Best Programming Languages for Linux Development

by Awais Yaseen
Best Programming Languages for Linux Development

Developing apps for Linux is a complex and challenging process that requires careful consideration of the programming language used. As a seasoned developer, I understand the complexity and challenges that come with selecting the right language for your project. With the sheer number of coding technologies available, it can be difficult to decide which language is best suited for Linux app development.

In this guide, I will share with you my expert insights and help you make an informed decision based on your specific needs and goals.

Best Programming Languages for Linux Development

  1. Python is a versatile and beginner-friendly language that is highly suitable for Linux app development. Its simplicity, flexibility, and extensive libraries make it a popular choice for building various types of applications on the Linux platform.
  2. C++ For high-performance and system-level programming on Linux, C and C++ are the go-to languages. They offer direct memory access and low-level hardware control, making them ideal for developing system software, device drivers, and other low-level applications. It is an excellent choice for developing applications with complex logic.
  3. Java is a popular coding language that is used for developing applications on Linux. This is known for its robustness and scalability.
  4. JavaScript/Node.js for web-based Linux applications, JavaScript and Node.js are excellent choices. They allow for server-side scripting and asynchronous event-driven programming, making them suitable for building scalable and efficient web applications on the Linux platform.
  5. Rust is a modern programming language that is becoming increasingly popular for developing on Linux. It is known for its excellent safety and performance.
  6. Go is a relatively new language that has been gaining popularity for Linux development. It is designed to be simple, fast, and efficient.
  7. Bash is a command-line scripting language that is used for automating tasks on Linux. It is a great choice for writing.

tips to select best programming languages for linux apps development

Benefits of Developing Apps on the Linux Platform

There are several advantages to developing apps on the Linux platform:

  1. Open-source nature: Linux is an open-source operating system, which means that the source code is freely available and can be modified and distributed by anyone. This provides developers with the freedom to customize and enhance the system according to their specific requirements. They can have full control over the software stack, making it easier to optimize performance, fix issues, and add new features.
  2. Security: It’s renowned for its robust security architecture. Its open-source nature allows security vulnerabilities to be quickly identified and fixed by the large community of developers and contributors. Additionally, the Linux community releases security patches and updates regularly, ensuring that the operating system remains secure against emerging threats. This enhanced security makes Linux a popular choice for sensitive applications, such as financial systems and government networks.
  3. Flexibility: It offers a high level of flexibility, both in terms of hardware and software. It can run on a wide range of devices, from small IoT devices to powerful servers. This flexibility enables developers to target various platforms and devices, making Linux a versatile choice for app development. Moreover, Linux supports a vast array of computing languages and frameworks, providing developers with the flexibility to choose the tools that best suit their needs.
  4. Stability and performance: It has a reputation for being highly reliable, with a proven track record in powering critical systems and infrastructure. Linux-based servers often have exceptional uptime, which is crucial for applications that require constant availability. Moreover, Linux is efficient in resource utilization, providing excellent performance even on limited hardware.
  5. Extensive community support: The Linux community is vast and vibrant. Developers can leverage this community-driven ecosystem to seek guidance, share knowledge, and collaborate on projects. Numerous online forums, mailing lists, and communities provide valuable resources, tutorials, and coding examples, accelerating the learning and development process for Linux-based applications.
  6. Cost-effective: It is available for free, eliminating the need for expensive licensing fees. Developers can leverage a wide range of open-source tools, libraries, and frameworks to build their applications, reducing overall development costs. Additionally, the availability of affordable hosting and cloud services specifically designed for Linux further contributes to cost savings.

Deep Analysis of Languages Based on Popularity and Features

1. C/C++

C and C++ are preferred for low-level Linux development due to their close relationship with the operating system. C is a high-performance language that allows direct access to memory and hardware resources, making it well-suited for developing system-level software. Both C and C++ have extensive libraries and toolsets available, providing developers with the necessary tools for Linux development.

