Hardest Programming Languages To Learn in 2025
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Not every programming language is easy to learn, some are intentionally complex, while others demand deep technical expertise. As technology advances, programming languages are evolving to be more powerful and efficient, but also more challenging to master. One of the toughest languages is Malbolge, which was deliberately designed to be nearly impossible to code in. Assembly Language is another difficult one since it requires working directly with hardware, leaving no room for mistakes. Prolog forces programmers to think in terms of logic rather than step-by-step instructions, making it a huge shift from traditional coding. C++, despite being widely used, remains difficult due to its complex syntax, memory management, and object-oriented features. Other tough languages include Rust, which introduces strict memory safety rules, Haskell, which follows a purely functional approach, and LISP, known for its heavy use of parentheses and abstract concepts. Scala also makes the list due to its mix of functional and object-oriented programming, which can be difficult for beginners. While these languages may be challenging to learn, they offer immense power and flexibility in their respective domains. Whether you’re diving into system programming, artificial intelligence, or functional programming, mastering these languages can be both a frustrating and rewarding experience. Check our slides below for more detail.
Hardest Programming Languages To Learn in 2025
- 1. The Hardest Programming Languages to Learn This Year N OT A L L P R O G R A M M I N G L A N G U A G E S A R E E A S Y T O L E A R N . O V E R T H E Y E A R S , C O D I N G H A S E V O L V E D F R O M D E C I P H E R I N G B I N A R Y PAT T E R N S T O U S I N G H U M A N - R E A D A B L E L A N G U A G E S L I K E C , P Y T H O N , A N D J AVA S C R I P T. N O W, I N 2 0 2 5 , W H I L E M A N Y L A N G U A G E S A R E B E C O M I N G M O R E E F F I C I E N T A N D S T R U C T U R E D. L E T ’ S E X P L O R E T H E H A R D E S T P R O G R A M M I N G L A N G U A G E S T O L E A R N T H I S Y E A R !
- 2. Hardest Coding Languages to Learn This Year Here is the list of hardest programming languages: •Malbolge •Assembly Language •Prolog •C++ •Haskell •Rust •LISP •Scala • Perl • Erlang • Objective C • F# • Ada • COBOL • Scheme
- 3. Malbolge Named after the eighth circle of Hell in Dante’s Inferno, Malbolge is infamous for its extreme complexity. Designed to be nearly impossible to program in, it features self-altering code and an incomprehensible notation system. Even expert programmers struggle with it, making Malbolge the ultimate challenge for those who love the impossible. While it holds the title of the hardest programming language, Malbolge is neither practical nor widely used. However, it stands as a fascinating example of how far programming has evolved.
- 4. Assembly Language Assembly Language is one of the few true low-level programming languages, allowing direct control over hardware resources. However, this comes with a steep learning curve, as programmers must manually manage memory addresses and processor instructions while working with hardware-specific instruction sets. With little room for error, Assembly demands precision, patience, and meticulous resource management. While not as impossibly difficult as Malbolge, it remains one of the toughest languages to learn. Despite its impracticality for modern development, mastering Assembly provides deep insight into how higher-level languages operate, enhancing a programmer’s overall understanding of computer systems.
- 5. Prolog Prolog is one of the hardest programming languages to learn due to its logic-driven approach. Unlike traditional languages, it doesn’t follow a step-by-step execution but instead relies on defining rules and relationships. The system then infers conclusions, making it challenging for those accustomed to imperative programming. It also replaces loops with recursion and includes an automatic backtracking mechanism to find solutions. Due to its unique nature, Prolog is primarily used in artificial intelligence and natural language processing. While powerful, its unconventional structure makes it difficult to master.
- 6. C++ C++ is a complex yet widely used programming language that blends object-oriented and generic programming. It requires a strong grasp of memory management, pointers, and debugging, making it significantly harder to learn. Its syntax is intricate, and working with legacy code often introduces unexpected challenges. Even experienced developers find C++ tricky due to its strict rules and potential for subtle bugs. However, its efficiency and control make it indispensable in system programming, game development, and high- performance applications. Despite its steep learning curve, C++ remains one of the most important programming languages.
