| Jan 2026 | Jan 2025 | Change | | Programming Language | Ratings | Change | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | 1 | | L | Python | 22.61% | -0.68% | | 2 | 4 | < | C | C | 10.99% | +2.13% | | 3 | 3 | | ﺤﺎﻟﺔ | Java | 8.71% | -1.44% | | 4 | 2 | < | | C++ | 8.67% | -1.62% | | 5 | 5 | | | C# | 7.39% | +2.94% | | ნ | 6 | | ીટ | JavaScript | 3.03% | -1.17% | | 7 | 9 | > | VB | Visual Basic | 2.41% | +0.04% | | 8 | 8 | | SQL | SQL | 2.27% | -0.14% | | 9 | 11 | > | | Delphi/Object Pascal | 1.98% | +0. ...

Core Viewpoint - C has been named the Programming Language of the Year for 2025, marking its second win in three years, based on its significant ranking improvement over the past year [2]. Group 1: C Performance and Evolution - C is recognized as the fastest-growing programming language last year, evolving from a Windows-only enterprise language to a modern, cross-platform, and open-source language [4][6]. - The success of C is attributed to its continuous evolution, introducing new features ahead of mainstream languages and adapting to industry trends, including two major paradigm shifts: from Windows-only to cross-platform and from proprietary to fully open-source [6][7]. - C maintains its competitiveness without being hindered by historical baggage, allowing it to thrive in various domains [7]. Group 2: Market Position and Competition - In the realms of game development, web services, and cloud-native applications, C and Java are nearly equal in market share, with both languages showing minimal differences in their rankings [8]. - The TIOBE index indicates that Java's lengthy syntax and ownership by Oracle may hinder its ability to suppress the increasingly modern and flexible C in the long term [10]. - Microsoft is heavily investing in C, with significant projects like OpenAI, Copilot, Azure, and Unity all leveraging C [10]. Group 3: Ranking Changes and Trends - The TIOBE index for January 2026 shows Python, C, Java, C++, and C as the top five programming languages, with C holding the fifth position [22][23]. - Perl has made a surprising comeback, rising from 32nd to 11th place, while R has re-entered the top 10, reflecting the growing demand for data analysis and visualization [12][14]. - The rankings indicate that languages like Go and Ruby have fallen out of the top 10 and 20, respectively, suggesting that once a language loses its growth momentum, its decline is often irreversible [21].

Core Insights - The article emphasizes that technology selection, particularly programming languages, often masks deeper issues related to personal identity and emotional attachment rather than purely technical considerations [1][4][18] - It highlights the importance of recognizing the hidden conversations that influence decision-making processes in technology choices, which can lead to significant financial implications for companies [17][19] Group 1: Case Studies - The first case involves a company, Takkle, where a new CTO's decision to switch from PHP to Perl resulted in a 9-month delay in product launch and a doubling of monthly burn rate from $200,000 to $500,000, ultimately leading to financial distress [5][6] - The second case at Google illustrates a similar pattern, where a vice president's push for Rust over Go was based on emotional and identity-driven reasoning rather than a thorough analysis of technical merits [7][8][11] Group 2: Decision-Making Dynamics - The article distinguishes between visible conversations focused on technical attributes and invisible conversations centered on personal identity and professional aspirations [9][10][18] - It argues that decisions driven by identity can lead to substantial costs, as technology stack choices account for 40% to 60% of total development costs over a product's lifecycle [17][19] Group 3: Recommendations for Improvement - Companies are encouraged to shift the focus of technology discussions from "which language is best" to "what are the costs associated with this language," encompassing all dimensions that affect survival and growth [19][20] - A framework is suggested to make hidden costs visible, allowing for more rational and economically driven decision-making in technology selection [19][20]

Core Insights - The TIOBE Index for July 2025 reveals that Python, C, C++, Java, C, JavaScript, and Go have maintained their positions in the top seven programming languages for three consecutive years, forming a strong "first camp" [1][4] - The competition for the 8th to 12th positions is fierce among older languages like Visual Basic, SQL, Fortran, Ada, Perl, and Delphi, showcasing a "twilight of the gods" in the programming world [1][3] - Despite the emergence of newer languages like Rust, Kotlin, Dart, and Julia, they have not yet broken into the top ten due to the resilience of established languages [4][5] Rankings and Market Share - Python's market share has surged to 26.98%, significantly widening the gap with the second-ranked C++ at 9.80%, marking a dramatic lead [7][10] - The top ten programming languages in July 2025 are: Python, C++, C, Java, C, JavaScript, Go, Visual Basic, Ada, and Delphi/Object Pascal [14][16] Language Characteristics and Trends - Python is recognized for its ease of use and active community, despite criticisms regarding its performance speed [11][12] - Older languages like Visual Basic and SQL maintain relevance due to their roles in enterprise legacy systems and database foundations, respectively [5][4] - Ada is experiencing a resurgence in high-security applications, while Fortran remains entrenched in scientific computing [5][4] Historical Context - The TIOBE Index is updated monthly and reflects trends in programming languages based on the number of engineers, courses, and third-party vendors, providing insights into the current landscape of programming languages [20]