones (Java and C++) to the outright esoteric (intended just for research or even humor). While the vast majority of people learn to program the most-popular ones, the lesser-known programming languages can also secure you a good gig in a specific industry. Which languages? Client-server programming with Opa, Salesforce's APEX language, Mathematica and MATLAB, ASN.1, and even MIT's App Inventor 2 all belong on that list, according to developer Jeff Cogswell. On the other hand, none of these languages really have broad adoption; ASN.1 and SMI, for example, are primarily used in telecommunications and network management. So is it really worth taking the time to learn a new, little-used language for anything other than the thrills?

4 of 242 comments (clear)

  1. ASN.1 isn't a programming language. by Dimwit · · Score: 5, Informative

    That is all.

    --
    ...but it's being eaten...by some...Linux or something...
  2. ASN.1/SMI by adturner · · Score: 5, Informative

    Maybe ASN.1 and SMI are so little known as a programming language because... they're not a programming language? Don't get me wrong, it's good to know if you're reading/writing RFC's or dealing with network protocols (especially in the telco space), but they're not programming languages.

  3. Meh by Anrego · · Score: 5, Informative

    There's tonnes of niche technologies, though people don't tend to specifically target them so much as just kind fall into them and get lucky.

    I know someone that does pretty well maintaining stuff made with foxpro. In her words: "laugh all you want, it paid for my house". Doesn't mean it's a good idea to learn it at this point, but if you happened to luck out by sticking with a dying technology that never actually died, and are now one of a few people around who can call themselves experts in it, enjoy the benefits.

  4. Also WTF by Anrego · · Score: 5, Informative

    Also, wtf dice.

    I get that you want to shitpost your own articles here, but throwing a campaign ID in the URL to track the success of your shitposting is going a bit far.