- 7. Haskell Haskell is a purely functional programming language that follows a mathematical approach, making it difficult for those used to imperative coding. It involves advanced concepts like monads, type inference, and recursion, requiring a deep understanding of abstract programming principles. Debugging in Haskell can be particularly challenging due to its unique structure. However, once mastered, it offers powerful functional programming capabilities and is widely used in academic research and high-assurance systems. While difficult to learn, it rewards developers with efficient and elegant code.
- 8. Rust Rust may seem beginner-friendly due to its C-like syntax, but its memory safety features make it one of the hardest languages to master. Unlike traditional languages, it eliminates the need for a garbage collector by introducing an ownership and borrowing system, requiring programmers to rethink memory management. While these features prevent common bugs, they also add complexity for learners. Rust’s focus on safety and concurrency makes it a powerful tool for systems programming and game development, but its strict rules and steep learning curve make it one of the toughest languages to learn.
- 9. LISP LISP, one of the oldest programming languages, introduced key concepts like recursion and treating code as data. Despite its simple syntax, its unique parenthetical structure and fragmented nature make it difficult to grasp. Designed for seamless data manipulation, LISP remains relevant in AI and higher-level systems. However, getting used to its syntax and understanding its domain-specific solutions require patience, making it one of the hardest programming languages to learn.
- 10. Scala Scala combines functional and object-oriented programming, offering powerful abstractions and concise code. However, its advanced type inference and reliance on concurrency make it challenging for beginners, especially those familiar with Java’s structured approach. Running on the JVM provides portability, but it also introduces performance challenges. While Scala is widely used in big data processing and distributed computing, its steep learning curve and complex concepts make it a tough language to master.
- 11. Perl Perl is a highly flexible scripting language known for its versatility in text processing and system administration. However, its syntax is complex and often unreadable, making it difficult for beginners to learn. Its ‘more than one way to do it’ philosophy allows multiple approaches to the same problem, adding to its depth but also making it harder to master. While Perl remains valuable in legacy enterprise applications, its learning curve makes it a challenging language for new programmers.
- 12. Erlang Erlang was developed in 1986 for building scalable, real-time systems requiring high availability. It uses an actor-based model for fault-tolerant, distributed applications and powers services like WhatsApp. Despite its strengths, Erlang is one of the hardest programming languages due to limited learning resources, complex syntax, and a lack of modern development tools. It doesn’t run on the JVM, lacks a package manager, and has minimal community support, making it challenging for newcomers to grasp.
- 13. Objective-C Objective-C remains essential for maintaining older macOS and iOS applications, despite its complexity. Its syntax is extensive and heavily reliant on pointers, making debugging difficult for beginners unfamiliar with low-level memory management. Dynamic runtime behavior introduces additional challenges, as runtime errors can be hard to trace. While Objective-C is still relevant in Apple’s ecosystem, its steep learning curve and memory management complexities make it one of the toughest programming languages to master.
- 14. F# F# is a functional-first programming language designed for data analytics, AI, and scientific computing. Unlike imperative languages like C#, F# relies on pattern matching, immutability, and computation expressions, requiring a shift in programming mindset. While it enables concise, high-performance code, its abstract mathematical concepts, such as algebraic data types and function pipelines, make it difficult to learn. Despite its powerful capabilities, mastering F# takes time, making it one of the hardest programming languages.
- 15. Ada Ada was designed for high-reliability applications in aerospace, defense, and medical systems. It features built- in safety mechanisms like range checking and contract- based programming, making it robust but difficult to learn. Its rigid syntax and complex concurrency control make even simple tasks verbose and challenging. With limited adoption and scarce learning resources, Ada presents a steep learning curve, even for experienced programmers.
- 16. Cobol COBOL was developed for business and financial applications, focusing on data processing rather than general-purpose programming. Its rigid structure, extensive data formatting requirements, and verbosity make it difficult for those used to modern languages. Despite its challenges, COBOL remains vital in banking and government sectors, ensuring the maintenance of legacy financial systems. However, its outdated nature and slow learning process make it one of the hardest languages to grasp.
- 17. Scheme Scheme, a LISP dialect, is difficult for programmers accustomed to imperative languages. It emphasizes recursion, higher-order functions, and immutability, concepts that require a different programming approach. Its minimalist syntax lacks extensive built-in functions, forcing programmers to build functionality from scratch. Additionally, mathematical concepts like lambda calculus make it abstract and challenging for beginners to master.
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