Several research independently confirms Java as the most popular programing language today and as such can be considered the safest bet for someone looking to make a career in programming or looking for a career change. Let’s look in details below.
The TIOBE Index
The TIOBE Index for February 2017 indicates Java is the most popular programming language today. Java’s popularity is almost double that of the next contender C.
The TIOBE Programming Community index is an indicator of the popularity of programming languages. The index is updated once a month. The ratings are based on the number of skilled engineers world-wide, courses and third party vendors. Popular search engines such as Google, Bing, Yahoo!, Wikipedia, Amazon, YouTube and Baidu are used to calculate the ratings. It is important to note that the TIOBE index is not about the best programming language or the language in which most lines of code have been written.
PYPL PopularitY of Programming Language
The PYPL PopularitY of Programming Language Index is created by analyzing how often language tutorials are searched on Google.
The more a language tutorial is searched, the more popular the language is assumed to be. It is a leading indicator. The raw data comes from Google Trends.
If you believe in collective wisdom, the PYPL Popularity of Programming Language index can help you decide which language to study, or which one to use in a new software project.
PYPL too indicates Java as the leading programming language.
CodingDojo
CodingDojo diligently compiled job data from indeed in 2016 which shows Java is the top in-demand programming language, unless you consider SQL as programming language.http://www.inc.com/larry-kim/10-most-popular-programming-languages-today.html
Inc.com
Inc.com does not cite sources but states Java as the most popular programming language. Larry Kim, Founder and CTO of WordStreaam, gives a nice summary:
Java is top pick as one of the most popular programming languages, used for building server-side applications to video games and mobile apps. It’s also the core foundation for developing Android apps, making it a favorite of many programmers. With its WORA mantra (write once, run anywhere), it’s designed to be portable and run happily across multiple software platforms.
So if you are searching for a programming language to learn to build your career then look no further and start coding in Java.
Footnote: Glassdoor data indicates Software Architect is the highest paying job in this field, followed closely by Software Development Manager.