R Language for Statistical Computing Rises in Tiobe Index as Rust and Kotlin Also Gain Popularity
COVID-19 has been cited as a potential factor in the increasing popularity of the R language for statistical computing. Previously, the pandemic was noted for boosting the popularity of the C programming language, particularly for its use in medical devices. Now, R is experiencing a similar surge in interest, likely driven by the extensive data analysis and statistical work involved in COVID-19 research.
In the latest Tiobe index of language popularity, R has climbed to eighth place, its highest position ever. This marks a significant jump from ninth place last month and 20th place a year ago. Tiobe attributes this rise to the growing demand for statistical computing and data mining as researchers worldwide race to develop vaccines and understand the virus better.
This surge in R’s popularity mirrors the rise of C earlier this year. In May, C overtook Java, which had held the top position for over five years. Tiobe suggested that the increased use of C in medical devices during the pandemic contributed to its ascendancy. Similarly, the rise of R indicates a shift in academic and research institutions towards open-source statistical tools like R and Python, moving away from commercial packages such as SAS, Strata, and SPSS.
The Tiobe index also highlights other notable changes this month. The Rust programming language has risen to 18th place from 20th last month, reflecting its growing adoption for systems programming due to its emphasis on safety and concurrency. Kotlin, widely used for Android development, has climbed three spots to 27th. Conversely, Delphi/Object Pascal has dropped to 30th place from 22nd in June, indicating a decline in its usage.
C continues to lead the Tiobe index for the third consecutive month. The Tiobe Index measures the popularity of programming languages based on the number of searches on various search engines, including Google, Yahoo, and Wikipedia. This method provides a broad view of the trends and shifts in the programming landscape.
In summary, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the programming world, boosting the popularity of languages like R and C, which are essential for medical research and device programming. As the demand for data analysis and statistical tools grows, R’s rise in the Tiobe index highlights the increasing reliance on open-source software in scientific research.