Why Julia and Rust Are Shaking Up the 2023 Programming Language Landscape

More than half of 2023 has passed, and several ranking lists have released this year’s most popular programming languages.

Although many large tech companies have laid off staff, the number of open positions far exceeds the pool of available candidates.

In 2023, giants such as Amazon, Meta, and Twitter laid off about 40,000 people, yet over 375,000 technology R&D jobs remain vacant in the United States.

Therefore, developers following 21CTO can be reassured that job vacancies are roughly ten times the number of layoffs, and 52% of displaced programmers have already found higher‑paying jobs.

Julia Breaks Into TIOBE Top 20

Julia entered the coveted TIOBE Top 20 for the first time, marking a milestone for the language that is just over a decade old.

Known for its use in data science and mathematical computing, Julia’s rise has sparked speculation about its unique strengths and its competitive potential against established giants.

Julia’s rapid ascent is not unfounded; its impressive speed makes it a strong competitor to Python, R, and MATLAB.

Unlike many contemporary languages, Julia excels at handling large systems, bridging gaps left by R and the cost‑intensive MATLAB, while its open‑source nature offers an economical alternative for developers seeking efficient solutions.

“Julia is lighter than Python, better than R for large systems, and cheaper than MATLAB. Its speed, scalability, and open‑source nature make it an attractive choice.”

However, Julia demands a higher level of programming proficiency, raising questions about its long‑term sustainability on the competitive stage.

Rust Survey Shows Rapid Growth and Strong Professional Adoption

Recent reports from the Rust Working Group highlight the language’s remarkable growth and increasing global adoption.

The “State of Rust” survey, now in its sixth year, gathered responses from 9,433 Rustaceans—a completion rate of 82%, up from 76% the previous year—indicating rising interest in Rust and its evolving community.

The survey reflects diverse participation from contributors, project maintainers, and enthusiasts worldwide, with responses available in 11 languages.

While 77% of respondents completed the survey in English, the proportion of English speakers is decreasing, underscoring a growing international user base.

Over 90% of respondents identify as Rust users; 47% report daily use, a 4% increase from the prior year.

Thirty percent can write simple programs in Rust, and 27% are developing production‑ready code.

Those who stopped using Rust or never adopted it cite learning difficulty (30% and 26% respectively) as primary reasons, while nearly half of former users cite uncontrollable factors for discontinuation.

Professional adoption of Rust is notable: in 2023, 29.7% of respondents said most of their work‑place coding is now done in Rust, a 51.8% rise from the previous year.

Key drivers for increased workplace adoption include Rust’s ability to produce “error‑free software” (86%), high performance (84%), and strong safety guarantees (69%).

The survey also explored developers’ concerns about future support; while worries have dropped by 30% compared to the prior year, the Rust team aims to address these issues to further support the language’s growth.

Overall, the 2023 Rust State of Survey paints a positive outlook, with a growing global community, rising professional adoption, and diminishing concerns about the language’s future.