Ada’s rise to #9 on Tiobe’s Programming Language Popularity Index: An Unexpected Shift

Ada, a system programming language dating back to the late 1970s, has climbed from #24 to #9 on the Tiobe Programming Language Popularity Index in just one year. This marks a significant shift in the popularity rankings, as languages like SQL, Perl, and Fortran have dropped out of the top 10. While Tiobe CEO Paul Jansen acknowledged that the leading languages like Python, C#, and Java have remained largely unchanged, he pointed out that older languages such as Ada and Fortran have seen more movement. Ada’s rise is largely attributed to its niche use in safety-critical and security-focused domains, where its robustness makes it a favorable choice. Despite the growing demand for modern languages like Rust, Kotlin, Dart, and Julia, Ada’s position in the top 10 suggests a resurgence in older, established languages in the face of increasing security concerns. The article also discusses the longevity of languages like Ada and Visual Basic, which seem to outlast many newer programming languages.