TIOBE Software didn’t see a lot of movement on its list of the most popular programming languages in March. Python leads the pack by 4.5%, the longest gap TIOBE has ever seen between it and the rest of the popular programming languages.

Top 10 programming languages in March 2024

The top 10 programming languages in February 2024 (Figure A) according to the TIOBE Programming Community index, are:

  1. Python: A general-purpose programming language commonly used for backend development and data science. A good programming language for beginners.
  1. C: A programming language often used in app and system development. Its syntax is similar to other popular languages, making it a useful branching-off point for beginner developers.
  1. C++: Very similar to C, with the addition of classes and objects. C++ is well-suited for game and system development.
  1. Java: Exceptionally good for AI, app and web development.
  1. C#: Used in app, game and web development, C# is an object- and component-oriented programming language and is similar to the C and Java language families.
  1. JavaScript: A programming language often used for app, game and web development, as well as web servers.
  1. SQL: SQL is intended specifically for database programming.
  1. Go: Go is good for backend development and for working with APIs and web services.
  1. Scratch: Scratch is a programming language made to teach children the basics of programming.
  1. Visual Basic: A programming language with a drag-and-drop user interface good for frontend and full-stack development.

Figure A

Table showing TIOBE Index' 10 most popular programming languages for March 2024.
The TIOBE Index’s 10 most popular programming languages for March 2024. The change column indicates shifts month-over-month. The points system used in the ratings column is determined by the number of skilled engineers worldwide, courses and third-party vendors engaging with each language on a range of popular search engines. Image: TIOBE Software

TIOBE’s proprietary points system takes into account which programming languages are most popular according to a variety of large search engines.

SEE: Learn Python with this 12-course bootcamp. (TechRepublic Academy)

Python holds on to its lead

Python’s 4.5% gap notwithstanding, there has been little movement and little upset in the TIOBE Index this month. Scratch entered the top 10, where it has held a position before. Rust continues to climb up the top 20 and is now at position 17, up from 19 in March 2023.

Top 10 programming languages in February 2024

The top 10 programming languages in February 2024 according to the TIOBE Programming Community index are:

  1. Python
  2. C
  3. C++
  4. Java
  5. C#
  6. JavaScript
  7. SQL
  8. Go
  9. Visual Basic
  10. PHP

Top 10 programming languages in January 2024

The top 10 programming languages in January 2024 according to the TIOBE Programming Community index are:

  1. Python
  2. C
  3. C++
  4. Java
  5. C#
  6. JavaScript
  7. PHP
  8. Visual Basic
  9. SQL
  10. Scratch

SEE: The top ten programming languages in January 2024. (TechRepublic) 

Top 10 programming languages in December 2023

In December, the top 10 programming languages remained the same as they were last month, according to TIOBE Software’s monthly list. Jansen noted that most of the top 20 programming languages lost popularity according to the TIOBE Software points system, as smaller languages became more popular and gradually moved up the rankings.

  1. Python
  2. C
  3. C++
  4. Java
  5. C#
  6. JavaScript
  7. PHP
  8. Visual Basic
  9. SQL
  10. Assembly Language

Top 10 programming languages in November 2023

The top 10 programming languages on TIOBE’s proprietary ranking system mostly held steady in November. PHP and Visual Basic swapped spots. Python and C both saw declines of 3.02% and 3.31% respectively. C++ declined by 0.39%. C# rose in popularity by 3.40%.

  1. Python
  2. C
  3. C++
  4. Java
  5. C#
  6. JavaScript
  7. PHP
  8. Visual Basic
  9. SQL
  10. Assembly Language

The TIOBE Index’s 10 most popular programming languages for November 2023. The change column indicates shifts month-over-month. The points system used in the ratings column is determined by the number of skilled engineers worldwide, courses and third-party vendors engaging with each language on a range of popular search engines.

Top 10 programming languages in October 2023

The top three programming languages on TIOBE’s list — Python, C and C++ — remain in their positions in October, as does the rest of the list. The competition between Java and C#, and the recent shift between the two programming languages, can be seen in Java’s large decline of -3.92% points in the proprietary TIOBE system. C# gained 3.29% in TIOBE’s points system, the largest gain of all programming languages annually.

  1. Python
  2. C
  3. C++
  4. Java
  5. C#
  6. JavaScript
  7. Visual Basic
  8. PHP
  9. SQL
  10. Assembly Language

What is the TIOBE Index?

The TIOBE Index is an indicator of which programming languages are most popular within a given month. Its proprietor, TIOBE Software CEO Paul Jansen, notes that the index is not a prize for the “best” language or a list of in which programming language the most code has been written; instead, he uses popular search engines to determine which languages are most used among professional programmers, programming courses and third-party vendors.

Top 5 TIOBE news articles of 2023

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