7 Essential Programming Languages for IT Engineers to Learn

Discover the top 7 programming languages that every IT engineer should learn to improve their work efficiency and collaboration with developers.

Why IT Engineers Should Learn to Program

As an IT operations engineer, I’ve often found myself wondering why I need to learn programming languages. After all, isn’t that what software developers are for? But the truth is, having a basic understanding of programming languages can make a huge difference in my work efficiency.

Automation is Key

One of the primary reasons IT engineers should learn to program is to automate various aspects of IT operations work. By writing code, I can automate maintenance tasks, such as installing updates or provisioning new user accounts. This not only saves time but also reduces the likelihood of human error.

Collaboration with Developers

Another important reason to learn programming languages is to support software developers more effectively. When I understand programming concepts, I can collaborate more efficiently with developers, adopting a DevOps strategy centered on constant collaboration between developers and ITOps.

Choosing the Right Language

With hundreds of programming languages out there, which ones should IT engineers learn? The answer depends on the languages used in your organization and the types of tools and workflows you need to support. However, some languages are more versatile and useful than others.

Bash: The Shell Language

Bash, the shell language used by most Linux distributions, is arguably the single most important language for IT operations engineers to learn today. Even if you don’t administer Linux systems, many cloud environments and tools also default to Bash or Bash-like interfaces for administration.

PowerShell: The Windows Powerhouse

For IT teams that work with Windows systems, PowerShell is an essential programming language. On Windows, I can use PowerShell to write scripts that automate a variety of tasks. PowerShell can also be used to access many Windows administrative functions.

Python: The Simple yet Powerful Language

Python is a simple language that can support a wide variety of use cases. I can use Python to automate system administration tasks, as well as to write simple applications. Plus, Python’s simplicity makes it a great language to learn for IT engineers who want to familiarize themselves with the basics of programming and software development.

Perl and Ruby: The Veterans

Perl and Ruby are two battle-tested, venerable languages that may not enjoy as much fanfare as they once did, but which remain powerful scripting languages that IT engineers can leverage to automate a variety of tasks.

JavaScript and Node.js: The Web Wizards

JavaScript, a scripting language used primarily to run client-side code on websites, may not seem like an obvious language for IT engineers to learn. However, using Node.js, JavaScript can be used to run code on servers as well, making it a viable system administration language.

Groovy: The Java Scripting Language

Groovy, a scripting language for the Java platform, isn’t used primarily for system administration. But some folks deploy it to that end, which makes Groovy worth considering if you’re an IT engineer looking for a programming language to learn.

In conclusion, IT engineers have lots of choices when it comes to which programming languages to learn. By choosing the right language, I can automate tasks, collaborate more effectively with developers, and take my IT operations work to the next level.

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