In today’s highly competitive world, software development and automation play a significant role in creating robust software applications for businesses.

1. Top Automation Programming Languages of 2023
Introduction
In today’s highly competitive world, software development and automation play a significant
role in creating robust software applications for businesses. Additionally, emerging
technologies like Artificial intelligence, blockchain have given a competitive edge to
enterprises. For gaining maximum benefits out of Automation testing, testers require hands-
on experience in a minimum of one Automation Programming language. There are
numerous programming languages available today, with new ones continuously emerging.
No matter which phase you are in, whether starting with automation testing or being an
experienced tester planning to learn a new programming language, deciding which language
to choose is very critical.
Which Automation Programming Language is the best for testing?
The following list is prepared after considering metrics, like recent trends, language
popularity, career prospects, open-source projects, etc. As per TIOBE Index
2021 and IEEE Spectrum Magazine, Java, C, and Python are the top three
automation programming languages on the list. Following are the most preferred
ones out of the long list of names.
1. JAVASCRIPT
As per the recent Developer Survey by Stack Overflow, JavaScript maintained the
top spot for the 8th year in a row as the most commonly used programming
language. It supports test automation to a greater extent, especially for front-end
development. Many large websites like Instagram, Accenture, Airbnb, and Slack use

2. JavaScript as their preferred front-end development and Automation Programming
Language.
 It follows the shift-left testing approach where even developers play an active part in the
testing code development process. Here, the testing team works closely with the
development team to implement efficient test automation.
 JavaScript and Selenium are used together by developers for creating test scenarios
for automated browser testing. In this context, pCloudy’s remote Selenium Grid is perfect
to use without any source-code change requirement.
 There are various testing frameworks for JavaScript for unit testing and end-to-end testing
like Zest, Mocha, Jasmine, Nightwatch JS, etc.
2. PYTHON
As per the statistics, it is the most popular automation programming language of
2021. It is open-source and has a track record for developing web & desktop
applications, machine learning, network servers, media tools, etc. For any business
that is just starting up, Python is the most recommended programming language. It
provides library support, reliable integration, and control features. Some of the
popular apps built using Python are Youtube, Pinterest, and Instagram. According to
recent trends, approximately 2.3 Lakh Live websites (6 Lacs globally and 3.1K in
India ) are built using Python.
Stack Overflow’s latest developer survey reports that around 70% of developers
chose Python as their most preferred programming language because:
 Python has a several libraries that help developers perform any function without putting
many efforts in writing the code
 It has a strong Python Community
 It is object-oriented

3.  Python is comparatively portable and easy to learn automation programming language,
making it the best choice for the beginners
 Selenium-Appium Libraries for Python make automation and cross-browser testing on
mobile and desktop easier. The most popular Python Testing Frameworks are PyTest and
PyUnit used in Selenium Automation Testing for Cross-Browser Automation Testing.
3. JAVA
It is among the popular general-purpose automation programming languages owned
by Oracle Corporation. Applitools Survey reports JAVA to maintain its lead with 43%
of its users opting for Java as their go-to language for writing their tests. Enterprises
use Java to maintain back-end systems. More than 3 Billion devices are running
applications built on Java. It comes with comprehensive test frameworks, packages,
and knowledge sources making it one of the best automation programming
languages. Netflix, Google, Pinterest, Instagram are a few big names that use
JAVA.
 It provides its users with built-in open-source libraries, a powerful command line, easy
integration, IDE Support, etc.
 It is an Object-Oriented Language that works on Write Once Run Anywhere principle,
bringing flexibility in many cross-browser platforms.
 Allows easy integration of JUnit with Selenium Webdriver to automate tests for web
applications.
 It also provides short test cases to the software developers.
4. C#
C# is created by Microsoft. It is considered one of the best automation programming
languages. 67% of the users, as reported by Stack Overflow Developer Survey,
prefer C# for their development and automation needs. This language has shown a
gradual growing trend as a test automation language. There are many test

4. automation frameworks in C# like NUnit, MSTest, and xUnit.Net support automation
and cross-browser testing. Also, many testers prefer C# due to its compatibility with
Selenium WebDriver. Companies like Delivery Hero,
Microsoft, and Accenture include C# in their tech stack.
 It is an Object-Oriented and structured programming language
 It is mostly used on Windows. Also suited for Android, iOS platforms
 C-Sharp is a Microsoft company that works on .Net Framework
 Uses Page-Object Model (POM) to create efficient and maintainable test code.
5. PHP
Hypertext Preprocessor is a widely used command-line, a server-side scripting
language used for web development and test automation. Most commonly used for
mobile applications that require database access. More than 34 Lac live websites
use PHP as their preferred Automation Programming Language. Popular
organizations like Wikipedia, Facebook, and Yahoo use PHP for their website. PHP
supports the development of e-commerce websites, content-heavy and dynamic web
and mobile apps. The most common PHP testing frameworks are BeHat,
Codeception, Laravel Dusk, PHPUnit, offering extraordinary benefits in the
automation process. XDebug, an extension of PHP, is a powerful debugging tool that
improves the PHP development experience.
 PHP is flexible and easily linkable with HTML /HTML5
 Provides great error handling features
 It is a platform-independent language
 Good Community Support System.

