Rust, the programming language known for security and reliability, is experiencing an unprecedented rise. As of February 2025, Rust ranks 13th in the TIOBE Index, a significant jump from 18th place the previous year.
This surge raises a key question: why is Rust gaining popularity now? Despite not being a new language, its recent growth suggests a shift in perception and adoption among developers.
Below, we analyze the factors behind Rust’s rise, its key advantages, and its impact on the software industry.
Rust’s Rise in the TIOBE Index
The TIOBE Index is a measure of programming language popularity, based on the number of skilled developers, available courses, and searches on platforms like Google, Bing, Wikipedia, and Amazon. Over the past year, Rust has climbed five places, solidifying itself as an increasingly relevant option.
| Programming Language | February 2025 Ranking | February 2024 Ranking | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Python | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| C++ | 2 | 3 | +1 |
| Java | 3 | 4 | +1 |
| C | 4 | 2 | -2 |
| C# | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| JavaScript | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| SQL | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| Go | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| Delphi/Object Pascal | 9 | 12 | +3 |
| Visual Basic | 10 | 9 | -1 |
| Fortran | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| Scratch | 12 | 15 | +3 |
| Rust | 13 | 18 | +5 |
| PHP | 14 | 10 | -4 |
| R | 15 | 21 | +6 |
Rust has now surpassed PHP, which has dropped to 14th place, and is getting closer to the Top 10. Its growth indicates that companies and developers are increasingly adopting Rust for secure and efficient solutions.
Why Is Rust Gaining Popularity?
Several key factors explain Rust’s growing adoption in the software development world:
1. Increased Focus on Cybersecurity
In a world where cyberattacks are becoming more frequent, companies seek languages that minimize vulnerabilities. Rust helps prevent common memory management flaws, such as buffer overflows and null references, which have been responsible for major security breaches in the past.
2. Improved Developer Experience
Rust introduces a memory ownership model that prevents common errors found in languages like C and C++, without sacrificing performance. Additionally, its compiler provides detailed error messages, making debugging and optimization easier.
| Rust’s Advantages | Description |
|---|---|
| Ownership Transfer | Prevents dangling pointers and improves memory management. |
| Variable Validation | Reduces errors in data handling. |
| Ownership-Based Concurrency | Enhances thread execution security without race conditions. |
3. Adoption by Major Tech Companies
Companies like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft have shown interest in Rust for high-performance, security-critical projects. Even the Linux community is exploring Rust as an alternative to C for the operating system’s kernel development.
4. Growing Dissatisfaction with Traditional Languages
Many developers consider C too complex, Java too heavy, and JavaScript too limiting. Rust provides a modern, balanced alternative that combines performance, security, and usability.
5. Expanding Community and Ecosystem
Rust has a growing ecosystem, with frameworks like Rocket for web development and Tokio for asynchronous programming, making it attractive for various industries.
Can Rust Break into the Top 10?
Rust’s success in the TIOBE Index shows a clear upward trend, but it still faces adoption challenges. While many developers admire it, Rust is not yet the primary language for large-scale enterprise projects.
However, if its adoption rate continues, Rust could reach the Top 10 in the coming years, solidifying its status as a standard for secure and efficient development.
| Languages Rust Could Overtake in the Future |
|---|
| Visual Basic |
| Delphi/Object Pascal |
| Go |
| SQL |
With its emphasis on security, reliability, and performance, Rust is emerging as one of the most promising programming languages for the future.
Conclusion
Rust has proven to be more than just a passing trend. Its rise in the TIOBE Index and increasing adoption by major companies indicate that it is reshaping the software development landscape.
As organizations seek safer and more efficient solutions, Rust could become one of the most influential programming languages of the next decade.