Python was more popular than ever compared to other programming languages in the TIOBE index in March 2024. Meanwhile, Rust continued its rise to the TIOBE top 20 and Scratch rejoined the top 10 at #9. The TIOBE programming community shows year-over-year trends in programming languages based on search engine volume.
Python's popularity continues
“There is an incredible need for new programmers right now,” TIOBE Software CEO Paul Jansen said in an email to TechRepublic. “In such a situation, languages with gentle learning curves will become more popular.”
Python is relatively easy to learn and has a wide number of possible use cases, making it a good choice for beginning programmers who want to keep their options open in terms of specializations.
SEE: Do you start with basic commands on your Mac? We have a Terminal command guide for the MacOS directory structure. (Technological Republic)
According to the March TIOBE index, Python is ahead of all other programming languages by 4.5% points, the largest it has ever been. Python's popularity grew by 0.80% between March 2023 and March 2024, according to TIOBE's proprietary ranking system.
Figure A
As Scratch is a programming language designed for children, it is possible that Scratch's increase in the TIOBE index is also due to more beginners starting to learn it.
Rust may be on its way to the top 10
The Rust programming language has risen from 17th to 19th over the past year, and Jansen said Rust is “a serious contender” for the top 10.
“Last month there was good news for Rust,” Jansen told TechRepublic. “The US White House Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD) urged programmers to stop using C and C++ and switch to languages like… Rust. This will undoubtedly result in an increase in the popularity of Rust.”
On March 4, ONCD recommended memory-safe programming languages to better protect software and hardware. ONCD specifically highlighted that Rust meets its three criteria for use in space systems, in addition to being memory safe:
- Rust allows the code to be close to the core, tightly intertwining it with the software and hardware.
- Supports determinism, ensuring that the timing of results is consistent.
- It does not have and cannot override the “garbage collector”, a feature that automatically reclaims unused memory.
However, the ONCD warned that Rust “has not yet been tested in space systems.” Still, Rust has many other applications for which memory safety can be an advantage.
Does Generative AI have an impact on which programming languages are popular?
With generative AI driving much of the work in today's largest software organizations, we asked Jansen if it has any impact on the languages programmers search for and learn. He responded: “Generative AI has not had as much of an impact on the tech world as it spreads. Until now there has hardly been any business-critical software written this way (with AI) and certainly no security-critical software.”
