Popularity of languages in Open Source projects

[pmasiar]

I found this interesting tool, ohloh.net, which tracks also number of commits in FOSS/open source projects, by language.

So now we finally can answer that FAQ: how languages compare, and use facts instead of opinions.


C/C++, Java, Perl, PHP, Python, Ruby (http://www.ohloh.net/languages/compare?measure=commits&percent=&l0=-1&l1=cncpp&l2=java&l3=perl&l4=php&l5=python&l6=ruby)
C#, Perl, PHP, Python, Ruby (http://www.ohloh.net/languages/compare?measure=commits&percent=&l0=perl&l1=php&l2=python&l3=ruby&l4=csharp&commit=Update)


Please note that above links show Percentage (to compare between languages), click on Values to see number of commits (which increases, except C/C++).
Also, someone might want to research and comment which repositories are checked, and which ignored, possibly making some languages seem less relevant.

Trends, as of February 2008:

C/C++ is going down
Java did not get much traction, trend is "the same"
C# is almost ignored
Perl has slow gradual decline
Python taking over PHP
Ruby way behind Python - on level of C#


(I added this thread to FAQ: Polls about languages (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=4282729)

[pbpersson]

On all the charts it seems as though the entire trend of open source is slowing.

Less and less code is being developed, less projects are being completed

Is that true, or am I reading this wrong?

The opposite is supposed to be happening - I thought as open source caught on, more people saw how it is improving the world and what a good idea it is - that the numbers would go UP not down. :confused:


Phil

[pmasiar]

Of course: linked is "Percent": how languages compare to each other. Sum is 100%. See "Values" for number of commits. Pace of development shows no signs of slowing down at all, even number of Perl commit increases. :-)

[k2t0f12d]

Free software development is exploding. Those charts only demonstrate the usage relationships of different programming languages used in free software projects.

[HuBaghdadi]

I think this gives you a much more clear idea (languages popularities):
http://www.indeed.com/jobtrends?q=Java%2C+Python%2C+C%23%2C+Ruby&l=
Try to compare web frameworks, it is fun.

[pmasiar]

I am not sure how job postings are relevant to FOSS projects. Maybe before this thread will get hijacked by OT discussion why Python jobs are not found on generic job boards (but on Python.org job mailing list) etc, you can start your own thread about polls with jobs etc?

[k2t0f12d]

I am not sure how job postings are relevant to FOSS projects. Maybe before this thread will get hijacked by OT discussion why Python jobs are not found on generic job boards (but on Python.org job mailing list) etc, you can start your own thread about polls with jobs etc?

Methinks thou dost protest too strongly. The popularity of all the non-trivial programming languages in free software development are growing, or at least not shrinking. As the platform creates the ability to actualize more possibilities, more languages will find a niche. What difference does it make with respect to free software where Python stands?

[dwblas]

The old saying "Numbers don't lie but liars use numbers" is true for any set of statistics. None reflect the whole truth. A similiar poll is the number of searches for "linux" on Google. It has been declining but the use of Linux is increasing. The poll doesn't allow for people searching the Ubuntu forums instead of using Google+Linux to find something. The polls are interesting as general info only and I think that's all the OP meant when posting the link.