The most in demand coding languages of 2016 (and the one non coding tech skill you should have)

It’s been said a lot lately that digital literacy is the new literacy. And I’ve said a few times (I’m sure other people have too) that coding is the new typing. It’s what kids should be learning in high school, like we learned typing back in the olden days.
But the reality is that for us older folks who did learn typing in high school, “I’m learning to code” is the new “I’m writing a novel.” We all intend to do it, but some of us are just never going to get around to anything beyond the basics of html, which we should all be learning.
Fortunately there are tech skills that don’t involve coding. I just stumbled onto this list on a site called SitePoint.com of in-demand tech skills that don’t involve coding. And the first one on the list is something a lot of people would benefit from having: data analysis.
The author points out that some data analysts do know programming languages, but analyzing data doesn’t necessarily involve coding. If you can work with databases and spreadsheet programs like Excel, Google Analytics, and Omniture – and are good at math – you might be good at it. And really, if you’ve got a bit of time on your hands and want to learn something new, this should be it.
No matter what you do. Big data is changing the world right now. Everything from security and politics, to medicine, to business and marketing and beyond. Having at least a general understanding of how it works will be a boon to your career.
Here are the top 10 non-programming tech skills listed in the article:
1. Data Analysis
2. Software Testing
3. Technical Support
4. Rapid Prototyping
5. Command of Adobe Products
6. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
7. A/B Testing
8. Growth Hacking
9. Technical Writing
10. Agile Methodology
Meanwhile, if you are going to learn to code but aren’t sure which language to choose, Coding Dojo has created a list of the most in demand coding languages.
Here are the top nine:
SQL
Java
Javascript
C#
C++
Python
PHP
Ruby on Rails
IOS/Swift
“It’s no surprise,” says Coding Dojo, “that SQL (pronounced ‘sequel’) tops the job list,” since it can be found all over the place in various database technologies “that power big businesses, small businesses, hospitals, banks, universities.”
“Indeed, just about every computer and person with access to technology eventually touches something SQL. For instance, all Android phones and iPhones have access to a SQL database called SQLite and many mobile apps developed Google, Skype and DropBox use it directly.”
Java, meanwhile, is one of the most widely used programming languages, “used by some 9 million developers and running on 7 billion devices worldwide.” It’s also apparently the programming language used to develop all native Android apps.
Good to know. I’ll get right on that. Just as soon as I finish my novel.