5. 6. RUBY
Another popular Automation programming language is Ruby which has shown an
upward trend in the areas of automation. Ruby has seen a growing community of
user bases in recent years. Ruby works well with the Selenium framework, hence
considered an important component for performing Selenium automation testing.
Getting started with Ruby-Selenium is easy as it creates a comfortable environment
for running your first cross-browser test with Selenium Webdriver using lesser lines
of code. Popular websites using Ruby are Twitter, Bloomberg, Airbnb, and Shopify.
 It is an Object-Oriented and back-end scripting programming language
 It is a human-friendly, simple-to-learn language supporting MVC Architecture and enabling
automated deployment
7. SMASHTEST
It is an open-source Automation programming language that creates the fastest
automation tests. SmashTest allows expediting the test execution by writing tests in
a tree-like structure. It generates tests ten times faster than any other programming
language. However, its documentation process is not that great. SmashTest can
perform both API and UI Testing. It comes with a test runner to enable parallel
testing and a read–eval–print loop (REPL). It requires downloading the Selenium
WebDriver. Its mocking API allows mocking time and geo-location. The Smashtest
CLI (Command-Line Interface) consists of tools for CI/CD and REPL interpreter.
 Helps to test distinct browsers, devices, and operating systems
 Provides in-built, real-time reports showing the auto-generated screenshots pass/fail
status of the test.
 Super-fast automation
 Allows to run multiple tests parallely
 It is easy to understand, has human-readable steps.

6. 8. VBSCRIPT
VBScript is a programming language developed by Microsoft. It is the lighter version
of Visual Basic so, both use similar syntax. It is used in Quick Test Professional
(QTP), an automated functional testing tool for coding and executing automated
tests. If a tester wants to work on QTP, he must know VBScript.
 Easy to learn with little knowledge of basic programming skills
 It is case insensitive language
 VBScripts is an interpreter and not a compiler (like C++, Java, etc.). It is sometimes also
called a line-by-line compiler.
9. TypeScript:
TypeScript is a statically typed superset of JavaScript that compiles to plain
JavaScript code. It adds static typing and other features to enhance JavaScript
development, making it a popular choice for large-scale applications. TypeScript
provides strong type checking, better tooling support, and improved maintainability
for larger codebases.
In the context of automation testing, TypeScript is widely used in front-end testing
frameworks. For instance, Protractor, a popular end-to-end testing framework for
Angular applications, is built with TypeScript. TypeScript’s static typing helps catch
errors at compile-time, reducing the chances of runtime errors during test execution.
Additionally, the tooling and IDE support for TypeScript make it easier to write,
refactor, and debug test scripts.
Test frameworks like TestCafe and Cypress also provide native support for
TypeScript, allowing testers to write automated tests using TypeScript syntax. This

7. integration enables seamless test creation, execution, and reporting, providing a
robust foundation for front-end automation testing.
10. Kotlin:
Kotlin is a modern programming language that runs on the Java Virtual Machine
(JVM) and is fully interoperable with Java. It combines object-oriented and functional
programming paradigms, offering concise syntax, null safety, and enhanced
readability compared to Java.
While Kotlin is predominantly known for its use in Android app development, it is also
gaining popularity in automation testing. Testers can leverage Kotlin for writing test
scripts that interact with Android applications, simulating user interactions and
verifying application behavior.
Katalon Studio, an all-in-one automation testing solution, supports Kotlin as one of
the programming languages for test script development. With Kotlin, testers can take
advantage of the language’s conciseness, improved null safety, and interoperability
with existing Java libraries. This allows for efficient and robust automation testing of
Android applications.
Moreover, Appium, a popular mobile automation framework, also provides support
for Kotlin. Testers can write Appium-based test scripts in Kotlin to automate mobile
application testing across various platforms.
11. Go:
Go, also known as Golang, is a statically typed programming language developed by
Google. It is designed to emphasize simplicity, performance, and concurrency,
making it suitable for building efficient and scalable applications.
In the context of automation testing, Go is gaining recognition for its ability to create

8. robust and efficient test frameworks. The language’s simplicity and readability
contribute to the development of clean and maintainable test scripts. Go’s built-in
concurrency features, such as goroutines and channels, enable parallel execution of
tests, enhancing test efficiency.
GoConvey and Ginkgo are popular testing frameworks in the Go ecosystem.
GoConvey provides a domain-specific language for expressing test cases and
assertions concisely, while Ginkgo offers a BDD-style testing framework with
expressive syntax. These frameworks, combined with the power of Go, enable
testers to build scalable and reliable automation testing solutions.
Furthermore, Go’s cross-compilation capabilities make it suitable for creating
automation test tools that can run on different operating systems and architectures,
enhancing the portability and versatility of the automation infrastructure.
12. Rust:
Rust is a systems programming language known for its focus on safety, concurrency,
and performance. It provides memory safety guarantees without sacrificing speed,
making it a reliable choice for building low-level components and tools used in
automation testing frameworks.
While not as commonly used in automation testing as some other languages, Rust
can be employed to develop robust and performant testing frameworks and libraries.
Its memory safety features, such as ownership and borrowing, help prevent common
programming errors like null pointer dereferences and data races.
Rust’s strong static typing and expressive syntax make it suitable for developing
tools that require high reliability, such as custom test harnesses, result parsers, or
performance profiling utilities. Testers and developers can leverage Rust’s
ecosystem and package manager, Cargo, to build efficient and safe automation

