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]