Features and Advantages

  1. Performance: They are known for their ability to deliver highly efficient and fast code. This is crucial for Linux app development, especially for resource-intensive tasks or applications where performance is critical.
  2. Portability: Code can easily be ported across different platforms, including various distributions of Linux. This allows developers to create applications that work flawlessly across different Linux environments.
  3. Access to system resources: Offer low-level system access, enabling full control over system resources such as memory, hardware, and network connections. This level of control is vital for developing Linux applications that interact directly with system components.
  4. Interoperability: Compatible with other programming languages, making it easier to integrate existing code or libraries from different languages into Linux applications.
  5. Extensive community support: Have a vibrant and large developer community, making it easier to find support, tutorials, and resources for Linux app development.

Potential Complexities or Challenges

  1. Memory management: Manual memory management in C and C++ can lead to memory leaks, buffer overflows, and other errors. Developers need to be proficient in memory management techniques to avoid these issues.
  2. Pointers and references: C and C++ heavily rely on pointers and references, which can be complex for developers who are not familiar with these concepts. Mishandling pointers can lead to runtime errors and crashes.
  3. Lack of built-in features: C and C++ do not have many built-in features that higher-level languages offer, such as garbage collection, automatic memory management, or exception handling. Developers need to implement these features manually, which adds complexity and requires careful attention to detail.

Successful Linux Apps Developed using C

Linux kernel: The heart of the Linux operating system itself is developed primarily in C. The kernel is responsible for managing hardware resources, memory, and system processes.

Apache: The widely-used Apache web server is written in C. It is known for its stability, scalability, and performance, making it a popular choice for hosting websites on Linux.

Git: The distributed version control system Git, developed by Linus Torvalds, is primarily implemented in C. Git is widely used for source code management and collaboration among developers.

GNOME and KDE Desktop Environments: Two popular Linux desktop environments have been developed using C and C++. These environments provide a graphical user interface and a range of applications for Linux users.

2. Python

With Linux becoming more widely adopted, developers are choosing Python as it is a versatile programming language that can be easily used for creating a wide range of applications for the Linux platform.

Flexibility and ease of use are also key reasons why Python is preferred for Linux development. It has a simple syntax and is known for its readability, making it easier for developers to write, understand, and maintain code. It also offers a wide range of libraries and frameworks that make development tasks easier and more efficient.

Drawbacks and limitations.

One limitation is its performance, as Python is an interpreted language and can be slower compared to compiled languages like C or C++. However, this limitation can be mitigated by utilizing optimization techniques and libraries. However, Python’s global interpreter lock (GIL) can affect concurrency and parallelism in multi-threaded applications.

Apps Developed using Python

1. Dropbox: A popular cloud storage and file synchronization service, the client-side application of Dropbox is developed using Python.

2. Sublime Text: A widely used code editor, Sublime Text is written in Python and offers a customizable and user-friendly interface.

3. YouTube: Some parts of YouTube, such as the front-end interface, are developed using Python alongside other technologies.

4. BitTorrent: The original BitTorrent client was developed using Python, showcasing Python’s capabilities in network and file sharing applications.

5. Ansible: A popular configuration management and automation tool, Ansible is written in Python and is widely used for managing infrastructure and deploying applications on Linux servers.

3. JavaScript

JavaScript plays a crucial role in web-based Linux applications by providing dynamic and interactive features to the users. It allows developers to enhance the functionality of their web applications, giving a more engaging experience to the users. With JavaScript, developers can manipulate the elements, handle events, create animations, validate forms, and perform various other actions that make the application more interactive and user-friendly.

Advantages

JavaScript has cross-platform compatibility in creating web-based Linux applications. It runs on most modern web browsers, which means the applications developed in JS can be accessed and used on different operating systems, including Linux. This eliminates the need for separate development efforts for each platform, saving time and resources for developers.

JavaScript enables developers to build applications that can work seamlessly across multiple devices such as desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. This flexibility makes it easier to reach a wider audience and provide a consistent user experience regardless of the device being used.

Compatibility

Linux-based web browsers, such as Chrome, Firefox, and Opera, fully support JS, allowing users to run and interact with JavaScript-powered applications without any issues. The Linux operating system provides a robust environment for JavaScript execution, ensuring smooth performance and responsiveness.

