What Are Some Niche Programming Languages Worth Learning for Job Hunting?

Learning a niche language might not be the best strategy if you're just starting out. Companies usually aren't looking for candidates who only know rare languages. For roles in less competitive areas, focus on regions with a steady tech scene but less frenzy than places like Silicon Valley. Look into the languages and tools in demand there. Internships can really elevate your profile, especially if you find one in a more specialized field.

If you're looking for something completely out of the box, give ArnoldC a try! It’s a joke programming language inspired by Arnold Schwarzenegger quotes. While not practical for jobs, it’s a fun way to stretch your creativity—just an off-the-beaten-path suggestion!

Instead of focusing solely on languages, think about learning tools and frameworks. For instance, CUDA and GPU shader languages, or popular frameworks like Ruby on Rails or Laravel. Rails is kind of like the new COBOL; it might be losing some shine, but many companies still have extensive codebases in it.

Erlang is a solid choice for building fault-tolerant systems and is used by some well-known services. If you're new to functional programming, it's a great way to dip your toes in. Once you get comfy with Erlang, check out Elixir; it's a nice follow-up that a lot of people find appealing.

Have you considered the D language? It's a statically typed compiled language with a performance that rivals C++. It should definitely get more attention in the programming community.