Marianne Dillard

When I first started learning to code, I remember constantly nodding along to YouTube tutorials and online courses – pretending I totally understood what was going on. Then someone would casually say, “React is a JavaScript library” or “Django is a Python framework,” and I’d immediately spiral. Wait… what? Isn’t JavaScript a language? What’s a framework again? And what the heck is TypeScript then? I must have Googled “framework vs library vs language” at least ten times before it started to make sense – and even then, I kept mixing them up for longer than I’d like to admit.

If you’re new to software development and feeling confused by all the jargon, you’re not alone. Understanding the difference between languages, frameworks, and libraries is one of the first hurdles every developer stumbles over. And honestly, it’s not because it’s super complicated – it’s because no one really explains it clearly when you’re just starting out. So in this post, I’m breaking it down the way I wish someone had explained it to me: simple, practical, and with examples. Let’s clear up the confusion and help you actually understand what tools you’re using.

Speak the Language: What Programming Languages Actually Are

At its core, programming is all about communication – you’re giving instructions to a computer to make it do something. The only catch? Computers don’t speak human. They speak in binary – a long stream of 1s and 0s that represent everything from calculations to images to full applications. And while you could technically write programs in binary (people have!), it would be a nightmare. So over time, developers created programming languages – tools that act as translators between us and the machines. (Because, let’s face it, “01101000 01100101 01101100 01101100 01101111” isn’t the easiest way to say “hello”).

The earliest programming languages were what we now call low-level languages, like Assembly or even raw machine code. These are closer to the computer’s native language and give you a lot of control, but they’re hard to write and even harder to read. Imagine trying to build a website by first inventing electricity… definitely not my idea of fun.

Thankfully, most modern programming is done in high-level languages – which are much more human-readable, and they abstract away a lot of the gritty details. High-level languages are designed to help you express logic more clearly and get things done faster, without needing to worry about how memory is managed or how the CPU processes instructions (unless you’re into that sort of thing).

Here’s a quick tour of some common languages and what they’re used for:

• JavaScript: The backbone of web interactivity, JavaScript is the only language natively understood by web browsers, which means if you’re building websites with interactive features (think dropdowns, animations, dynamic content), you’re using JavaScript. Thanks to technologies like Node.js (more on that later), it’s now widely used on the backend too – so you can build full-stack apps using just one language.
• Python: Loved for its clean and readable syntax, Python is incredibly versatile – used in web development, automation, scripting, machine learning, AI, and data analysis. Python hides much of the complexity under the hood, so you can focus on solving problems rather than getting bogged down by syntax.
• PHP: Often the punchline of programming jokes, but still wildly relevant. PHP is a server-side scripting language primarily used for web development. It’s embedded directly into HTML and is especially known for powering content-heavy platforms – for example, WordPress runs on PHP. It’s simple to get started with and great for building dynamic websites.
• Java: A statically typed, object-oriented language known for its stability and portability. Java’s “write once, run anywhere” philosophy makes it great for enterprise applications and large-scale systems. It’s also the main language used for Android app development. Java applications tend to be more verbose, but that structure makes it easier to manage large codebases and teams.
• C++: A powerful language that gives you fine-grained control over memory and system resources. It’s used in performance-critical areas like game engines, real-time simulations, operating systems, and embedded systems. The learning curve is steeper due to its complexity, but mastering C++ gives you a deeper understanding of how computers work under the hood.

When you’re starting out, it’s less about picking the perfect language and more about picking one language and sticking with it long enough to build something real. Once you’ve got a few projects under your belt, switching languages becomes way easier because the core programming concepts (like variables, loops, and functions) are surprisingly transferable.

So yes – JavaScript is a language. TypeScript? That’s JavaScript with some added features to make your life easier. (We’ll get to that later.)

Frameworks: The Blueprint for Building Your Projects

Alright, so now that we’ve talked about programming languages, let’s level up and talk about frameworks. A framework is a collection of pre-written code that provides a foundation for developing specific types of applications. It gives you the structure and guidelines you need to speed up development, so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Essentially, it’s like a set of tools that are ready to go, so you can focus on the unique parts of your project.

Think of it this way: in a language, you’re learning how to write code. In a framework, you’re learning how to build with a specific set of rules and best practices already in place. Frameworks are built on top of languages, so you’ll still need to know the language (like JavaScript or Python) to use the framework, but they provide much more specific functionality and structure.

Why should you use a framework? Great question! Frameworks help streamline development and make it easier to follow best practices. They can save you time, increase efficiency, and improve code quality. They also provide consistency across your codebase, which is especially important when you’re working in teams. Instead of writing everything from scratch, you can leverage the framework to handle repetitive tasks like routing (navigating between pages), authentication (logging users in), and data management. It’s like building a house with pre-made walls and doors – you’re just putting the pieces together to create something unique.

Here are a few examples of popular frameworks and when to use them:

• JavaScript:
  • React: ideal for building a modern web app using component-based architecture
  • Express: commonly used to build RESTful APIs and dynamic web applications with a focus on simplicity and performance
• Python
  • Django: great for rapid development of full-stack, complex apps with lots of built-in tools
  • Flask: when you want something lightweight, simple, and customizable
• PHP:
  • Laravel: ideal for building web apps with elegant, clean code and features like an integrated authentication system and database management
• Java:
  • Spring Boot: perfect for enterprise applications or microservices with setup and configuration taken care of for you
• C++:
  • Qt: great for building desktop applications with rich UIs that can run on Windows, macOS, and Linux

Libraries: Your Toolbox for Every Project

Now that we’ve covered frameworks, let’s talk about libraries. If a framework is a blueprint, a library is more like a toolbox you can dip into whenever you need it. While frameworks provide a full structure for building apps, libraries are smaller, specialized sets of code that you can use to accomplish specific tasks within your project.