Drawbacks

One such issue is the lack of direct access to system resources and APIs. JS is primarily designed to run within a web browser’s sandboxed environment, which restricts its access to system-level functionalities. This limitation can hinder the development of certain types of applications that require low-level access or integration with native Linux features.

Another challenge is the performance overhead associated with using JavaScript in native Linux app development. Compared to languages like C or C++, JavaScript is an interpreted language, which means it may not offer the same level of performance for resource-intensive tasks. While JScript engines have become increasingly optimized, performance-critical applications may still require a different programming language to achieve the desired efficiency.

Apps Developed using JS

One such example is Visual Studio Code, a popular code editor that runs on Linux, among other platforms. It is built using Electron, a framework that combines JavaScript, HTML, and CSS to create cross-platform desktop applications.

Another example is the GNOME desktop environment, which provides a rich and customizable user interface for Linux users. It uses JavaScript extensively through its GNOME Shell extension system, allowing developers to extend and enhance the desktop environment using JS.

4. Rust

Rust is a language that emphasizes memory safety, concurrency, and performance. Linux developers are drawn to Rust because it provides strong guarantees about memory safety at compile-time, preventing the most common classes of bugs such as null pointer dereferences or memory leaks. This makes Rust a great fit for developing robust and secure Linux applications.

Strength

Memory safety lies in its ownership and borrowing model. It enforces strict rules at compile-time to ensure that variables are accessed correctly, eliminating common errors like data races and dangling pointers. This increases the reliability and stability of Linux applications, as memory-related bugs are a major source of crashes and vulnerabilities.

In terms of performance, Rust is designed to have zero-cost abstractions, meaning that high-level code is compiled into efficient machine code without any runtime overhead. Developers have fine-grained control over memory layout and system-level operations, allowing them to write highly performant Linux applications. Plus, Rust’s concurrency model enables efficient and safe parallelism without sacrificing performance.

Rust is also well-suited for system-level programming as it provides low-level control and integration with the underlying hardware. It allows direct access to hardware interfaces and the ability to write zero-cost abstractions over system resources. This makes it an ideal language for developing operating systems, device drivers, and other low-level Linux components.

Performance and Security

The strict memory safety guarantees mentioned earlier significantly reduce the likelihood of memory-related vulnerabilities such as buffer overflows or use-after-free bugs. This makes Rust applications more resistant to common attack vectors like remote code execution or privilege escalation.

In terms of performance, Rust’s fine-grained control over memory management and efficient abstractions allow developers to optimize their code for maximum speed. Rust’s concurrency model supports efficient parallelism, enabling applications to take advantage of multicore systems without introducing race conditions or deadlocks.

Drawbacks

Rust may not be the best fit for all Linux development scenarios. While its focus on safety, performance, and system-level programming makes it ideal for certain domains, it may not be as well-suited for certain specialized applications or environments where other languages have established dominance.

For example, if a project requires extensive interaction with existing codebases written in languages like C or C++, it may be more practical to stick with those. Rust’s relative newness and evolving ecosystem may present challenges in terms of available libraries and tooling for specific use cases.

Apps Developed with Rust

Some notable Linux apps developed using Rust include Redox OS (a Unix-like operating system written entirely in Rust), Alacritty (a blazing-fast terminal emulator), ripgrep (a fast Rust-based replacement for grep), and bat (a syntax-highlighting cat clone).

5. Go (Golang)

Benefits of using Go for Linux app development

1. Concurrency:

Go has built-in support for concurrency, making it easy to write programs that can efficiently utilize multiple cores of the processor. It uses goroutines, which are lightweight threads, and channels, which facilitate communication between goroutines. This makes it simpler and more efficient to develop concurrent applications.

2. Simplicity:

Go has a simple and concise syntax, making it easier to write and read code. It eliminates unnecessary features and complexities found in other languages, allowing developers to focus on solving the problem at hand. Comes with a standard library that provides many useful functions and packages, reducing the need for external dependencies.

