Current Trends in CMS Platforms and Programming Languages: Popularity and Decline

1. Introduction

The landscape of web development is in constant flux, with new technologies emerging and existing ones evolving at a rapid pace. Staying abreast of these changes is crucial for individuals and organizations involved in creating and maintaining a presence on the internet. This report aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the current trends in Content Management Systems (CMS) and programming languages, focusing on their popularity, key features, and the decline of certain technologies in the present environment, primarily encompassing data from 2024 and early 2025.

2. Popular Content Management Systems (CMS)

2.1. Overview of the Current CMS Landscape:

A Content Management System (CMS) is fundamentally a software application designed to facilitate the creation, organization, and updating of website content without necessitating direct manipulation of code. In essence, it provides a user-friendly interface that abstracts away the complexities of web development, allowing individuals with varying levels of technical expertise to manage their online presence effectively. While the market boasts a vast array of CMS platforms, a significant portion of the web is dominated by a few key players. As of March 2025, WordPress, Shopify, and Wix collectively control nearly three-quarters of the CMS market, highlighting their widespread adoption and influence.

The CMS ecosystem can be broadly categorized based on several factors, including their licensing model (open-source vs. proprietary) and their architectural approach (monolithic vs. headless). Open-source CMS platforms, such as WordPress and Drupal, offer the advantage of being free to use and modify, fostering a collaborative environment with extensive community support. This open collaboration often results in frequent updates, incorporating the latest features, security patches, and performance enhancements. Conversely, proprietary CMS solutions, like Squarespace and Wix, are commercial platforms that typically involve subscription fees. While they may offer more limited customization options compared to their open-source counterparts, they often provide a more streamlined setup process and simplified maintenance. This ease of use makes them particularly appealing to individuals and small businesses that may lack dedicated technical resources.

2.2. Detailed Analysis of the Most Popular CMS Platforms:

2.2.1. WordPress:

WordPress stands as the undisputed leader in the CMS market, commanding a substantial market share that various sources estimate to be between 43.2% and 62.7%. The slight discrepancy in these figures often arises from the methodology employed in calculating market share. Some analyses consider all websites on the internet, including those that do not utilize a known CMS, while others focus solely on sites identified as using a CMS. When accounting for all websites, WordPress powers approximately 43% of the internet. However, within the realm of websites using a CMS, its dominance is even more pronounced, exceeding 60%.

Shopify has firmly established itself as the second most popular CMS platform, particularly within the realm of e-commerce. It holds approximately 6-7% of the global CMS market share and powers over 29% of e-commerce websites worldwide. Shopify’s rise to prominence is largely attributed to the significant boom in e-commerce over the past decade. It has become the leading CMS choice for online stores and retail point-of-sale systems, catering specifically to the needs of businesses looking to sell products online.

Wix has emerged as the third most popular CMS platform globally, capturing a significant portion of the market with a share ranging from 3% to 5%. As of February 2025, its global market share was approximately 4.8%. Notably, Wix has been identified as the fastest-growing CMS platform, demonstrating substantial market growth between 2015 and 2025. This rapid growth indicates a strong appeal to users, particularly beginners, who are seeking a straightforward and efficient way to create a website.

2.2.4. Squarespace:

Squarespace holds a significant position in the CMS market, with a global market share estimated to be between 2% and 4%. As of February 2025, its market share was around 3.2%. Squarespace is particularly known for its sophisticated and aesthetically pleasing design templates. Similar to Wix, it offers an intuitive drag-and-drop functionality, simplifying the website building process for users without coding expertise. Unlike WordPress, Squarespace operates as an integrated platform, providing website building tools, a blogging platform, and hosting services all within a single package. This integrated approach often results in a more streamlined and user-friendly experience, although it may offer less flexibility in terms of customization compared to open-source options.

Joomla holds a global CMS market share of approximately 1% to 2%. In 2025, its market share is reported to be around 2.4%. Notably, Joomla’s market share has experienced a decline over the past decade, decreasing from 8.7% in 2013. This suggests a trend where users are migrating towards platforms that offer a more intuitive user experience or are more specialized for specific needs.

Drupal currently holds a global CMS market share of approximately 1%. Specifically, its market share in 2025 is reported to be around 1.2%. Similar to Joomla, Drupal has also experienced a decline in its market share over the past decade, falling from 7.2% in 2013. This trend suggests a broader shift in user preferences towards platforms that offer a lower barrier to entry and a more intuitive user experience.

Beyond the top contenders, several other CMS platforms cater to specific needs and niches. Adobe Commerce, formerly known as Magento, remains a leading open-source e-commerce platform favored for its robust and scalable features for businesses of all sizes. Headless CMS solutions like Contentful and ButterCMS offer API-driven content management, allowing seamless integration with any existing application regardless of the underlying technology stack. Webflow has been gaining traction as a powerful platform offering a blend of design flexibility and content management capabilities. HubSpot CMS is tailored for marketing-focused websites, integrating content management with marketing and sales tools. PrestaShop is a user-friendly CMS specifically designed for creating online stores. Umbraco, built on the Microsoft.NET framework, is praised for its flexibility and simple interface. These and other platforms like Sitecore, Kentico, and Craft CMS offer specialized features and cater to diverse requirements within the broader CMS landscape.

