fillText(text, x, y, maxWidth). Did you understand that? If you did, then congratulations to you, you speak the language of code. And for those who thought the writer had dropped an apple on the keyboard, that is the simple code to display a score on a screen on the game Snake, one of the first games to be released onto a handheld mobile phone. When people hear ‘language,’ they naturally think French, German, Italian, and Spanish.
But in the current digital era, with new innovative, internet-based gaming avenues emerging into the rapidly developing digital space, language is taking on a new meaning with programming tools for online games constantly creating new words and phrases to continue the evolution of programming language.
Computer programming language is becoming more vital with the emergence of popular online entertainment avenues such as iGaming. Online casino and online sports betting platforms currently head the queue of the fastest emerging gaming options available with more markets looking to expand their offerings and even introduce legislation to legalise and regulate the activity. For top betting sites, the value of programming language is expected to grow exponentially in an iGaming market currently valued at around USD 93 billion and still growing.
The programming for Snake is very simple, especially compared to the computer games of the current era. Snake was programmed with fewer than 100 coding lines but for online casino games for example, tens of thousands of coding lines are required to build even the simplest of games. For platforms and the games housed on them, even of the most basic nature, a similar number of code lines are needed, but this number could increase into the millions for more complex online casinos and sportsbooks that include more interactive features like in-play betting or live streaming.
For those whose interest in programming has been piqued, or for those who are looking to expand their programming repertoire or vocabulary, which programming languages are the most used right now that will continue to fuel the iGaming industry?
JavaScript
One of the most known and used tools for programming is JavaScript. The company founded by Brendan Eich has been assisting computer programmers since 1995 and to the day, the ease of use, full integration of HTML and most importantly, the fact it is recognised and supported by the most used browsers makes JavaScript more reputable. From an iGaming perspective, programming a website or online interactive feature with JavaScript allows players to access content directly without the need for downloads. If it is browser-based gaming you are looking for, JavaScript is the tool for you.
C++
While JavaScript is preferable for browser-based options, C++ is preferred by many for platforms that host more features and therefore require greater performance. Beyond the iGaming realm, C++ has been used to programme popular gaming titles such as Fallout 4 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. The ability to handle tasks that involve large transfer speeds and complex graphics makes C++ one of the best tools for a smooth and engaging online casino and online sportsbook experience.
Python
As a more general programming language, Python is one of the simpler languages to use for programming games and platforms. Like many other programming languages, Python uses interpreted languages, which means any bugs can be resolved much quicker, while the basic syntax incorporated in the libraries is extremely user-friendly. Despite the simplicity of the language, Python still produces efficient and versatile games and is particularly friendly for beginners and game developers starting out.
Programming Tools: Language of the Future
While we have only listed three programming languages, others such as C#, Lua, PHP and HTML5/CSS3 are widely used in the iGaming industry. With online sportsbooks constantly evolving and adding more features, programming language will also have to evolve to keep up. With the digital era in full swing, programming language has become more important than ever. Much like with the evolution of spoken language, we can expect more programming languages to emerge in the future.