9. testing solutions.
While the adoption of Rust in the automation testing domain is still evolving, its
unique features and focus on safety position it as a language to watch for developing
high-performance and reliable testing tools.
These are some additional programming languages that are commonly used in
automation testing. Each language has its own strengths and considerations, and
the choice of language depends on various factors such as project requirements,
existing tech stack, and the skills and preferences of the testing team.
13. Groovy:
Groovy is a dynamic scripting language that runs on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM),
making it highly compatible with Java libraries and frameworks. It shares a similar
syntax with Java but adds additional features, such as closures and dynamic typing,
that enhance productivity and flexibility.
In the context of automation testing, Groovy is often used in conjunction with popular
testing frameworks like Geb and Spock. Geb is a powerful web automation and
testing framework that leverages Groovy’s expressive syntax to create concise and
readable test scripts. It provides a domain-specific language for web testing, allowing
testers to write tests in a natural and intuitive manner. Geb’s integration with popular
browsers and its ability to interact with page elements make it a valuable tool for web
automation testing.
Spock, on the other hand, is a testing and specification framework that combines the
power of Groovy and JUnit. It allows testers to write highly readable and
maintainable automated test cases using a BDD (Behavior-Driven Development)
style. Spock supports both unit testing and integration testing and provides extensive

10. features for test data management, mocking, and reporting.
With Groovy’s dynamic nature and seamless integration with existing Java
codebases, it is an excellent choice for extending and enhancing automation testing
frameworks. Testers can leverage Groovy’s scripting capabilities to create custom
utilities, test data generators, or automation helpers that streamline the testing
process.
14. Swift:
Swift is a modern programming language developed by Apple for iOS, macOS,
watchOS, and tvOS development. It was designed to provide a clean syntax, type
safety, and powerful features while prioritizing performance and safety.
In the realm of automation testing, Swift is primarily used for automating iOS app
testing. With frameworks like XCTest, the native testing framework provided by
Apple, testers can write automated tests using Swift. XCTest offers robust features
for UI testing, performance testing, and unit testing, allowing testers to verify the
behavior of iOS apps across different scenarios.
Furthermore, Swift is also compatible with cross-platform mobile automation
frameworks like Appium. Appium supports Swift as one of its programming
languages, enabling testers to write automation scripts using Swift syntax for testing
iOS, Android, and web applications. This versatility makes Swift a valuable choice for
organizations that have a diverse range of platforms to test.
Swift’s safety features, including optional types and strong type inference, help catch
errors at compile-time and enhance the reliability of automated tests. Its modern
syntax and powerful language constructs make test scripts more readable and
maintainable, leading to improved productivity for testers.

11. 15. PowerShell:
PowerShell is a task automation and configuration management framework
developed by Microsoft. It provides a command-line shell and scripting language
designed for system administration and automation in Windows environments.
PowerShell offers a wide range of functionalities and integration capabilities, making
it a versatile tool for automation tasks.
In the context of automation testing, PowerShell can be utilized to automate various
aspects of the testing process in Windows-based environments. Testers can
leverage PowerShell to perform tasks such as test environment setup, test data
generation, and test execution.
PowerShell’s scripting capabilities enable testers to automate repetitive tasks,
interact with external systems and APIs, and perform data-driven testing. Its
seamless integration with Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI), Active
Directory, and other Microsoft technologies provides extensive control and flexibility
for automation testing.
Additionally, PowerShell can be used to execute test scripts written in other
languages or frameworks. For example, testers can utilize PowerShell scripts to
trigger and manage automated tests written in Selenium WebDriver or other testing
frameworks.
The rich ecosystem of PowerShell modules and the availability of community-driven
resources make it easier for testers to find solutions and leverage existing scripts
and tools for automation testing. PowerShell’s ability to interface with external tools
and systems makes it a valuable asset in the automation testing toolkit for Windows
environments.
Conclusion
The data above explains the recent best Automation programming Languages for
test automation that have a larger user base. However, the trends keep changing
with time. Apart from the above-mentioned languages, many other growing

12. programming languages can be considered while making a choice. The choice of
programming languages differs from organization to organization and depends on
the preference of the testers. May you learn any programming language to make
your testing ability stronger, but the main aim is to automate the test completely,
detect and report errors in advance, without human intervention, and be able to
create reusable tests. It should ensure that the end product proves to be the strength
of the enterprise instead of a weakness. All of the programming languages for test
automation using Selenium are compatible with pCloudy’s online Selenium Grid
comprising thousands of real browsers & operating systems.