2.4. Table: Market Share of Top CMS Platforms (Approximate, Based on Multiple Sources, Early 2025 Data)

3. Popular Programming Languages

3.1. Overview of the Current Programming Language Landscape:

The world of programming languages is vast and varied, with each language possessing its own unique set of characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses. The selection of a particular programming language for a project is often a multifaceted decision, influenced by factors such as the specific requirements of the project, the expertise and familiarity of the development team, and the desired performance and scalability of the final application.

The popularity of a programming language is typically driven by a confluence of factors. Ease of learning plays a significant role, as languages with simpler syntax and readily available learning resources tend to attract a larger user base, especially among newcomers to the field. A strong and active community is also crucial, providing support, documentation, and a wealth of third-party libraries and frameworks that can accelerate development and address common challenges. Performance considerations are often paramount, particularly for applications that demand high speed and efficiency. Specific use cases, such as web development, data science, or artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML), often have preferred languages that offer specialized tools and libraries. Finally, broader industry trends and the adoption of languages by major technology companies can significantly impact their popularity and demand in the job market.

3.2. Detailed Analysis of the Most Popular Programming Languages:

3.2.1. Python:

Python has ascended to the top ranks of programming languages, consistently demonstrating its dominance across various industry indices. Notably, in 2024, Python surpassed JavaScript to become the most used language on GitHub for the first time. This shift underscores Python’s increasing prominence, particularly in the rapidly expanding fields of data science and machine learning. The language’s relatively simple and readable syntax, compared to more traditional languages like C++ or Java, has made it a favorite among both newcomers and experienced professionals across a wide range of industries. Python’s versatility is another key factor contributing to its widespread adoption. It is extensively used in web development, data analysis, AI and machine learning (bolstered by powerful libraries such as Pandas, NumPy, and TensorFlow), automation scripts, and backend development. Its capabilities even extend to powering the data analysis behind significant scientific endeavors like NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. The trend of Python’s growth and dominance is expected to continue, especially in the realms of AI and data science, with its popularity steadily increasing in indices like TIOBE and its demand remaining high among recruiters

3.2.2. JavaScript/TypeScript:

JavaScript has long been a mainstay in web development and consistently ranks among the most popular programming languages in developer surveys. It has held the top position in the Stack Overflow Developer Survey every year since its inception in 2011, with the exception of 2013 and 2014. Alongside JavaScript’s enduring popularity, TypeScript has experienced a rapid surge in adoption. TypeScript is often described as a “better” version of JavaScript, addressing many of its design limitations by introducing features like optional static typing. This addition of typing helps developers write cleaner, more manageable, and less error-prone code, particularly beneficial for large and complex projects. JavaScript’s versatility is a significant contributor to its continued dominance. It remains the cornerstone of frontend web development, enabling interactive elements and dynamic content on websites. Furthermore, with the advent of Node.js, JavaScript has extended its reach to backend development, making it a full-stack language capable of handling both the client-side and server-side of web applications. Beyond web development, JavaScript, through frameworks like React Native, is also used for building native mobile applications, and platforms like Electron allow developers to create cross-platform desktop applications using JavaScript. This broad applicability makes JavaScript and its enhanced counterpart, TypeScript, indispensable tools in the modern software development landscape.

3.2.3. Java:

Java has maintained its position as a highly popular and widely used programming language, consistently ranking high in various industry surveys. Its stability and ability to handle large-scale projects have made it a dominant force in enterprise-level applications. Java’s robust and object-oriented nature makes it well-suited for building complex and scalable systems. It is extensively used in the development of Android mobile applications, powering a vast ecosystem of apps on the world’s most popular mobile operating system. Furthermore, Java plays a crucial role in the backend systems of many large organizations, including governments, banks, educational institutions, and various other large enterprises. Even platforms like LinkedIn and Netflix rely heavily on Java for their backend infrastructure. While some rankings indicate a slight decrease in Java’s overall popularity in recent years, its fundamental importance and widespread adoption within the industry ensure its continued relevance as a dominant programming language.

3.2.4. C#:

C# consistently ranks among the top programming languages, holding a strong position within the software development landscape. This versatile language is the primary choice for developing applications within the Microsoft ecosystem and is deeply integrated with the.NET framework. C# is particularly renowned for its use in game development, serving as the scripting language for the widely popular Unity game engine, which powers a vast number of immersive and interactive gaming experiences. Beyond gaming, C# is also extensively used in the development of enterprise-level software solutions, Windows desktop applications, and increasingly in areas like web development, IoT (Internet of Things), and even mobile app development. The demand for C# developers remains stable, reflecting its continued relevance and broad applicability across various domains. Its modern features and strong community support further solidify its position as a key programming language in the industry.

