Python: World's Fastest-Growing Programming Language?
Python is possibly the fastest-growing “big” programming language, according to a new analysis by Stack Overflow. “June 2017 was the first month that Python was the most visited tag on Stack Overflow within high-income nations,” read Stack Overflow’s blog posting. “This included being the most visited tag within the US and the UK, and in the top 2 in almost all other high income nations (next to either Java or JavaScript).” Moreover, the language has enjoyed a relatively recent spike in popularity: in 2012, “it was less visited than any of the other 5 languages [JavaScript, Java, C#, PHP, C], and has grown by 2.5-fold in that time.” Python isn’t just one of Stack Overflow’s most-visited tags; its growth is accelerating. Stack Overflow’s data contrasts with that of the TIOBE Index, which has estimated the language’s growth as relatively stagnant over the past year; TIOBE ranks Python fifth on its list of the most popular programming languages, behind (in descending order) Java, C, C++, and C#. What’s behind Python’s massive presence? For starters, a lot of developers like it, thanks in large part to huge libraries and a clean syntax. A wealth of documentation means that, if you encounter a problem while working with it, the answer is probably a Google search away. Those benefits, in turn, create a positive feedback loop: developers who enjoy the language not only stick with it, but encourage others to use it. It also doesn’t hurt that the language is key in a variety of cutting-edge technology efforts, including artificial-intelligence platforms (such as natural-language processing) and video games. If you’re interested in exploring further, here are some Dice articles to check out: Top 5 Python GUI Frameworks The Python wiki on GUI programming lists over 30 cross-platform frameworks in addition to Pyjamas, a tool for cross-browser Web development. Which ones should you work with? Web Development in Python and web2py The language offers some powerful tools for building Web assets. Its ample documentation can also prove a big help if you find yourself stuck. Using Python for High-Performance Frameworks This article features a breakdown of the language’s asynchronous programming abilities, including multi-core and vectorized programming in various dialects and implementations.