General Purpose Languages

Scala

Scala is a statically-typed JVM language created by Martin Odersky at EPFL in 2004, fusing object-oriented and functional programming. Governed by the nonprofit Scala Center (EPFL); VirtusLab leads Scala 3 compiler engineering under contract. Licensed Apache 2.0. Current releases: 3.3.8 LTS (June 10, 2026, still runs on JDK 8+) and 3.8.4 on the Next line (June 5, 2026, which raises the minimum to JDK 17+). Apache Spark itself is written in Scala, yet Databricks' own docs now call Scala "limited support" and steer new data-engineering projects to Python instead. VirtusLab's 2026 Scala Developer Survey drew 1,056 responses, down 24% from 1,387 in 2023. Production users include LinkedIn, Databricks, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley; Glassdoor lists average US Scala-developer pay at $179,743/year. Current version/status: 3.3.8 LTS (JDK 8+) / 3.8.4 Next (JDK 17+), June 2026. License: Apache License 2.0. Maintained by Scala Center (EPFL, nonprofit); VirtusLab leads Scala 3 compiler development under contract.

🧊Why learn Scala?

Pick Scala for Spark/Databricks big-data pipelines, high-throughput fintech systems (it runs production at Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley), or when you want real functional-programming rigor (Cats, ZIO, Typelevel) with Java interop. Don't reach for it on a fresh Databricks pipeline — their own docs now push Python, and only 19% of surveyed Scala shops report using Spark day-to-day, trailing sbt and Cats usage. Skip it entirely for Android; that's Kotlin's lane. Even Scala's own community concedes the trouble: 43% of teams report difficulty hiring Scala engineers, and VirtusLab's 2026 survey drew 24% fewer respondents than in 2023. Known weakness: 43% of teams in VirtusLab's 2026 hiring survey report difficulty recruiting Scala engineers, and Databricks' own docs now discourage Scala for new data-engineering projects in favor of Python.

See how it ranks →

Compare Scala

Scala vs Kotlin→Scala vs Java→Scala vs Clojure→Scala vs Groovy→

Learning Resources

Tour of Scala — official documentation

Scala 3 — Book (Introduction)

Functional Programming Principles in Scala (EPFL/Odersky)

Databricks for Scala developers

Related Tools

Apache Spark Akka Sbt Cats Effect Java

Alternatives to Scala

Kotlin Java Clojure Groovy

Other General Purpose Languages

8051 Assembly is a low-level programming language used to write code for the Intel 8051 microcontroller and its derivatives, which are widely used in embedded systems. It provides direct control over hardware resources like registers, memory, and I/O ports, enabling efficient and time-critical operations. This language is essential for developing firmware in applications such as automotive electronics, industrial automation, and consumer devices.

ABAP (Advanced Business Application Programming) is a high-level programming language created by SAP for developing business applications within the SAP ecosystem. It is primarily used for customizing and extending SAP ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems, enabling developers to build reports, interfaces, forms, and workflows. ABAP runs on the SAP NetWeaver Application Server and integrates tightly with SAP's database and business logic layers.

ActionScript is an object-oriented programming language originally developed by Macromedia (now Adobe) for creating interactive content, animations, and applications primarily for Adobe Flash and Adobe AIR platforms. It is based on ECMAScript, sharing syntax similarities with JavaScript, and was widely used for web-based games, multimedia presentations, and rich internet applications (RIAs).

ActionScript is an object-oriented programming language originally developed by Macromedia (later acquired by Adobe) for creating interactive content, animations, and applications primarily for the Adobe Flash platform. It is based on ECMAScript, sharing syntax similarities with JavaScript, and was widely used for web-based games, multimedia presentations, and rich internet applications (RIAs). While its usage has declined with the deprecation of Flash, it remains relevant for maintaining legacy Flash content and in niche areas like Adobe AIR for desktop and mobile apps.

ActionScript 3 (AS3) is an object-oriented programming language primarily used for developing rich internet applications, games, and animations on the Adobe Flash Platform. It is based on ECMAScript (the same standard as JavaScript) and provides enhanced performance, a more robust class-based inheritance system, and better support for large-scale applications compared to its predecessor, ActionScript 2. AS3 is compiled to bytecode that runs in the Adobe Flash Player or Adobe AIR runtime environments.

Ada is a high-level, statically typed, object-oriented programming language designed for large-scale, long-lived, and safety-critical systems, particularly in aerospace, defense, and transportation industries. It emphasizes reliability, maintainability, and efficiency, with built-in support for concurrency, real-time processing, and strong type checking to prevent runtime errors. Originally developed for the U.S. Department of Defense, it is standardized by ISO and ANSI, with Ada 2012 and Ada 2022 being the latest revisions.