3. Performance:

Go is compiled into machine code, resulting in highly performant applications. The garbage collector is designed to minimize latency and offer predictable performance, enabling it to handle high loads efficiently. It’s runtime has built-in features like lightweight goroutines and efficient memory management, which contribute to its overall performance.

Limitations or trade-offs

1. Immature ecosystem:

Its ecosystem is still relatively young compared to other tech stacks. This means that there might be fewer libraries or tools available for specific use cases. However, the community is growing rapidly, and the ecosystem is continuously improving.

2. Lack of generics:

It does not have built-in support for generics, which can make certain tasks more verbose or require additional boilerplate code. This limitation can affect the development of generic data structures or algorithms. However, there are workarounds available, and the Go team is actively working on adding generics to the language.

3. Dependency management:

The built-in package management system, Go modules, is still evolving and has limitations compared to more mature package managers. This can result in challenges when managing dependencies in larger Linux app projects.

Examples of Linux apps developed using Go

1. Docker: A popular platform for developing, shipping, and running applications, is written in Go. Its efficient use of resources and its ability to create lightweight, isolated containers have made it a powerful tool for Linux app development.

2. Kubernetes: An open-source container orchestration platform is also developed using Go. It allows users to automate the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. Go’s performance and concurrency features make it a natural fit for building such a highly scalable and distributed system.

3. Prometheus: It is an open-source monitoring and alerting system, widely used for collecting and processing metrics from various systems. It is written in Go and designed to be highly performant and efficient, making it a popular choice for monitoring Linux applications.

6. Java

Java is commonly used in Linux development due to its platform independence. Java programs are written once and can be executed on any platform that has a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) installed. This makes it easy to develop software that can run on Linux without needing to be rewritten or recompiled for different operating systems. The Java programming language offers extensive libraries and frameworks, which can be used to build robust and efficient applications on Linux.

Strength

One of the major strengths of Java is its cross-platform compatibility. Its programs can run on any operating system, including Linux, Windows, and macOS, as long as the target device has a JVM installed. This makes Java a suitable choice for developing applications that need to run on multiple operating systems.

Another strength is its support for large codebases. It provides features like Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) and modularity, allowing developers to build scalable and maintainable applications. The extensive standard library and third-party frameworks further facilitate the development of complex systems.

Drawbacks

One potential drawback is the performance of Java applications. Compared to native applications written in lower-level languages like C or C++, Java applications can have a higher memory footprint and slightly slower execution speed.

Another drawback is the initial startup time of Java applications. Java requires the JVM to be loaded, which adds an overhead during startup. This can be a concern for Linux applications where quick response time is essential.

Apps Developed using Java

1. Apache OpenOffice: An open-source office productivity suite, including word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, and databases.

2. Apache Tomcat: Popular web server and Servlet/JSP container used for serving Java web applications.

3. Eclipse: Widely used integrated development environment (IDE) primarily used for Java development but also supports various other languages.

4. Jenkins: An open-source automation server used for continuous integration and delivery of software projects.

7. Swift

Swift has been made available on Linux platforms, allowing developers to write code using the language’s syntax and features. This enables the creation of Linux applications by utilizing its extensive libraries and frameworks.

Strengths

In terms of safety, it includes features like optional and type inference that help catch errors during compile-time, reducing the likelihood of runtime crashes. It also enforces code standards and provides memory safety mechanisms.

In terms of performance, It’s designed to be a fast and efficient development language. It benefits from the LLVM compiler, which optimizes the generated machine code to deliver high performance. Also supports native bindings, allowing developers to directly interface with C libraries, further enhancing performance capabilities.

When it comes to mobile app integration, Swift has strong integration with Apple’s iOS and macOS platforms. Although Linux does not offer native support for these platforms, using Swift for Linux development allows for code sharing and reuse between different operating systems, making it easier to develop cross-platform applications.

Drawbacks

One major constraint is the limited availability of frameworks and libraries specifically tailored for Linux. While it supports interoperability with C and Objective-C, it may still require developers to rely on external C libraries or write custom code to fill any gaps in functionality.

Another constraint is the relatively smaller community and ecosystem compared to other languages like Python or JavaScript, which may limit the availability of resources and community support for Linux-specific development.

