As every month, discover the top 20 popular programming languages according to the TIOBE index. This month, an unprecedented situation: the Go language enters the top 10 for the very first time. Why has this code created by Google in 2009 seen such a resurgence in notoriety?
We will also look at which languages are suffering from Go's rise and which ones to watch in the coming months…
The programming language ranking for February 2024
First, let’s list the top 20 programming languages, with their year-on-year movement:
- Python: 15.16% (=)
- C: 10.97% (=)
- C++: 10.53% (=)
- Java: 8.88% (=)
- C#: 7.53% (=)
- JavaScript: 3.17% (+1)
- SQL: 1.82% (+1)
- Go: 1.73% (+3)
- Visual Basic: 1.52% (-3)
- PHP: 1.51% (=)
- Fortran: 1.40% (+13)
- Delphi/Object Pascal: 1.40% (+2)
- MATLAB: 1.26% (=)
- Assembly language: 1.19% (-5)
- Scratch: 1.18% (+3)
- Swift: 1.16% (-1)
- Kotlin: 1.07% (+16)
- Rust: 1.05% (+2)
- COBOL: 1.01% (+11)
- Ruby: 0.99% (-4)
Python, C and C++ continue to reign supreme on the TIOBE ranking. Nevertheless, Go stands out with a record rise, bringing a breath of fresh air to this top 20. Its advance pushes Assembly Language down from 9th to 14th place, and Visual Basic loses three places.
In parallel, COBOL continues to climb, while Kotlin and Fortran are fighting to hold on to their hard-won positions…
The meteoric entry of the Go programming language into the TIOBE index
The Go programming language, launched by Google in 2009, has followed a remarkable path in the TIOBE index. It quickly became popular thanks to the halo of Google products like Gmail and YouTube, and was crowned “language of the year” shortly after its launch.
However, that initial popularity declined: the programming language fell to 122nd place in 2015, a period Paul Jansen, CEO of TIOBE, describes as a crossing of the desert.
With Google adopting a strict six-month release cycle in 2016 and the growing enthusiasm for containerization with projects like Docker and Kubernetes, Go reclaimed its place in programming.
Today it is widely used for backend development, web services and APIs, which, according to Paul Jansen, should secure it a spot in the top 10 of the index for years to come.
Indeed, this Google-made code stands out for its balance of efficiency, ease of use and reliability, making it suitable for a wide range of applications:
- Designed for performance, Go compiles directly to machine code, ensuring fast execution — a major advantage for resource-intensive applications.
- Go has a concurrency model based on 'goroutines', which are lighter than traditional threads.
- Go offers a static typing system, which adds a layer of safety by checking variable types at compile time, reducing runtime errors and improving code maintainability.
If you are planning to develop or improve your APIs, backend software or cloud infrastructure — among other things — you can call on a freelance Go developer on Codeur.com!
COBOL continues its rise in the top 20 programming languages
COBOL appeared in theTop 20 of the TIOBE index in January 2024It continues its progression, now surpassing the Ruby programming language.
As we discussed last month, the renewed interest in this programming language can be explained in several ways. On one hand, there is a practical necessity: many financial, government, and business systems still run on COBOL, requiring ongoing updates and maintenance. On the other hand, the shortage of COBOL developersthe retirement of many experts, has sparked increased demand for those skills.
However, interest in this old language can also be driven by a certain “nostalgia effect” or retro trend within the developer community. After all, many current examples show that vintage marketing works. Why? People seek to reconnect with familiar, comforting elements of the past.
This trend could easily extend to the professional realm, hence the return to classic programming languages like COBOL, which generate a sense of familiarity and stability in a constantly evolving tech world.
Our tip for using the TIOBE index
Each month, identify the programming languages on the rise in the TIOBE index… Then, when developing or optimizing a new web application, see if you can use a modern language that will propel your web project to the next level!
To do this, consider hiring a web developer on our freelance platform, Codeur.com, who will create an innovative version of your application. This approach stimulates internal innovation but also offers an opportunity to work with diverse, specialized talent, bringing new perspectives to your company.
