Best Scripting Languages (2025)
Ranked picks for scripting languages. No "it depends."
🧊Nice Pick
Bash
The duct tape of the command line. It's everywhere, it's messy, but it holds your system together.
Full Rankings
#1
Details →Bash
Nice PickThe duct tape of the command line. It's everywhere, it's messy, but it holds your system together.
Pros
- +Ubiquitous on Unix-like systems, so you can run it almost anywhere
- +Great for quick automation and system administration tasks
- +Powerful scripting with pipes and redirections for chaining commands
Cons
- -Syntax can be cryptic and error-prone, especially for beginners
- -Limited built-in data structures compared to modern scripting languages
The Swiss Army knife of scripting languages. Tiny, fast, and perfect for embedding, but don't expect a full kitchen sink.
Pros
- +Extremely lightweight and fast, ideal for embedded systems
- +Simple syntax that's easy to learn and integrate
- +Excellent for game scripting and extensibility in applications
Cons
- -Limited standard library compared to languages like Python
- -Can be quirky with error handling and debugging tools
Compare:vs Bash
Head-to-head comparisons
Missing a tool?
Email nice@nicepick.dev and I'll add it to the rankings.