IEEE Spectrum: Python defends 1st place, TypeScript gains in importance

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The eleventh programming language ranking from IEEE Spectrum has been published. The annual study uses different metrics to create three meta-rankings: in the categories "Spectrum", "Trending" and "Jobs". It shows that Python is the undisputed leader in the first two categories. In the jobs category, however, Python only appears in second place behind SQL, while TypeScript makes a leap upwards.

Overall winner Python, job winner SQL

In the "Spectrum" ranking, which is based on profiles of a typical IEEE member (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), Python is once again in first place by a wide margin. The "Trending" ranking, which determines currently popular programming languages, is also won by Python. However, Java, the second-placed language in both categories, is closer on Python's heels than in "Spectrum". JavaScript is in third place in both categories.

The reasons for Python's popularity according to the study makers include the fact that the programming language for artificial intelligence – is frequently used with the help of many popular libraries – and in the education sector.

In the "Jobs" ranking, however, Python only made it to second place behind SQL, as it did last year, albeit only by a narrow margin. Java is in third place here. IEEE Spectrum sees the lead of the database language SQL in the professional sector as being due to cloud-based system architectures in which databases play a decisive role.

Rising stars: TypeScript and Rust

Last year, TypeScript was still in eleventh place in the "Jobs" category. This year, the JavaScript superset has risen in all categories, most notably to fourth place in the "Jobs" category. This ranking is based on websites with job offers – Employers are therefore increasingly looking for developers who have experience with TypeScript.

Rust, a language designed for memory security, is also one of this year's rising stars. Although the language continues to play a subordinate role in the job environment in 24th place, it is in eleventh place in the "Spectrum" ranking and tenth place in the "Trending" ranking.

Fortran and Cobol expertise will still be worthwhile in 2024

The dinosaurs among the programming languages in this study – Fortran (published in 1957) and Cobol (published in 1959) – are still represented in the IEEE Spectrum ranking because employers are looking for developers with these skills. For Fortran in particular, this is a specialized group of people who are also familiar with particle physics (high-energy physics). For Cobol, the field is somewhat broader, as many government and financial systems continue to use decades-old infrastructure.

Data and methodology

The trade magazine Spectrum of the US-based technical professional association Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has compiled an annual programming language ranking since 2014. It currently looks at 63 programming languages based on eight manually evaluated data sources: Google, Stack Overflow, IEEE Xplore Digital Library, IEEE Job Site, CareerBuilder, GitHub, Trinity College Dublin Library and Discord. More details on the methodology can be found on the IEEE Spectrum website. The data collection for this year's ranking took place from July to August 2024.

A blog entry including an interactive graphic provides further information on the current study.

(mai)