Linux apps developed using Swift

1. TensorFlow: This project combines the power of Swift and TensorFlow, an open-source machine learning library. It allows developers to build and train their machine-learning models on Linux.

2. Vapor: Vapor is a web framework written in Swift that runs on Linux. It provides an expressive, type-safe, and efficient way to build server-side applications. It has gained popularity among developers for its simplicity and performance.

3. IBM Swift Sandbox: This is an online platform that allows developers to experiment and run Swift code snippets directly on a web browser. It supports both macOS and Linux, providing a convenient way to explore and test Swift on Linux platforms.

8. PHP

PHP plays a crucial role in web-based Linux applications as it is a server-side scripting language specifically designed for web development. It enables developers to embed dynamic content and interact with databases, making it easier to create dynamic websites and web applications. With PHP, Linux servers can handle user requests and generate web pages on the server-side before sending them to the client’s browser.

Several Advantages

Easy Integration: Seamlessly integrates with various web technologies and databases, simplifying the development process. It supports major databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite, allowing developers to interact with them effortlessly.

Open Source: It is an open-source language, meaning it is freely available and has a vast community of developers worldwide. This community actively contributes to its development, creating a wealth of documentation, libraries, and frameworks, which speeds up development and troubleshooting.

Efficient Execution: Highly optimized language, making it performant for handling web requests. It is designed to work well on Linux servers, taking advantage of its features like multiple processes or threads, caching, and load balancing.

Flexibility: It offers a wide range of functionalities that cater to various web development needs. It supports object-oriented programming (OOP), enables integration with frontend technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and provides extensive support for handling forms, managing sessions, and processing files.

Scalability: Capable of handling high-traffic websites and applications. It can efficiently run on distributed systems and be easily scaled horizontally or vertically, leveraging the capabilities of Linux servers.

Challenges

Mainly used for web-based Linux applications, it may not be the most suitable choice for non-web Linux apps. This is because PHP is primarily designed as server-side scripting for web development, and its core functionality revolves around generating web pages, interacting with databases, and handling web requests. Non-web Linux apps, such as system utilities or desktop applications, may require different technologies like Python or C++ that are better suited for these purposes.

Linux apps developed using PHP

Although PHP is primarily popular for web-based applications, it is still possible to develop Linux apps using PHP that are not strictly web-based. Some examples of these Linux apps include:

Command Line Utilities: It can be used to create command-line interfaces (CLI) and shell scripts that perform various tasks, like file manipulation, data processing, or system administration.

Server Management Tools: It can facilitate the development of server management tools, enabling administrators to interact with Linux servers, monitor server resources, and perform automated server management tasks.

Desktop Applications: While PHP is not commonly used for desktop applications, it is still possible to create simple desktop tools or utilities using PHP-GTK, a PHP extension that allows the development of graphical interfaces for desktop platforms.

9. Perl

Perl is a scripting language that is widely used in Linux application development. It is known for its flexibility and ease of use, making it a popular choice among developers. Perl is supported by various Linux distributions and comes pre-installed in many of them.

Strengths

One of the main strengths lies in its powerful text-processing capabilities. It offers advanced regular expression matching and substitution, making it a great tool for parsing and manipulating text data. Perl has numerous built-in modules and libraries that further enhance its text-processing capabilities.

Automation is another area where it shines. It provides a wide range of tools and modules for automating various tasks, such as file operations, system administration, and network management. Perl’s ability to easily integrate with other system tools and utilities allows developers to create efficient and reliable automation scripts.

Limitations

One limitation is that it can be slower compared to other software languages, especially when dealing with computationally intensive tasks. This can be a disadvantage in certain cases where performance is critical.

Another limitation is that Perl code can be difficult to read and maintain, particularly if it is poorly structured or lacks proper documentation. Perl’s flexibility and its ability to achieve the same results in various ways can lead to code that is hard to understand and debug.

Perl is not as popular as it once was, and there has been a decline in its usage in recent years. This means that finding Perl developers and community support may be more challenging compared to more widely used languages.

