The operators of the TIOBE Programming Community Index, which is updated monthly, have given the Python programming language the title of Language of the Year 2020. This is the fourth time Python has received this award – a new record. The programming language secured the top position only slightly ahead of C ++.

With an increase of 2, 01 percent Python lands in first place, followed by C ++ (+1, 99%), C (+1, 66%), Groovy (+1, 23%) and R (+1, 10%). As a popular language in the areas of data science and machine learning, web development and backend programming, Python is also attracting increasing interest in mobile applications and in larger embedded systems, according to TIOBE. The TIOBE makers see the reasons for the recent increase in popularity of Python primarily in the ease of learning and the productivity of the language. These two properties are “the key in a world that calls for more developers in all possible areas”.

Python ahead of Java in the long term? In the monthly updated index, Python currently takes 3rd place in the list (11, 72 %). With a few percentage points Java pulls (11, 96%) on the programming language of the year 2020 past. The list for January 2021 is led by C, which has a rating of 17, 38% is at the top. The main advantage of the C programming language lies in its performance. Last month, C and Java swapped places. The TIOBE makers see Python in second place behind C, but ahead of Java.

(Image: TIOBE)

Also worth mentioning are the changed positions of the statistical language R (from 18 to 9) and Groovy (from 23 to 10) – especially for scripting with the CI / CD tool Jenkins is used. Beyond the top – 20 Julia sneaks up – one at MIT The resulting dynamic, function-oriented programming language, which is aimed primarily at scientific projects, but should also be suitable as a general purpose language. In the last year the programming language jumped from position 47 to 23 mastered.

With limited informative value Regular analyzes such as the TIOBE Programming Community Index must always be scrutinized: On the basis of which criteria TIOBE creates the index and which search engine results are used and how can be found in the official documentation. The title of the language of the year in the TIOBE ranking could last be secured C (2019), Python (2018), C (2017), Go ( 2016), Java (2015), JavaScript (2014) and Transact-SQL (2013).

(mdo)