Previous Valuable Notes Compilation

• Burning the Midnight Oil: Linux Quick Reference Guide.pdf
• My Browser Bookmarks Revealed
• Data Structures and Algorithms Study Notes.pdf Download
• LeetCode Algorithm Solutions C/C++ Version.pdf Download
• LeetCode Algorithm Solutions Java Version.pdf Download
• Job Resume Template Collection (Word Format) Download
• Java Core Knowledge Summary.pdf Download
• C/C++ Common Interview Questions (with Answers) Download
• Design Patterns Study Notes.pdf Download
• Java Backend Development Learning Path + Knowledge Summary
• Frontend Development Learning Path + Knowledge Summary
• Big Data Development Learning Path + Knowledge Summary
• C/C++ (Backend) Learning Path + Knowledge Summary
• Embedded Development Learning Path + Knowledge Summary

Introduction

Browsing the TIOBE programming community has become a little habit of mine in recent years.

The TIOBE programming community is well-known; it is a community website for checking the popularity and trends of various programming languages, with monthly updates and annual rankings and summaries.

According to the official statement, the TIOBE index for programming languages is calculated based on the number of search hits for different programming languages on mainstream search engines, which can reflect the popularity (degree of attention) of a programming language to some extent.

By observing the changes in the TIOBE index over a period, one can see the development trends of a programming language, which can serve as a reference for learners.

C Language, Forever a Legend!

A few days ago, as usual, I opened the TIOBE website and was surprised to find that C language once again topped the latest programming language rankings, with C, Python, and Java in the top three.

Calculating the years, I realized that C language is nearly 50 years old!

The C language was born in 1972 at Bell Labs, developed by Dennis MacAlistair Ritchie based on the B language designed by Kenneth Lane Thompson.

When talking about C language, there is also an inseparable old friend, the UNIX operating system.

Earlier UNIX operating systems were written in assembly language. After the main design of C language was completed, Thompson and Ritchie completely rewrote UNIX using it, which was continuously improved and developed later. This reflects the advantages of C language in writing system software, and it gradually became the primary language for writing operating systems.

To facilitate the comprehensive promotion and application of C language, experts and scholars, along with some manufacturers, formed the C language standard committee, which produced the first complete C standard in 1989, known as “C89” or “ANSI C”. It later evolved into “C99” and “C11”. As of 2020, the latest C language standard is “C18”, released in June 2018.

Remember at the beginning of 2020, the veteran C language, with a 2.4% annual growth rate, was awarded the “Programming Language of the Year”! This was the third time C language received this honor after 2008 and 2017:

Unexpectedly, in August 2021, C language once again topped the rankings, indicating that its vitality remains robust. This is quite remarkable for a programming language that is nearly 50 years old!

As previously mentioned on the TIOBE website, this may be mainly related to the current development boom of Internet of Things (IoT) technology and the large number of small smart devices being released today. After all, when C language runs on these small devices with strict performance requirements, it remains the best choice.

So now you understand why, whether in a formal or informal major, learning C language is essential in college, often as the first programming course. C language provides a solid foundation that is very helpful for subsequent learning and understanding.

Annual Programming Language Rankings Over the Years

The table below shows the rankings of the “Programming Language of the Year” from 2003 to the present:

• C language won the “Programming Language of the Year” award in 2008 and 2017, and again in 2019 after two years.
• The well-regarded C++ language only won the “Programming Language of the Year” title in 2003.
• Java has also won the “Programming Language of the Year” twice, in 2005 and 2015.
• Python is the most successful, having won the “Programming Language of the Year” four times (2007, 2010, 2018, 2020)!

We can also look at the programming languages that have been popular over the past few decades.

Overall, C language, Java, and Python have remained evergreen over the years.

The reasons are understandable. C language is indispensable in embedded systems, IoT, operating systems, and various scenarios dealing with low-level programming; Java has a thriving technical ecosystem and a significant market share in internet development; while Python dominates the rapidly growing fields of data analysis, data mining, and artificial intelligence.

Trends of Various Programming Languages Over the Years

Java: I Am Evergreen

From the graph, the blue line representing Java’s trend shows that the curve has always been highly active. Java’s dominant position is understandable, as it is a crucial contributor to the current prosperous internet ecosystem, with countless web backends, internet services, and mobile development being its territory.

C Language: I Seek Steady Progress

From the graph, the black line representing C language’s trend shows that it is the only programming language that can consistently compete with Java for the top position. Since its inception, C language has secured an irreplaceable position due to its usability, fine granularity, and high performance. As mentioned earlier, with the rise of the IoT era, C language’s status remains stable!

C++: I Am a Bit Exhausted

C++ is indeed a powerful language, but the burden of the language itself is quite heavy. Keep it up, old brother.

Python: I Will Swim Against the Current

From the graph, the green line representing Python’s trend shows a strong upward trend, especially in the past two years, which is mainly related to the prosperity of data analysis and mining, artificial intelligence, and machine learning in the scientific fields.

PHP: I Am a Bit Anxious Right Now

PHP: I don’t care, I am the best language in the world, no rebuttals accepted!

That’s all.

Happy weekend! See you in the next article!

Previous Valuable Notes Compilation

• Burning the Midnight Oil: Linux Quick Reference Guide.pdf

• My Browser Bookmarks Revealed

• Data Structures and Algorithms Study Notes.pdf Download

• LeetCode Algorithm Solutions C/C++ Version.pdf Download

• LeetCode Algorithm Solutions Java Version.pdf Download

• Job Resume Template Collection (Word Format) Download

• Java Core Knowledge Summary.pdf Download

• C/C++ Common Interview Questions (with Answers) Download

• Design Patterns Study Notes.pdf Download

• Java Backend Development Learning Path + Knowledge Summary

• Frontend Development Learning Path + Knowledge Summary

• Big Data Development Learning Path + Knowledge Summary

• C/C++ (Backend) Learning Path + Knowledge Summary

• Embedded Development Learning Path + Knowledge Summary