Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

HTML Introduction to HTML and CSS Getting Familiar with HTML and CSS HTML and CSS Demystified

Bartosz I
Bartosz I
2,216 Points
Posted by Bartosz I
Bartosz I
2,216 Points

@02:30 - Python, Ruby and Java are listed as popular server side (backend) programming languages. Why Ruby and not PHP?

@02:30 - Python, Ruby and Java are listed as popular server side (backend) programming languages. Why Ruby? Why not PHP? Or C#? Both are more popular than Ruby.

3 Answers

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
229,744 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
229,744 Points

It depends on who's doing the ratings, and also how recent their data are. It could also depend on if their focus is on historic usage or current development trends. For example, in this arc.dev article from late 2023, "The Top 9 Backend Languages to Watch in 2023" are:

 1. Python
 2. Go
 3. Rust
 4. Swift
 5. Ruby
 6. Kotlin
 7. Elixir
 8. PHP
 9. C#

PHP and C# did make the list, but only at the very end. I would have expected to see JavaScript (node.js), but it didn't make their list at all.

Bartosz I
Bartosz I
2,216 Points
Bartosz I
Bartosz I
2,216 Points

Thank you for answering and shedding some light on this for me Steven.

I was surprised to hear that Ruby is one of the three most popular backend programming languages, but it looks like it is now growing in popularity and even gaining on PHP and Java, at least according to this artice I found, which is aparently based on latest stackoverflow survey.

https://blog.boot.dev/backend/best-backend-programming-languages/

The 8 Top Back-end Programming Languages for 2023

Language Category Winner

  • Go (Fastest growing)
  • Python (Most used for beginners)
  • JavaScript (Most used)
  • Rust (Most loved)
  • Java (Legacy)
  • PHP (Most likely to linger)
  • Ruby (Highest paid)
  • SQL (Best non-programming backend language)

It is fascinating how it keeps changing with time.

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
229,744 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
229,744 Points

I don't know anything about Rust, but seeing it rated as "Most loved" does make me curious.

Bartosz I
Bartosz I
2,216 Points
Bartosz I
Bartosz I
2,216 Points

I thought I saw it somewhere and I did, latest StackOverflow survey. Devs who worked in Rust language, would like to work in it again.

Rust is the most admired language, more than 80% of developers that use it want to use it again next year. Compare this to the least admired language: MATLAB. Less than 20% of developers who used this language want to use it again next year.

https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2023/