It is essential first to understand how many different languages are in the market to find the best-fit language for a project. This way, you can decide which ones will work well with what needs and give optimal results at various stages in the development process.

The developing process has varying stages, each having a specific type of programming language, including:

Desktop Applications: Python, Scala, Go

System Applications: Rust, Go

Mobile Applications: Objective-C, Swift, Java

Game Development: TypeScript, Unity

Front-end development: Elm, Java, TypeScript

Back-end development: Python, Go, Java, Ruby, Scala

As any software developer knows, programming languages are constantly evolving. Some languages become famous for a time and then fall out of favor, while others maintain their popularity. New languages also emerge regularly. It is challenging to keep track of trending language in the industry. However, some general trends can be observed. For example, the Ruby programming language is more prevalent in the South American region and Japan. Similarly, Python is equally popular worldwide, and C++ is in Malaysia, Pakistan, and India. Therefore, when it comes to hiring remotely, it is crucial to consider the location, not only which language is the most used.

Indexes for analyzing programming languages:

1.      PYPL Index:

The PYPL Index is a programming language popularity index updated monthly. The index takes into account which tutorials developers are searching on Google. The PYPL Index is published worldwide for countries such as the US, India, Germany, the United Kingdom, and France. According to PYPL Index, Python is in the number one spot worldwide for programming language popularity, followed by Java. In terms of specific countries, Python has doubled its shares (48%) in Germany, the United Kingdom, and France.

Additionally, Python has the highest share in the UK (34%) and the lowest in India (31%). The PYPL Index has also declined in popularity for PHP and Java. PHP has gone from 20% shares in 2008 to 5.76% in 2021. For Java, the decline is slower but has been consistent over time: from 31% in 2008; Java has dropped to 18%. Consequently, both languages are losing popularity among programming language users.

2.      TIOBE Index:

The TIOBE index is updated monthly. The index is based on ratings from 25 popular search engines, courses, and third-party vendors, including Wikipedia, Google, Yahoo, Amazon, YouTube, and Baidu.

According to September 2021, the number one programming language is C.

C and Java are the only two languages that have held the top spot since the index began in 2001.

However, Python is now close to taking the number one spot – the gap between C and Python is only 0.16%. C’s ratings have declined from 20.24% in June 2001 to 11.83% in September 2021. Java’s ratings have also reduced, from 26.49% in June 2001 to 10.12% in September 202. Ruby is also becoming more popular, with a rating of 2.35% in September 2021.

3.      RedMonk Index:

The programming languages list produced by RedMonk’s analysis is based on GitHub data and discussions on the developer info-sharing site Stack Overflow. Their research found that Javascript is the number 1 programming language.

The ranking provides an overview of the current programming landscape; it’s essential to remember that there is no definitive answer regarding ranking programming languages. Different organizations use different criteria and weightings, so it’s always best to consult multiple sources before deciding which language suits you.

In summarizing, the top 5 programming languages are as follows:

  1. Python
  2. Java
  3. Java Script
  4. C#
  5. C/C++

The programming languages on the proposed list are a guide to help you evaluate what you need for your project. For example, while Objective-C is not the first choice for new projects since Swift appeared, it is essential to work with the same language to improve features and interactions if you need to implement a running app built with Objective-C. Similarly, triad Java, JavaScript, and Python are always wise choices because of their popularity. Of course, the correct programming language for your project depends on many factors, but the list can help to provide a starting point for your evaluation.