Which Programming Languages Will Dominate 2018? Trends, Rankings & Insights

Introduction

Every company is now a technology company, and programming languages are the core of that technology. The article examines the most popular and influential languages of 2018 and offers guidance for developers planning their learning paths.

Key Metrics

Three authoritative sources are used to assess language popularity:

Tiobe Index – monthly rankings based on hundreds of data sources worldwide.

Indeed.com – job market data reflecting demand for programming skills.

GitHub – pull‑request counts indicating active development activity.

Top Languages in 2018

The 2018 chart (shown below) displays the top 20 languages by market share as of December 2017.

Java and C/C++ remain the top three, while Python shows a significant rise.

Indeed Data

Indeed’s search of the Tiobe top‑50 languages shows Java has the highest job demand, followed by JavaScript. Apex also appears as a niche language worth watching.

GitHub Data

GitHub’s annual review shows the top 15 languages by pull‑request volume. JavaScript leads by a large margin, with Python overtaking Java in 2017 to become the second most popular language on the platform.

Why These Languages Are Popular

Java

Java’s longevity, portability via the JVM, extensive community, and dominance in Android development keep it in high demand.

C

C remains essential for system‑level programming, embedded devices, and performance‑critical applications, thanks to its portability and low‑level access.

Python

Python’s simplicity, extensive libraries, and central role in AI, machine learning, big data, and robotics drive its rapid growth.

JavaScript

Ubiquitous in web browsers and increasingly used on the server side via Node.js, JavaScript remains the most active language on GitHub.

Ruby

Ruby and its Rails framework are favored by startups for rapid development, though scalability concerns have led some large services to migrate to Java.

Fastest Growing Languages

Tiobe’s “annual language” winners have been Go (2016), Java (2015), and JavaScript (2014). Upcoming candidates include Kotlin and C.

Emerging Language: Kotlin

Kotlin, fully interoperable with Java and officially supported for Android development, is gaining traction for both front‑end and back‑end projects.

Future Influence and Challenges

While language popularity is one aspect, true influence depends on the ecosystems built on them. Hardware constraints such as the end of Moore’s Law and power‑consumption limits push developers toward more efficient, native languages like Go, Swift, and Rust. WebAssembly may also reshape the role of JavaScript.

Conclusion

Understanding the current rankings and growth trends of programming languages helps developers make informed decisions about which skills to acquire, ensuring they stay relevant in a rapidly evolving software landscape.