News
Python Poised to Claim 2024 'Language of the Year' as Fortran Climbs in Steady TIOBE Index Rankings
- By John K. Waters
- December 18, 2024
Python looks set to clinch the Language of the Year award for 2024, maintaining its lead in the December TIOBE Programming Community Index, while Fortran’s steady ascent highlighted a quiet month in the rankings.
TIOBE Software, which tracks programming language popularity using data from major search engines, reported little movement across the top 10 as the year winds down. Python, a general-purpose language often praised for its simplicity and versatility in data science and back-end development, has seen an unbroken surge in popularity since June, further cementing its dominant position.
C++ and Java, ranking second and third, experienced slight upticks in popularity, driven by their widespread use in game development, AI, and system programming. Meanwhile, C and C# maintained their spots, continuing to power critical applications in systems and enterprise environments.
Fortran, a programming language first developed in the 1950s, continued its unexpected rise, holding onto a spot in the top 10. Once a staple for scientific and engineering computations, its resurgence reflects its enduring utility in research and performance-heavy computing tasks.
December 2024 Top 10 Programming Languages
According to the TIOBE Index, the most popular programming languages in December 2024 are:
- Python – favored for data science, back-end development, and beginner-friendliness.
- C++ – a key player in game development and performance-critical applications.
- Java – widely used in AI, enterprise, and web development.
- C – foundational for systems programming and a gateway for new developers.
- C# – popular for app, game, and web development.
- JavaScript – a mainstay in web, app, and server-side development.
- Go – known for its simplicity and backend development capabilities.
- SQL – the go-to language for database management.
- Visual Basic – favored for front-end and full-stack development.
- Fortran – still relevant in scientific and engineering applications.
Quiet Movements and Declines
Elsewhere, Delphi/Object Pascal and PHP saw negligible movement, continuing a downward trend after peaking earlier in the year. Delphi, which reentered the top 10 briefly in October, dropped out as other languages like Go and SQL solidified their positions.
The index, often used as a barometer for programming language popularity among developers, reflects trends shaped by industry needs, emerging technologies, and legacy applications.
Steady Leadership and Future Trends
TIOBE CEO Paul Jansen emphasized that the index is not a measure of language superiority, but a reflection of developer demand and market trends based on global search engine queries.
As 2024 approaches, Python’s continued dominance sets the stage for its likely Language of the Year recognition, while Fortran’s persistent presence signals the longevity of older tools amid evolving technology landscapes.
About the Author
John K. Waters is the editor in chief of a number of Converge360.com sites, with a focus on high-end development, AI and future tech. He's been writing about cutting-edge technologies and culture of Silicon Valley for more than two decades, and he's written more than a dozen books. He also co-scripted the documentary film Silicon Valley: A 100 Year Renaissance, which aired on PBS. He can be reached at [email protected].