Linux applications developed using Perl

1. Apache – The popular web server Apache was initially developed using Perl. Although it has since moved to C, Perl played a significant role in its early development.

2. Bugzilla is a widely used bug-tracking system that is written in Perl. It provides a web interface for managing and tracking software bugs.

3. Movable Type is a content management system (CMS) and blogging platform that is written in it. It is used by many popular websites and blogs worldwide.

4. SpamAssassin is an open-source email spam filtering system. It is written in Perl and uses a combination of techniques to identify and filter out spam emails.

Guide to Creating Simple Linux Apps

Guide to Creating Simple Linux Apps

Creating simple Linux applications involves several steps, including choosing a coding language, writing the code, compiling/building the application, and running it on a Linux system. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

Choose a Programming Language:

First, select a programming technology for your Linux application. Some popular choices for Linux development include C/C++, Python, and Rust. Your choice should depend on your project’s requirements and your familiarity with the language.

Set Up Your Development Environment:

You’ll need a Linux system for development. You can install Linux on your machine or use a virtual machine. Additionally, you may need a code editor or Integrated Development Environment (IDE) tailored to your chosen tech stack. Common choices include Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text, or Vim.

Plan Your Application:

Before you start coding, outline the functionality and features of your application. Decide what the application will do and how it will interact with users or other programs. This step is crucial for designing your program’s architecture.

Write Your Code:

Begin writing your application code according to your plan. Below are some language-specific tips:

C/C++: Use a compiler like GCC to build your application. You can use a simple text editor or an IDE like Code::Blocks or CLion.

Python: Python code can be written in any text editor. Python is an interpreted language, so there’s no need to compile it. Make sure you have the necessary dependencies installed.

Rust: You’ll need the Rust compiler (rustc) to build your application. Rust is known for its memory safety features and is a great choice for systems programming.

Add User Interfaces (if needed):

If your application requires a graphical user interface, you may want to use libraries or frameworks such as GTK, Qt, or web technologies like HTML/CSS/JavaScript. These libraries help you create desktop applications with GUIs.

Compile/Build Your Application:

Depending on your programming language, you may need to compile or package your application. Here’s how it works commomnly:

C/C++: Use GCC to compile your C/C++ code. For CMake-based projects, you can use CMake to generate build files.

Python: No compilation is needed, but you can package your Python application into a distributable format using tools like PyInstaller or cx_Freeze.

Rust: Use the cargo build system for Rust. It will handle building and packaging your application.

Test Your Application:

Test your application thoroughly to ensure it works as expected. Debug any issues that arise during testing.

Distribute Your Application:

If you want to share your application with others, you can distribute it via various methods, such as packaging it for Linux distributions (e.g., creating .deb or .rpm packages) or providing it as a standalone binary.

Document Your Code:

It’s a good practice to document your code, explaining its functionality and usage. This makes it easier for others to understand and contribute to your project.

Version Control:

Use a version control system like Git to manage your codebase. Platforms like GitHub or GitLab can host your project for collaboration.

Publish Your Application:

If you want to share your application with a wider audience, consider hosting it on a platform like GitHub, GitLab, or creating a package for Linux repositories (e.g., Debian or Ubuntu).

Maintain Your Application:

Regularly update and maintain your application to fix bugs, add new features, and respond to user feedback.

Creating Linux applications can be as simple or complex as your project’s requirements. The above steps provide a general guideline to get you started. As your application grows in complexity, you may need to adopt more advanced development practices and tools.

Simple Linux App using Python

Creating simple Linux apps can be done using several languages, such as Python, C/C++, or Bash scripting. Here is a basic guide to creating simple Linux apps using Python:

1. Install the necessary tools: First, make sure you have Python installed on your Linux system. You can check if Python is installed by running the following command in the terminal:

“`
python –version
“`

If Python is not installed, you can install it using your package manager:
“`
sudo apt-get install python3
“`

2. Choose an integrated development environment (IDE): An IDE provides a comfortable environment for coding and debugging. Some popular IDEs for Python development include PyCharm, VSCode, and Sublime Text. Choose the one that best fits your preferences and install it.

