Study: Java still top programming language

Java has its detractors, but according to a recent reading of the Tiobe Programming Community Index, it's still the dominant programming language, with little change in its overall popularity since August 2007. Runners up? C, (Visual) Basic, C++, and PHP.

That's the short-term view of the past year. Looking at the longer-term view, however, Java, C, and other "traditional" languages appear to be on the decline while PHP and its ilk are on the rise:

Tiobe Programming Community Index, August 2008

(Credit: Tiobe)

Data from O'Reilly book sales suggests a similar decline for Java and other traditional programming languages over time. Cause for alarm? Not really. It's just a matter of the web assuming a more vital importance to programming, a trend that will continue to grow. It will, however, take a very long time to make your Java or C skills irrelevant.

[sanjayb]

Java might not be sexy compared to other languages but it's a solid platform that can be used to build many types of apps.
I am surprised at how low C# is. Other studies I read had it being a solid number 2. Also, with the popularity of the iPhone will Objective C make a run?

[sanjayb]

Java might not be sexy compared to other languages but it's a solid platform that can be used to build many types of apps.
I am surprised at how low C# is. Other studies I read had it being a solid number 2. Also, with the popularity of the iPhone will Objective C make a run?

[dehall622]

objective-c might make a run from 42 to 40 but thats about it

java is #1 because it is very easy to learn and available for all the major platforms

i wonder where JSF ranks in terms of web frameworks

[Goodbye Helicopter]

Objective C is really just highly structured C anyway.
Curious that the author describes interpreted languages as ilk but not VB...
C is still the grandfather of all of these.

[jef5623]

Objective C will definitely take C into the 7th age of computing but i am wondering that if SUN is making any progress in taking Java into the 7th age of computing

[benjaminstraight]

Duh. It works.

[botchagalupe]

If you look at the TIOBE Programming Community Index for July 2008 there are some other interesting nuggets. Python keeps inching up and the big story is Microsoft?s Powershell. Powershell wasn?t even ranked in the previous year and it ransk 15. Also Lua and D are also come from nowhere interesting top 20?s.

Here is a post I did about this in July.