Ruby has been around since 1995 and still receives regular updates. However, recent data shows that Ruby’s popularity has declined significantly. This drop is largely attributed to Python gaining ground and overshadowing Ruby in the programming world.

Ruby’s Decline in the Ranking

According to the latest Tiobe index, Ruby has fallen to the 30th spot in the list of most popular programming languages. Just a month ago, it was ranked 25th. Its current rating is 0.55%, a sharp decrease from previous months. Back in May 2016, Ruby even reached as high as eighth place, making it a top choice for developers at that time.

Tiobe CEO Paul Jansen explained that the main reason for Ruby’s decline is the rise of Python. He mentioned that many see no need for Ruby anymore because Python now covers many of the same use cases more efficiently. This shift suggests that Ruby might be close to dropping out of the top 30 entirely in upcoming rankings.

Other Languages and Trends in the Index

Alongside Ruby’s drop, other programming languages are shifting positions. SQL, which now has a 2% rating, swapped places with R, which has a 1.88% rating, moving SQL to eighth and R to ninth in the top 10. Swift has re-entered the top 20, holding a 1.04% rating, while Kotlin has fallen to 22nd place with 0.82%.

Interestingly, Google’s Dart language, once seen as a rival to JavaScript, is climbing back into the top 20. Dart is now ranked 25th with a 0.69% rating. These movements reflect evolving preferences among developers and the shifting landscape of programming languages.

How Tiobe Measures Popularity

Tiobe’s index gauges language popularity based on the number of skilled engineers, online courses, and third-party vendors associated with each language. The rankings are calculated using data from major websites like Google, Amazon, Bing, and Wikipedia. These sources help determine how widely used and supported each language is worldwide.

Recently, some have questioned whether large language models (LLMs) like those powering search engines could influence rankings. Jansen clarified that this isn’t the case. He explained that Tiobe’s ratings are based on the number of web pages related to each language, which LLMs also analyze. So, there’s no significant difference between traditional indexing and LLM-based approaches in this context.

For March 2025, the top 10 languages in the Tiobe index included Python at the top with over 21%, followed by C, C++, Java, C#, JavaScript, Visual Basic, SQL, R, and Delphi/Object Pascal. These rankings show the ongoing dominance of certain languages in various sectors of the tech industry.

In addition to Tiobe, the Pypl index tracks language popularity by analyzing Google searches for tutorials. For March 2025, Python also led in Pypl with nearly 35%, with C/C++, Java, and R following. Both indexes highlight Python’s strong position and its widespread adoption across different projects and industries.

Overall, the data indicates a shifting landscape where newer, versatile languages like Python are overtaking older favorites like Ruby. Developers are increasingly choosing languages based on current trends, community support, and application needs. Ruby’s future remains uncertain, but its decline in popularity suggests it might soon be less prominent in the programming world.

Inspired by

• https://www.infoworld.com/article/4142618/ruby-sinking-in-popularity-buried-by-python-tiobe.html

Sources

• tiobe.com
• github.io