title: Language to learn to move out of manual testing towards automated/programming
body: <p>I have been working as a manual tester and documentation (Test plans etc.) personnel in a company's software/IT division. I do not have a big programming background but I want learn programming language(s) and tool(s). Hence, I am looking for automated testing tools and programming language(s) to learn which also give me industrial advantage.</p>
  
  <p>Some points to note are:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>I need to know which tools are the most common in the industry and languages associated with those tools.</li>
  <li>I do not have a lot of time to learn loads of stuff. Hence, I am looking for tools which use languages that are beneficial to learn in case I want to do more programming.</li>
  <li>I'd prefer Web based app testing but that is not a constraint.</li>
  <li>You can give 2-3 languages as I understand there cannot be one winner.</li>
  <li>I have done some QTP which uses VBScript but VBScript is not broadly used. I want to learn a language that had broader base.</li>
  <li>Please still give your inputs and ideas even if this question seems really difficult to answer.</li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>Thanks in advance.</p>
  
  <hr>
  
  <p><strong>EDIT:</strong>
  I think so far I have decided that I will go for: </p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>QTP </li>
  <li>Selenium</li>
  <li>Test Driven Development Methodologies</li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>I just need to figure out a good programming language that gives me a programmer's edge and is suitable for multiple testing tools (including Selenium). Maybe Python, Ruby or Java?</p>