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Dart Cracks IEEE Spectrum Programming Language Popularity List

• By David Ramel
• September 18, 2019

Programming language popularity lists always include basically the same cast of the usual suspects like Python, Java and so on, but the latest IEEE Spectrum ranking sees newcomer Dart debuting at No. 16.

In the sixth annual ranking, Python is again No. 1, as it has been for three years, thanks to its utility for artificial intelligence (AI) projects, along with many others.

However, in describing an overhaul of its methodology, the publication noted the advent of Dart, which it describes thusly:

Developed by Google, Dart can be compiled to the ARM and x86 architectures for mobile use or transpiled to JavaScript for browser applications. The Flutter framework built on Dart is designed for building native iOS and Android books.

While debuting at No. 16 on the default setting of the highly customizable ranking, Dart placed sixth on the mobile development list.

"Watching Dart climb up the charts this fast is starting to look believable," read one comment on the IEEE Spectrum post. In fact, Dart has been climbing various rankings for a couple years now.

And the associated Flutter framework was identified by LinkedIn data as the fastest-growing skill among software engineers earlier this year.

The IEEE Spectrum interactive tool is highly customizable, allowing for slicing and dicing across mobile, Web, enterprise, embedded categories and displaying your own list based on the default, trending, jobs, open and custom settings.

The magazine says its rankings are created by weighting and combining 11 metrics from eight sources, including CareerBuilder, Google, GitHub, Hacker News, the IEEE, Reddit, Stack Overflow and Twitter.