The July 2023 update of the TIOBE index, which measures the popularity of programming languages, reports that the C++ language is experiencing a resurgence in popularity. Currently, C++ ranks just behind C and Python on the TIOBE list. The language created by Bjarne Stroustrup took over Java’s position a few months ago, and the index indicates that its growth suggests C might be its next victim. JavaScript climbs to the 6th position on the TIOBE index, its highest ranking ever in this list, while the relentless COBOL reenters the Top 20 after a long period of absence. The position of JavaScript continues to be criticized
The TIOBE index is an indicator of the popularity of programming languages. It is updated every month. The index is criticized by programmers due to TIOBE’s methodology, which ultimately provides very little information about the actual usage of languages but sparks regular debates on various forums. Although its graph always gives the impression of being dynamic, the language rankings are, in fact, quite stable and can remain nearly static for extended periods. However, the July 2023 update stands out with a certain amount of turmoil, and there is one thing that immediately catches the eye.
Indeed, the closeness of the rankings of the top four languages is remarkable. Currently, C++ ranks just behind C and Python on the TIOBE list. “A few months ago, the C++ programming language held the third position on the TIOBE index (at the expense of Java). But C++ has not finished its ascent. The C language appears to be its next victim,” indicates the note accompanying the data. More specifically, the data shows that C++ is the only one among the top four languages to have experienced a positive evolution in its percentage from the previous year, with an increase of 0.79% to reach 10.8%.
But what explains such a resurgence in popularity for the C++ programming language? To answer this question, TIOBE cited the demand for performance as the driving force behind the use of C++. “The C language has dominated this field for a very long time, but it is not extensible. Now that systems tend to become larger, the C++ language is the way to go in areas such as automotive, financial markets (trading), medical, and semiconductors,” said Paul Jansen, CEO of the software quality service provider TIOBE. However, many still question the position of C++ in the index.
Python, which is the top-ranked language on the list, recorded the smallest loss among the Top 20 with -0.01%, giving it a share of 13.42%. On the other hand, Visual Basic experienced the largest loss with -2.07%. This combination of events, along with JavaScript’s gain of 1.34%, allowed JavaScript to surpass Visual Basic and claim the 6th position, its highest rank ever in the TIOBE index. As we have often commented, given its status as the most widely used programming language, JavaScript’s position in the TIOBE index has always been abnormal. As shown in its graph, it has even reached up to 4% in the past.
The lowest position JavaScript ever held was 14th place, which occurred in October 2014 when its share dropped to 1.77%. Today, it has steadily risen for three consecutive months, going from a share of 2.1% in April to 3.11% in July. Almost 65 years after its creation, the COBOL programming language, deeply embedded in long-standing business systems (banks, public administrations, etc.), refuses to be laid to rest and continues to climb in the rankings of the index. The July update indicates that COBOL has also seen a three-month increase, rising from a share of 0.41% in April to 0.86% in July, propelling it to the 20th position in the index.
COBOL reached its highest position, 8th place, in August 2001, very close to the beginning of the graph, and its lowest position, 47th, ten years later when its share was 0.28%. Additionally, other programming languages have also advanced in the July 2023 rankings of the TIOBE index. Matlab, Scratch, and Rust have also matched their historical records, holding positions 10, 12, and 17, respectively. PHP, whose presence in the Top 10 is heavily criticized, holds the 9th place in the July 2023 rankings, preceded by SQL. According to TIOBE, here are the top 10 most popular programming languages:
- Python
- C
- C++
- Java
- C#
- JavaScript
- Visual Basic
- SQL
- PHP
- MATLAB
The methodology of the TIOBE index is simply based on the volume of search queries for the names of programming languages. To establish its monthly ranking, TIOBE collects data from various aggregators and search engines, including Google, Wikipedia, YouTube, and Amazon. To be ranked, a language must be Turing complete, have its own Wikipedia entry, and receive more than 5,000 occurrences of +”programming language” on Google. This methodology has sparked controversy, with critics emphasizing that it is not a reliable way to truly measure the adoption and usage of a language.
TIOBE’s methodology, however, allows us to identify which languages are being discussed, at least online. This month’s ranking puts a particular emphasis on the popularity of C++, and it would be worthwhile to keep an eye on its evolution in the coming months. As a reminder, C++ is a relatively old language; it was created by Danish computer scientist Bjarne Stroustrup, and the first commercial implementation appeared in 1985. It has been the foundation for a wide variety of existing applications and services, which may partly explain its popularity. Many software tools, including compilers, are still written in the C++ language.
However, C++ is facing competition from modern languages like Rust. Many experts agree that Rust surpasses C++ in terms of security, which has convinced Linux developers to adopt it as the second kernel development language after C. However, Rust is still relatively young, has a less extensive standard library compared to C++, and currently offers fewer options for extending its functionalities. Nevertheless, Rust is considered a better future choice, especially in scenarios where software security is critical, and it is endorsed by Big Tech companies and other technology enterprises
Source : TIOBE’s index – July, 2023
- Translated from french: cpp.developpez.com
- Author: Mathis Lucas
- Publication date: 2023 July, 24