The key difference between a framework and a library is control. In a framework, the framework itself dictates the flow of your app – you’re working within its structure. But with a library, you’re in charge. You can pull in the code you need, use it as part of your project, and leave the rest behind.

When to use a library? Simple – when you need to solve a specific problem, and you don’t want to write all the code for it yourself. Libraries allow you to extend your application with pre-built solutions for common problems like data manipulation, user authentication, or sending HTTP requests.

Here are some examples of popular libraries in different languages and when to use them:

• JavaScript:
  • Axios (for making HTTP requests in a promise-based manner)
  • Moment.js (for parsing, validating, and manipulating dates and times)
• Python:
  • NumPy (for scientific computing and numerical analysis)
  • Requests (for making HTTP requests, simplifying REST API calls)
• PHP:
  • Guzzle (for making HTTP requests, managing APIs)
  • PHPMailer (for sending emails securely and easily)
• Java:
  • Apache Commons (for covering tasks like I/O and collections)
  • Gson (for converting Java objects to JSON and vice versa)
• C++:
  • Boost (for working with threading, file system, regular expressions, and more)
  • POCO (for building networked and multi-threaded applications)

Supersets: Supercharging Your Code with Extra Features

Now, you understand libraries, but you’re still probably wondering… where does TypeScript fit into all this? Well, TypeScript is a superset of JavaScript. A superset is a programming language that takes an existing language and adds extra features or capabilities to it. Think of a superset as a “power-up” to a language, introducing features that make development more powerful, efficient, or flexible, but still allowing you to use all the features of the original language.

At its core, a superset can do everything the original language can do, but it enhances it with additional features. Often, these enhancements are aimed at making code more readable, maintainable, or easier to work with – especially when the original language might have limitations or lack certain features.

A key thing to understand about supersets is that they ultimately compile down to the original language. For example, TypeScript adds static typing and other features to JavaScript, but after you write the code in TypeScript, it needs to be compiled (or transpiled) into JavaScript before it can run. So, although you’re working with the enhanced features of the superset, the underlying code still runs in the original language.

Supersets are a fantastic choice when you need extra features that the original language doesn’t provide or when you want to make your code more robust and easier to maintain. For example:

• Static Typing: Languages like JavaScript don’t enforce type checks, which can lead to bugs that are only caught at runtime. A superset like TypeScript adds static typing, allowing you to catch those bugs during development.
• Better Syntax: Some supersets offer more concise or expressive syntax, which can make your code easier to read or write. This is especially helpful when working on large projects.
• Extended Features: Supersets might also introduce new features like functional programming tools or better error handling that aren’t available in the original language.

Runtime Environments: Where Code Comes to Life

Now for a bonus… let’s talk about runtime environments. I did promise to explain about Node.js eventually, so here we go. A runtime environment is where your code actually runs. While a programming language provides the rules for writing code and frameworks and libraries offer tools to make coding easier, a runtime environment is where the magic happens – where your code is executed by the system. It provides the necessary infrastructure for running your code, including memory management, I/O handling, and access to system resources.

A runtime environment isn’t a language, framework, or library; it’s the environment in which your code is executed. Unlike a programming language, which gives you the syntax for writing code, or a framework, which gives you a structure for building your application, a runtime environment is responsible for actually running the code. It’s not about how the code is structured – it’s about providing the platform to execute that code.

For example, you can write your code in JavaScript (a language), use Node.js (a runtime environment) to run that JavaScript on the server, and use Express (a framework) to handle the server’s routing and requests.

Examples of Popular Runtime Environments:

• Node.js: A runtime environment that allows you to run JavaScript on the server-side, instead of just in the browser.
• Java Runtime Environment (JRE): An environment that allows Java applications to run on any system with the JRE installed.
• Python Interpreter: It provides the necessary runtime environment for Python applications, including access to system resources and libraries.

A runtime environment is crucial because it provides the infrastructure needed to actually run the code you write. Without it, you’d have a program that does nothing. Runtime environments make it possible for your applications to interact with hardware, network resources, and other essential systems. Whether you’re building web apps, mobile apps, or desktop software, knowing which runtime environment your code will run on is essential for making it work.

Wrapping It All Up: Code, Languages, and What’s Ahead

Phew! We’ve just taken a whirlwind tour through the world of languages, frameworks, and libraries. From understanding how programming languages help us talk to computers (hello binary!) to diving into how frameworks shape our code and libraries give us the extra boost we need, you’ve hopefully got a clearer picture of how all these tools work together. Not to mention, we’ve taken a peek into supersets and runtime environments – two things you might not always hear about but are just as important for your development toolkit!

But don’t worry, this is just the beginning of the adventure. In future posts, we’ll be tackling everything from frontend vs backend to APIs and data fetching and even digging into data structures and algorithms (you’ve been warned!). We’ll also cover version control, debugging strategies, and the art of code documentation (you’ll thank yourself later). So, if you enjoyed this deep dive into the nuts and bolts of programming, be sure to check back often for more posts in this series.