FORTRAN and COBOL re-enter the TIOBE popularity ranking of programming languages, a return to basics or a brake on innovation?



The historic programming languages ​​FORTRAN and COBOL made a significant reappearance in the top 20 of the TIOBE index, which measures the popularity of programming languages. After entering the Top 20 in April 2021Fortran continued its rise and today reached its highest position, 10th to be exactme place.

FORTRAN, an acronym for Formula Translating System, was designed for the IBM 704 in the 1950s and is considered one of the first compiled programming languages. Despite its age, FORTRAN climbed the rankings to reach 10th place, its highest position to date. This rise is attributed to the growing importance of numerical/mathematical computing, where FORTRAN stands out for its speed, native support for mathematical calculations, maturity and free nature.

It is particularly effective for numerical and computationally intensive tasks, such as weather forecasting, fluid mechanics, applied mathematics, statistics, and finance. FORTRAN is also used on supercomputers to test their performance and is known for its ability to handle complex calculations with high performance.

On the other hand, COBOL, or Common Business-Oriented Language, was developed in 1959 and has long been a mainstay of business systems, particularly in the banking, insurance, and healthcare industries. Her resilience is remarkable, with a presence that stretches far beyond what many could have predicted.

The recent update of the ISO FORTRAN 2023 standard and the persistence of COBOL applications in critical business systems are factors contributing to their reappearance in the TIOBE index. While modern languages ​​like Kotlin and Rust generate only about 300 search results on Amazon for programming books, FORTRAN exceeds 1,000, according to TIOBE’s CEO.

The top 10 was formed as follows:

  1. Python
  2. vs
  3. C++
  4. Java
  5. VS#
  6. JavaScript
  7. Visual Basic
  8. To go
  9. SQL
  10. Fortran

Paul Jansen, CEO of TIOBE Software, commented on the results:

I get a lot of questions about why Fortran is back in the top 10 after more than 20 years. The TIOBE index only publishes what has been measured. For example, there are more than 1,000 hits on Fortran Programming on Amazon, which is the leader in books. Cool new languages ​​like Kotlin and Rust barely reach 300 entries for the same search query. So what’s going on? First of all, the Fortran language continues to evolve since its inception in 1957. Less than six months ago, the new ISO Fortran 2023 definition was published.

The main reason for the resurrection of Fortran is the growing importance of numerical/mathematical computing. Despite the many competitors in this field, Fortran has its reasons for being. Let’s look briefly at the competition. Python: number one choice, but slow, MATLAB: very easy to use for mathematical calculations, but with expensive licenses, C/C++: common and fast, but no native support for mathematical calculations, R: very similar to Python, but less popular and slow, Julia: newcomer, but not yet mr. And in this jungle of languages, Fortran seems to be fast, has native support for mathematical calculations, is mature and free. Quietly, slowly but surely, Fortran is conquering more and more. It is surprising, but undeniable.

This development of events indicates an awareness of the permanent value of these languages. Although new languages ​​emerge and programming trends develop, the proven efficiency and reliability of FORTRAN and COBOL allow them to remain relevant in certain specialized areas of technology.

The return of FORTRAN and COBOL to the TIOBE index is not only a tribute to their legacy, but also a recognition of their continued usefulness. In an ever-changing technology landscape, the persistence of these languages ​​is a testament to their robust design and adaptability to changing industry needs.

Questions may arise about this refund

While the re-integration of FORTRAN and COBOL into the TIOBE index is a surprise, it raises critical questions about the relevance of these languages ​​in today’s era. On the one hand, their return can be seen as a testament to their robustness and reliability. However, it is important to ask whether this resurgence is the result of genuine innovation or simply dependence on legacy systems that resist modernization.

FORTRAN, despite its success in numerical calculations, could be considered obsolete by more modern languages ​​that offer better readability and richer data structures. Similarly, COBOL is often criticized for its lack of skilled programmers and for its source code, which can be difficult for new programmers to maintain and understand.

In addition, reliance on these legacy languages ​​can stifle innovation, as businesses may choose to maintain outdated systems instead of investing in new technologies. It can also create a gap between generations of programmers, where modern programming skills are valued more than knowledge of these classic languages.

In conclusion, while the presence of FORTRAN and COBOL in the TIOBE index can be interpreted as a recognition of their continued usefulness, it also highlights the challenges the programming industry faces in terms of modernization and adaptation to new technological trends.

It is not representative of the French ICT landscape

The TIOBE Programming Community Index is an indicator of the popularity of programming languages. The index is updated once a month. Ratings are based on the number of qualified engineers worldwide, courses and third-party service providers. Popular search engines such as Google, Bing, Yahoo!, Wikipedia, Amazon, YouTube and Baidu are used to calculate ratings. It is important to note that the TIOBE index does not refer to the best programming language or the language in which the most lines of code are written. The index can be used to check whether your programming skills are still up to date or to make a strategic decision about which programming language to adopt when starting to build a new software system.

It is therefore not indicative of the reality in the world of French-speaking IT Pro professionals. In 2023, Cobol was the highest paid language in job offers posted on Developpez.com both in the Paris region and in the province.

In terms of language popularity (the most requested languages ​​in job offers posted on Developpez.com), Java dominated the rankings, followed by Python and C.

IT jobs 2023: the most sought-after languages ​​and the best countries
Employment portal Developpez.com

source: TIOBE

and you

What is your opinion on the reintegration of FORTRAN and COBOL into the TIOBE index? Is this a sign of their sustainability or rather an indicator of resistance to changes in the industry?

Do you think the continued presence of FORTRAN and COBOL in mission-critical systems is beneficial to industry, or should we encourage the transition to more modern languages?

How can industry balance the need to maintain legacy systems with the imperative to innovate and adopt new technologies?

What are the challenges and opportunities that learning FORTRAN and COBOL presents to new generations of programmers?

As a developer or technology user, what is your experience with FORTRAN and COBOL? Have you encountered any particular difficulties associated with these languages?



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