When it comes to the programming languages used in robotics, Java and C/C++ are often at the top of the list.

Top 10 Popular Programming Languages for Robot Development: Java, C/C++, Python

Choosing the right programming language for AI robot development is a common question among many robotics professionals. It’s an important decision because learning a new language takes time and effort. If you master a language but don’t find it useful in your work, what’s the point? Unfortunately, there's no single answer that fits all situations.

If you ask “What is the best programming language for robots?” on forums like Stack Overflow, Quora, Trossen, Reddit, or ResearchGate, you'll likely get a variety of answers. Different experts will give different recommendations based on their experience and field of work.

Engineers working with industrial robots may have different preferences than those focused on research or development. Most people agree that the answer depends on the specific field you're working in. In reality, the best choice depends on the type of software you want to build and the system you're using. For robotics scientists, developing strong programming logic is more important than being tied down by a specific language. Ultimately, it's not about which language you learn first, but how well you can improve through continuous practice and thinking logically.

Returning to the main topic, while there's no definitive best language for robotics, this article will explore the top ten programming languages that are most commonly used in robot development. By comparing their strengths and weaknesses, we hope to provide some guidance to help you make an informed decision.

Top 10 Popular Programming Languages for Robot Development: Java, C/C++, Python

With over 1,500 programming languages available, the top ten used in robotics are listed below. Each has its own unique advantages. Based on my personal experience in development, I’ve ranked them from least to most popular.

10. BASIC / Pascal

BASIC and Pascal were two of the first programming languages I learned, but I didn't include them in this ranking. That said, they are still effective for industrial robot programming. BASIC was designed for beginners, making it a simple starting point. Pascal, on the other hand, helps improve programming practices and introduces concepts like pointers, serving as a bridge to more advanced languages. Although these languages are somewhat outdated today, they can still be useful if you're doing low-level coding or need to understand other industrial robot languages.

9. Industrial Robot Languages

Each robot manufacturer typically has its own proprietary programming language, which can be a challenge in the industrial robotics field. Learning Pascal can help you become familiar with some of these languages. However, when moving to a different platform, you’ll likely need to learn a new language as well.

Top 10 Popular Programming Languages for Robot Development: Java, C/C++, Python

For example, ABB uses RAPID, KUKA uses KUKA, Comau uses PDL2, Yaskawa uses Advise, Kawasaki uses AS, Fanuc uses Karel, and Staubli uses URScript, VAL3, and others. While ROS has introduced more standardized alternatives, many technicians still rely on manufacturer-specific languages.

8. LISP

LISP is the second oldest programming language in the world, just one year behind FORTRAN. While it's not widely used compared to other languages in this list, it remains significant in AI programming. Some parts of ROS are written in LISP, though you don’t necessarily need to master it to use ROS.

7. Hardware Description Language (HDL)

HDLs are used to describe hardware behavior, especially in FPGA programming. These languages are common among robotics engineers who work with reconfigurable hardware. FPGAs allow developers to simulate hardware without building physical chips, which can be faster and more efficient in certain cases. If you’re working on hardware prototypes, HDLs could be essential. However, if you're not involved in electronics, you might never use them.

It's important to understand HDLs because they operate differently from traditional programming languages. Unlike sequential operations in processor-based languages, HDLs execute tasks concurrently.

6. Assembly

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