The way in which we use new technologies today (from turning on the computer to listening to music, watching streaming series or sending a WhatsApp) is thanks to how programming has evolved. We are all surrounded by all kinds of programs, platforms and infrastructures thanks to which we can use the computer, play online and make the most of our smartphones. There are a large number of programming languages today, but not all of them serve the same purpose, since what is necessary to send a message to another user is not the same as what is necessary to keep all the infrastructure and the banking network working. .
Surely we all find it very comfortable to be able to enter our bank from an app, make instant transfers from our mobile phones and receive notifications every time we collect payroll or have any unexpected income (or collection).
There is no perfect programming language. Each of them has been created to satisfy specific needs. Furthermore, thanks to the multiple frameworks that we can find on the net, we are constantly changing the way we do things.
When programming within the bank, it is necessary to choose the appropriate language that gives us maximum security, great performance and great stability, and, above all, compatibility so that all banks can communicate with each other. For this reason, banks usually use 3 programming languages mainly to maintain their entire infrastructure.
Java and .Net: essential to offer compatibility
The first of the most used programming languages within banking is Java. Java is characterized by being a very complete, flexible and multi-platform programming language. However, what matters most within this sector are the multiple APIs that can be used. Most banking APIs use Tomcat, so it is necessary to use a secure and compatible infrastructure to have everything connected.
So much is the importance of Java within banking that, although it may seem incredible, there are still some banks and savings banks that use Java applets on their websites and applications. Something not recommended at all, but it is reality.
.Net is also another of the most used languages within banking. Thanks to it, you can develop server-side applications that provide service to various frontends developed in other simpler languages, such as HTML5 / JS or Python.
C # and C ++: the entire network is managed remotely with Windows
The infrastructure base is one thing, and the computer network with which each bank works is another. At the base, it is important to be able to be connected easily, quickly and safely with all other banks. But at the top, more importance is given to another aspect: productivity.
Most banks use all kinds of software programmed in C ++ and C # within their computer network.
On the one hand, C ++ is one of the most used languages to create and maintain bank software. This is mainly due to the fact that it is a very stable language, very well known and that it has a large number of engineers available to help us with the maintenance or development of new tools. It is also important to note that this language offers great performance when running, something also very important to keep in mind.
C #, on the other hand, is used primarily in all applications that must be integrated with other Microsoft products, such as the Azure cloud, Active Directory, and Office. Thanks to this programming language we can develop web applications compatible with SSO and Active Directory, in addition to allowing its connection to internal web services, greatly improving employee productivity.
Other programming languages used in banking
In addition to the previous programming languages, other much simpler and more flexible languages can be used in banking, especially for the websites visited by their clients. Python , for example, is a very dynamic and useful language for creating network maintenance scripts or algorithms for data analysis. JavaScript is also another of the languages used to shape web pages. And thanks to Node.js and Node-Webkit, you can update your server-side and desktop applications to modernize them.
Cobol, another great inside the bank
Oddly enough, Cobol is still a widely used programming language in banking. Of course, no new developments will be created based on this language, but a very large part of the legacy infrastructure is written in this language. And, to this day, engineers are still needed (which almost do not exist) to maintain it.
The reason Cobol continues to be used in banking is because a large number of AS / 400 systems are still in operation. These systems, manufactured by IBM, are systems made to last and so secure that they have never been hacked (except by social engineering).
