Learning new programming languages is an essential part of career advancement for professional developers. Here, we look at five up-and-coming languages that are rapidly gaining traction.

The TIOBE Index lists the most popular programming languages among professional coders and developers. The top-ten holds no surprises: Java at number one, followed by C, C++, and Python. JavaScript is in eighth position. Learning any of the languages in the top ten is a safe bet if finding work and making money is your primary concern.

But there are many promising new programming languages making waves in the enterprise. They aren’t a sure thing, but learning one of these newer platforms might pay off in the future: they are in production use at smaller scales or they wouldn’t be on the list.

These languages may also expose you to new programming paradigms and broaden your overall understanding of programming, and mastering cutting-edge platforms can leave you well positioned as a thought-leader in a lucrative and under-served space. Most importantly, tackling a new language is always fun.