While C and Java have historically dominated the TIOBE index as the most popular programming languages, their hold is waning. Java, in particular, has hit its lowest popularity level since 2001, dropping by 4.32% compared to October 2019. Meanwhile, Python, currently in third place, has achieved a record high of 11.28%.
With Python closing the popularity gap with Java to less than 1.3%, it is likely to surpass Java soon, given the continuous rise in its popularity.
For those unfamiliar, the TIOBE Index ranks programming languages’ popularity by surveying a large number of skilled engineers, courses, and third-party vendors worldwide.
The top 10 languages on the TIOBE Index in October 2020 are C, Java, Python, C++, C#, Visual Basic, JavaScript, PHP, R, and SQL (in descending order).
Java’s Declining Popularity
In September, Paul Jansen, CEO of TIOBE Software, expressed concerns about Java’s declining popularity, noting a decrease of 3.81% year by year. On the other hand, Python, created in 1991, has gained popularity among data scientists and machine learning enthusiasts.
Notably, Tiobe’s October 2020 rankings align with RedMonk’s July 2020 rankings, which are derived from GitHub and Stack Overflow data.
The Future of Java Programming Language
While Java’s current popularity is declining, its significance remains intact. However, Java’s status as the default language for new developers is at risk as other languages gain traction.
Oracle, the steward of Java, needs to innovate to retain new developers and prevent them from turning to languages like Rust and Kotlin. Nevertheless, Java is still utilized by 69% of full-time developers globally, underscoring its enduring popularity.
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