Why Are Older Languages Like Fortran and Delphi Rising Again?

Article Highlights
Off On

In a world where technology evolves at a breakneck pace and new programming languages pop up routinely, it may seem counterintuitive that older languages like Fortran and Delphi are experiencing a resurgence. Based on the latest Tiobe index of programming language popularity, these so-called “dinosaur” languages are once again vying for a position in the top 10. As of March 2025, Delphi/Object Pascal holds the 10th position, with Fortran following closely at 11th. It’s not just these two languages seeing renewed interest; others such as Ada and Cobol are climbing the ranks, sitting at 18th and 20th respectively. This peculiar trend raises questions about what is driving the need for these older languages to maintain, and even regain, popularity in today’s technologically advanced landscape.

The resurgence of older programming languages, seemingly at odds with the rapidly innovating tech world, is primarily driven by the indispensable need to maintain crucial legacy systems. These systems, often built on languages like Fortran and Delphi, are still vital parts of many industries. As the core developers who originally created and maintained these systems begin to retire, companies face a pivotal decision. According to Tiobe CEO Paul Jansen, rather than overhauling established systems with newer, more modern languages, many companies find it more efficient to maintain and even expand their existing systems. The reliability, robustness, and specific context in which these older languages operate continue to make them relevant, and even vital, in certain sectors.

The Tiobe Index and Legacy Systems

The Tiobe index rates programming languages based on various factors, including the number of competent engineers, availability of courses, and third-party vendor support. Search engines like Google and Bing are among the resources utilized in compiling this index. For March 2025, the Tiobe index showcases an intriguing variety in popular languages, with Python leading the way at a 23.85% rating. Following Python are C++ at 11.08%, Java at 10.36%, C at 9.53%, and C# at 4.87%. The remaining top 10 includes JavaScript, Go, SQL, Visual Basic, and Delphi/Object Pascal.

Interestingly, a comparison with the Pypl Popularity of Programming Language index, which ranks languages based on Google search frequency, shows a similar pattern. Python is once again at the forefront with a whopping 30.27% share. Other top contenders listed include Java, JavaScript, C/C++, and C#. Despite newer languages entering the fray, older languages continue to hold significant positions, underscoring their ongoing importance in the technology ecosystem.

This pattern reflects a common theme: the sustained importance of older programming languages is due to their pivotal role in existing systems. Companies, bracing for the retirement of experienced developers, are hesitant to transition to newer languages. Instead, they opt to maintain and update their legacy systems, effectively prioritizing stability and continuity over flashy innovations. As a result, languages like Fortran and Delphi are not just surviving but thriving, affirming a broader trend toward ensuring reliability and consistency in critical technological areas.

Explore more

How Does AWS Outage Reveal Global Cloud Reliance Risks?

The recent Amazon Web Services (AWS) outage in the US-East-1 region sent shockwaves through the digital landscape, disrupting thousands of websites and applications across the globe for several hours and exposing the fragility of an interconnected world overly reliant on a handful of cloud providers. With billions of dollars in potential losses at stake, the event has ignited a pressing

Qualcomm Acquires Arduino to Boost AI and IoT Innovation

In a tech landscape where innovation is often driven by the smallest players, consider the impact of a community of over 33 million developers tinkering with programmable circuit boards to create everything from simple gadgets to complex robotics. This is the world of Arduino, an Italian open-source hardware and software company, which has now caught the eye of Qualcomm, a

AI Data Pollution Threatens Corporate Analytics Dashboards

Market Snapshot: The Growing Threat to Business Intelligence In the fast-paced corporate landscape of 2025, analytics dashboards stand as indispensable tools for decision-makers, yet a staggering challenge looms large with AI-driven data pollution threatening their reliability. Reports circulating among industry insiders suggest that over 60% of enterprises have encountered degraded data quality in their systems, a statistic that underscores the

How Does Ghost Tapping Threaten Your Digital Wallet?

In an era where contactless payments have become a cornerstone of daily transactions, a sinister scam known as ghost tapping is emerging as a significant threat to financial security, exploiting the very technology—near-field communication (NFC)—that makes tap-to-pay systems so convenient. This fraudulent practice turns a seamless experience into a potential nightmare for unsuspecting users. Criminals wielding portable wireless readers can

Bajaj Life Unveils Revamped App for Seamless Insurance Management

In a fast-paced world where every second counts, managing life insurance often feels like a daunting task buried under endless paperwork and confusing processes. Imagine a busy professional missing a premium payment due to a forgotten deadline, or a young parent struggling to track multiple policies across scattered documents. These are real challenges faced by millions in India, where the