Longtime Staple of Apple Development, Objective-C, Slides Out of Top 20 in Tiobe Index
Objective-C, once a cornerstone of software development for Apple platforms, has seen a significant drop in the latest Tiobe Index of programming language popularity, falling out of the top 20 for the first time since late 2009. The language, which was once highly regarded for its role in developing applications for macOS and iOS, ranked 23rd in Tiobe’s April index with a rating of 0.67 percent. This is a notable decline from its position in the top 20, where it had consistently maintained a strong presence since October 2009.
Objective-C’s peak came when it earned Tiobe’s Language of the Year honors in both 2011 and 2012, recognizing its rapid growth and importance in the programming community. However, its position has weakened over the years, with a recent ranking of 20th in last month’s index, which showed a rating of 0.91 percent. The decline marks a shift in the landscape of programming languages, with new contenders rising to prominence.
The decline in Objective-C’s popularity is attributed to the rise of Swift, Apple’s modern programming language introduced in June 2014. Swift has quickly gained traction as the preferred language for macOS and iOS development due to its modern syntax and improved performance features. In the April index, Swift ranked 15th with a rating of 1.19 percent, reflecting its growing acceptance and use in the developer community.
Tiobe, known for its software quality services, bases its monthly index on a formula that assesses the frequency of searches for programming languages on major search engines such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo. The index also considers the number of skilled engineers, training courses, and third-party vendors associated with each language. This comprehensive approach aims to provide a snapshot of each language’s popularity and industry relevance.
The shift away from Objective-C highlights the evolving nature of software development and the growing influence of newer technologies. While Objective-C was once a leading choice for Apple platform development, the rise of Swift demonstrates the industry’s shift towards more contemporary and efficient tools. The change in rankings underscores the dynamic nature of programming languages and the constant evolution of technology trends.
As Objective-C exits the top 20, it remains to be seen how the language will adapt or if it will continue to play a role in the programming landscape. For now, Swift’s ascent and the shifting preferences of developers mark a new chapter in the ongoing evolution of programming languages.