3. Create a new project: Open your IDE and create a new project. Set the project location and name according to your preference.

4. Write your code: In the IDE’s code editor, write the code for your Linux app. Here’s an example of a simple Python app that prints “Hello, Linux!” when executed:

“`python
#!/usr/bin/env python3

print(“Hello, Linux!”)
“`

Save the file with a `.py` extension, e.g., `hello_linux.py`.

5. Set executable permissions: In order to run the Python script directly from the terminal, you need to set executable permissions for the file. Open a terminal in the directory where your Python script is located and run the following command:

“`
chmod +x hello_linux.py
“`

6. Test your app: To test your app, simply run it from the terminal by typing its filename:
“`
./hello_linux.py
“`

This should output “Hello, Linux!”.

7. Package and distribute your app (optional): If you plan to distribute your app, you can package it as a Linux executable or create a distributable package. Tools like PyInstaller or cx_Freeze can help in creating standalone executables. You can create a package using Python packaging tools such as setuptools or PyPI.

That’s it! With these steps, you can create a simple Linux app using Python. Remember to explore libraries, frameworks, and the vast ecosystem available to enhance your app’s functionality and user experience.

Conclusion

hope this guide helps you in understanding and finalizing your decision to select the top choice for your career. If you are still confused about which tech stack you should go with. I will prefer C or C++ for the Linux apps development. If you are working only on GUI related projects then you should go with Python.

Keep Learning:

FAQs by Experts in the Field

What language is used to make Linux apps?

C++ and Python are the two most common languages used to build Linux apps.

What are most Linux programs written in?

Python, C++, and Java are the most common languages used to write Linux programs. Other popular languages include Perl, Ruby, and shell scripts.

What is the easiest programming language for Linux?

The easiest programming language for Linux is Python. Python is a scripting language that allows you to write simple, concise code that can be used to perform a wide range of tasks. It’s easy to learn, and its syntax is similar to the syntax of other popular scripting languages, such as JavaScript and Ruby. Python is available on a variety of operating systems, such as macOS, Linux, and Windows.

How many software engineers use Linux?

Around 75% of all software engineers use Linux.

What is the most famous Linux OS?

The most well-known Linux operating system is Ubuntu. It is one of the most popular Linux distributions, and it is widely used by businesses and individuals alike. Ubuntu is open-source, which means that it is free to download and use. It also has a user-friendly interface, making it easy to use for first-time Linux users. Ubuntu is also known for its security features, such as its firewall and antivirus.

How to create GUI apps for Linux?

To create a GUI app for Linux, you will need to use one of the libraries provided by the Gnome or KDE desktop environments, such as the GTK or Qt toolkits. Each of these toolkits provides different features and benefits. GTK is more lightweight and beginner-friendly, while Qt is larger and more flexible.

To write a simple GUI app for Linux, you can follow the following steps:

  • Install the libraries and set up your project.
  • Create a new window for your GUI elements.
  • Add buttons and other elements to the window.
  • Use the libraries’ functions to create various GUI elements, such as buttons and text boxes.
  • Connect the GUI elements to events and event handlers.
  • Test the app and make sure it works correctly.

Which programming language can I make a desktop application on Linux, Windows, and Mac?

You can use Ruby, Python, or JavaScript to write a desktop application on Linux, Windows, and Mac. All three of these languages are popular and widely used for software development. However, Ruby and Python are object-oriented programming languages, while JavaScript is a scripting language. This means that Ruby and Python can help you write more robust and maintainable code, while JavaScript is more lightweight and portable.

what language is used in linux terminal?

the command line in Linux is interactive and can be customized in a variety of ways. If you’re using a terminal to communicate with a computer over the network, the language most commonly used is shell. Shell is a command-line interpreter that allows you to interact with your computer using commands, scripts, and utilities.
You can personalize your Linux terminal by using the ‘command-line editor’ (or’shell’), which allows you to edit and save your commands.

How can I learn the basics of a programming language for Linux development?

There are a few different ways to learn the basics of a programming language like Linux development. One way is to watch video tutorials and read the documentation. Another way is to enroll in a computer science course.