Here we go with the first top 20 programming languages of the year! January is the perfect time to take stock of the major trends in the TIOBE index to prepare your upcoming web projects.
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This article will look at the spectacular rise of C#, crowned programming language of 2023, and examine the emergence of COBOL, Fortran and Kotlin. A great opportunity to make good programming resolutions!
The programming languages ranking for January 2024
What does the TIOBE ranking have in store for us in this first month of the year? Discover the progress of the different programming languages over the past year:
- Python: 13.97% (=)
- C: 11.44% (=)
- C++: 9.96% (=)
- Java: 7.87% (=)
- C#: 7.16% (=)
- JavaScript: 2.77% (+1)
- PHP: 1.79% (+3)
- Visual Basic: 1.60% (-2)
- SQL: 1.46% (-1)
- Scratch: 1.44% (+10)
- Go: 1.38% (-1)
- Fortran: 1.09% (+15)
- Delphi/Object Pascal: 1.09% (+4)
- MATLAB: 0.97% (+1)
- Assembly language: 0.92% (-6)
- Swift: 0.89% (-5)
- Kotlin: 0.85% (+8)
- Ruby: 0.80% (-2)
- Rust: 0.79% (-1)
- COBOL: 0.78% (+11)
C#: chosen programming language of the year 2023
In 2023, C# marked a historic turning point by winning the title of programming language of the year according to the TIOBE index.
This unprecedented recognition is explained by a notable 1.43% increase in its popularity, dethroning C++ and leaving its mark in the top 10 for more than two decades. C#’s rise is particularly evident in the dynamic areas of web applications and video games, where it positions itself as a serious competitor to Java.
The appeal of this programming language lies in its being free and constantly evolving, with regular, enriching updates. This continuous improvement secures C# a prominent place in the future of programming.
C#’s success in 2023 also reflects current industry trends, highlighting a growing interest in flexible, continuously developing languages.
Thanks to its remarkable performance and increasing adoption, C# is well on its way to overtaking heavyweights like Java, thus consolidating its influential presence in the global technology landscape.
COBOL's entry into the TIOBE top 20
The appearance of COBOL in the TIOBE index top 20 in January 2024 highlights significant trends in technology and programming. This comeback underlines the enduring relevance of COBOL, a language dating from the 1950s that remains central in the financial and government sectors.
This resurgence in the TIOBE ranking may also reflect a skills shortage in COBOL within the industry, exacerbated by the retirement of many experienced programmers in this language. This has likely increased the demand for COBOL expertise COBOL experts, thereby influencing TIOBE’s evaluation criteria.
This resurgence in the TIOBE index highlights the importance of legacy technologies in programming and underscores that older languages can regain relevance in today’s computing landscape.
Other major developments in the TIOBE index for January
Among other notable developments in 2024, Fortran and Kotlin firmly entered the top 20 of the TIOBE index, eclipsing languages like R and Perl, whose popularity is declining.
Fortran, renowned for its efficiency in numerical computations and its extensive libraries, remains favored in academic and scientific fields. On its part, Kotlin, often regarded as a modern alternative to Java, stands out for its ease of learning and coding.
Regarding the ranking leaders, Python, C and C++ maintain their supremacy by occupying the top three positions.
Finally, significant movements were observed for Scratch, which jumped from 20th to 10th place; and Delphi/Object Pascal, climbing from 17th to 13th position, illustrating their growing popularity.
How to choose your programming languages in 2024?
In 2024, choosing a programming language involves carefully weighing several key factors:
Popularity
A language’s popularity is paramount. For example, Python, known for its large community, offers excellent job opportunities and abundant resources for developers. Ease of learning is also an important criterion! Languages like JavaScript and Python present accessible choices for beginners.
By consulting the TIOBE index each month, you can determine a programming language’s popularity and reputation!
Application domain
For web development, languages like JavaScript and Ruby are often preferred, while Swift and Kotlin prove more suitable for mobile development.
In the fields of artificial intelligence and data processing, Python with libraries such as TensorFlow and PyTorch performs particularly well.
Before choosing a language, check a code’s compatibility with your specific needs.
Updates
A language’s ongoing development and support are important. Languages like Java and C# benefit from backing by large companies, ensuring regular updates.
Finally, compatibility and integration with other tools are also criteria to consider. For example, Rust, known for its safety and performance, integrates well into complex systems.
Our tip for using the TIOBE index
The TIOBE index, which has measured language popularity since 2001, is based on various criteria such as the number of qualified engineers, the availability of training, and visibility on search engines like Google, Bing, Yahoo and Wikipedia. This comprehensive methodology allows TIOBE to provide an accurate and global analysis of current programming trends.
This ranking indicates to companies and web developers a potential for growth and innovation, useful for cutting-edge web projects.
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