The 7+ Best GIS Programming Skills To Have

So which languages should you learn to excel in the Geospatial industry? A vast majority of job openings in the Geospatial industry require some expertise in GIS Programming, Application Development, and Software Management.

Programming is employed with several goals in mind, whether or not it’s automating geoprocessing tasks or implementing an algorithm for all tasks, programming is a problem solving approach used in a long way. It helps us tackle those tasks that need a distinct degree of operations.

This is one of the reasons why many GIS Software allow us to access API for customizing their application according to our specific requirements.

Listed below are some gis programming languages that are widely used in the Geospatial industry.

We will focus here on those most relevant programming languages to GIS, which essentially means the most popular languages today, along with a few GIS-specific languages. I will add a few general programming languages for GIS.

The Ultimate Guide To GIS Programming Skills

Here is my list of current GIS programming languages, If you see anything that is missing, or you disagree, please point out by leaving a comment below on this page.

What Is GIS Programming?

GIS programming is a specialized field that deals with designing, developing, and maintaining applications that use spatial data to solve problems.

GIS programming is a type of software engineering. This includes computer programs that support mapmaking or other GIS-related tasks. The term GIS programming covers all types of programming languages from those using 3D graphics to those using vector graphics.

In order to become a GIS Programmer/GIS Developer, one must be skilled in at least one specific computer programming language and have the necessary understanding of maps and how they work.

GIS Programming In Application

#1. Python

Whenever I think about GIS programming, Python comes to my mind. Python is often used as a scripting language. It is currently gaining a lot of visibility as the primary scripting language for ArcGIS. Python is incorporated into many GIS Applications, for example, ArcGIS, QGIS, GRASS GIS, gvSIG, and also in other open source projects, that make the language worth knowing.

#2. C#

C# was Microsoft’s response to Java and is the leading programming language for .NET. So, if you were starting to write a new add-on to ArcGIS, it would probably be the best choice.

Some examples are ArcGIS (ArcObjects), ArcGIS Runtime SDK.NET, NetTopologySuite, MapWindowGIS.

#3. Visual Basic.NET

VB.Net is now basically an alternative syntax for the same C# runtime. All the power and complexity.

#4. C/C++

One of the most well-known languages among developers, and useful for desktop applications. Whether it was for Windows or Linux, C++ has a long line of successful applications it supported and still does. Most of the software we use in our everyday life was written in C++ like ArcGIS, Windows OS, Firefox, MS Office, so it isn’t going away anytime soon.

A few examples are ArcGIS, QGIS, SAGA GIS, GRASS GIS, MapServer, ILWIS, Mapnik, GDAL.

#5. Java

Java is used when you develop the backbone of the application, especially for desktop applications as an alternative to C/C++ or C#. It is one of the contenders for the most popular Open Source GIS languages, used in the GeoServer projects for example. Java has proven itself as a, particularly useful language even for map servers.

Some Examples are GeoServer, GeoTools, ArcGIS Runtime SDK, gvSIG, OpenJump, uDig, WhiteBox (GAT), Java Topology Suite etc. Last but not the least, most of the times today Android apps are built with Java language, thus you’d have to know it if you want to go in that direction.

#6. R

R is freely accessible to users under the GNU (General Community License). It is a programming language which is perfect for data science, graphic design, geostatistical, and for geospatial study. QGIS and ArcGIS application have script printed in R. We have recently seen that ESRI decided to provide support R in their ArcGIS suite of application.

You can also get R in QGIS as well. Some examples are rgdal, rgeos, ggplot2, ggmap, leaflet for R.

#7. Ruby

This is an older language that has become more popular recently. Ruby got major attraction due to Ruby on Rails, which made it easy to set up a database-backed application. This has been extended to web maps by GeoCommons.

Some other interesting neogeography sites such OpenStreetMap also done in Ruby.

Must Read: Mapping the World with OpenStreetMap

#8. JavaScript (Web GIS Programming)

Without a doubt, current leader for Web User Interfaces. Google Maps is a heavy user of JavaScript, and so is the leading open source web map client (OpenLayers). JavaScript is one of the core languages of the web. Nowadays JavaScript is present in pretty much every browser, website or web applications, this makes it a reasonable choice for development of web mapping applications.

Some of the examples are: ArcGIS Web APIs, MapBox, CARTO, Google Maps API, OpenLayers, Leaflet, the list can go on.

#9. SQL (Database GIS Programming)

SQL is used as a database access and control language. SQL is at the heart of many GIS operations. It’s one of the languages with a long history in GIS, that is being joined in numerous applications. You can have look at OpenStreetMap database overview in case you want to know more. This means SQL is set to remain relevant into a world of concurrent processing.

Some of the examples are ArcGIS, PostGIS, CARTO, QGIS, MapInfo, and much other GIS software.

Why Learning GIS Programming Language Is Important?

Learning programming are the foundational skill sets for any technical jobs in the future. Significantly for the GIS – there’ll be repetitive kind of work like copy of gis data, data conversions in different format, spatial analysis etc. Also, most GIS product suites provides API’s to perform the geoprocessing task. Particularly, ArcGIS and QGIS have all the geoprocessing task available in Python. By this we can do batch processing and automation using programming language.

There are many programming languages present in GIS world and are difficult to say which programming language is the best one to learn. It may be a smart thought to have a grip on both Desktop and Web development languages, similar to Python and JavaScript for instance.

How To Learn And Become A GIS Programmer On Your Own Time And Own Terms

GIS is a field that is only going to grow exponentially in the coming years. With the advancement of technology, GIS is becoming more and more important for planning and managing our cities, regions, and countries.

A GIS programmer is someone who builds and designs maps, spatial databases, and other geo-related applications. As technology becomes more integrated with business practices, GIS programmers are essential to the development of these technologies.

The easiest way to get started with GIS programming is to learn on your own time and at your own pace. The best way to do this is by researching online or buying a book on the subject. You can also find tutorials online which will introduce you to basic concepts of GIS programming and machine learning.

The easiest way to get started with learning geography mapping and data analysis on your own time and at your own pace is by researching online or buying a book on the subject. You can also find tutorials online which will introduce you to basic concepts of geography mapping and data analysis.

GIS Programmer Job Description:

A GIS Programmer is an expert in spatial data management, programming, and modeling. They work to design and implement spatial applications that are used in all types of industries.

A job description for a gis programmer includes the following:

• Expertise in GIS, programming languages like C++ and Python.
• Experience in geographic information systems (GIS), spatial data management.
• Working knowledge of web services such as Google Maps, JSON REST APIs, and OpenStreetMap Data.

Why Become a GIS Programmer?

The GIS field is expanding at a rapid rate. A GIS programmer can play a variety of roles in the field, including designing, deploying, and maintaining GIS programs. These programmers can also work on new technologies for spatial data management.

A GIS programmer’s skills are useful in many industries, including public safety, education, geography, and government projects. A graduate degree may not be required to become a GIS programmer but it will help an applicant stand out from the competition for high-paying jobs.

GIS programming skills are the most in-demand right now. This is a huge opportunity for anyone looking to enter the field. The more you learn about GIS programming, the more money you will make.

How To Enhance Your GIS Programming Skills?

In this section, I will discuss 3 important steps to enhance and increase your GIS Programming skills.

#1. Take A Computer Science Course

This is a great way to make sure you are up-to-date with the latest in programming languages, techniques, and industry trends. Learning how computers work, in general, will help you with GIS programming because it will teach you how to do complex calculations efficiently.

#2. Study Geography

Learning about geography will not only give you an understanding of the world but also allow for better accuracy when dealing with geographic data; this includes data that you must enter into your program or that your program must analyze when calculating distances, plotting points on maps, etc.

#3. Learn GIS Programming

GIS programming skills are in high demand. Because of the rise in geographic data and the need for geospatial analytics, GIS programmers are becoming more valuable than ever before.

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