C++ has maintained a consistent presence among the top programming languages, recognized for its power and performance. Often considered the “backbone of everything,” C++ is fundamental to system programming, providing low-level memory manipulation capabilities essential for operating systems, device drivers, and embedded systems. Its high performance and efficiency also make it a preferred choice for game development, where speed and responsiveness are critical. Furthermore, C++ is widely used in the development of servers, databases, and even applications for space exploration. Despite the emergence of newer languages, C++ continues to hold its ground in these niche areas, demonstrating its enduring relevance for performance-critical applications and system-level programming. Modern C++ has evolved significantly, incorporating features such as object-oriented programming, generics, and functional programming paradigms, ensuring its continued utility in the ever-changing technological landscape.

Beyond the top five, several other programming languages play crucial roles in various domains. Go, designed for efficiency and scalability, has gained popularity in cloud computing and for building systems that can handle a large number of concurrent users. Rust, focused on safety, speed, and concurrency, is gaining traction in system programming for its memory safety features. PHP remains a significant language for web development, particularly as the foundation of WordPress. Ruby, known for its elegant and expressive syntax, is often favored by startups for rapid development. Swift is the primary language for developing applications within Apple’s ecosystem (macOS, iOS, watchOS, and tvOS). Kotlin, designed to be concise and interoperable with Java, has become a popular choice for Android app development. These languages, along with others like R for statistical computing and SQL for database management, form a diverse and dynamic programming language ecosystem.

3.4. Table: Rankings of Top Programming Languages (Based on Recent Surveys, 2024/2025 Data)

4. Programming Languages Losing Popularity

4.1. Analysis of Programming Languages with Declining Usage:

4.1.1. Objective-C:

Objective-C, once the primary programming language for Apple’s macOS and iOS operating systems, has experienced a significant decline in popularity. This decline is largely attributed to Apple’s introduction and active promotion of Swift as its modern, preferred language for developing applications on its platforms. While some older applications, including popular apps like Instagram and Airbnb (initially), may still contain Objective-C code, Swift has become the standard for new iOS and macOS development. A key reason for this shift is the emphasis on security; Swift is considered more secure than Objective-C, a critical factor in today’s software development landscape. Although Objective-C may still be used for maintaining legacy applications, its relevance for new projects has diminished considerably, effectively making it obsolete for most developers.

4.1.2. Perl:

Perl, a family of high-level, interpreted programming languages once widely used for text manipulation and web development, has seen a decline in popularity in recent years. The emergence of more modern scripting languages like Python and Ruby, which offer cleaner syntax and more advanced frameworks for web development, has contributed to this trend. While Perl includes features that ease a programmer’s job, it often comes at the cost of greater memory requests and CPU usage. A significant disadvantage of Perl is that its code can be very compact, making it nearly unreadable and considerably harder to maintain compared to languages with more verbose and clear syntax like Python. Consequently, many developers now prefer Python over Perl, especially as Python is considered better in terms of pattern matching and substitution, key tasks for which Perl was initially favored.

4.1.3. Haskell:

Haskell, a general-purpose, statically typed functional programming language, has experienced a consistent decline in popularity over the last decade. While Haskell boasts features like short and maintainable code, shorter lead times, and higher reliability, making it suitable for research and industrial applications, its static typing and challenging learning curve have hindered its widespread adoption. Even the TIOBE popularity index confirms this trend. Furthermore, Haskell’s slow response time compared to more relevant and flexible languages like Go and Python has also contributed to its dwindling interest among developers. While Haskell remains a powerful language for specific domains, its complexity and performance characteristics have likely limited its appeal in the broader programming community.

4.1.4. COBOL:

COBOL (Common Business-Oriented Language), one of the oldest programming languages, primarily designed for business use, has naturally seen a decline in its widespread adoption. While COBOL dominated programming in the 1960s and still powers many legacy systems in industries such as banking, finance, and government, the demand for new COBOL projects has significantly decreased. Programmers often find using static typing Java or dynamic typing Python more comfortable compared to COBOL’s strong typing rules, which can make it more difficult to parse. Consequently, many big corporations are moving towards cloud-based solutions and other modern alternatives. Although there is still a need for developers to maintain existing COBOL systems, its influence on the modern programming landscape is minimal, and its use is largely confined to legacy maintenance.

4.1.5. VB.NET:

VB.NET, an object-oriented programming language developed by Microsoft as the successor to its initial Visual Basic Language, has also experienced a decline in popularity, particularly when compared to its counterpart within the.NET ecosystem, C#. While VB.NET was quite popular for a long time, it lost its charm with the emergence of C# in terms of both demand and overall popularity. Google Trends data also supports this observation. Many developers within the Microsoft ecosystem now prefer C# due to its more modern syntax and features, leading to a reduced adoption of VB.NET for new projects.

PHP, a language that started as a simple “Personal Home Page Tool,” has made an incredible journey but is now showing a declining trend in popularity. Despite still having a strong presence in small and medium websites and being the language behind the most popular web content management system, WordPress, its “glory days seem to be over”. Since the beginning of the TIOBE index in 2001, PHP has faced stiff competition in the realm of website building from web development frameworks like Rails, Django, and React, which were built on JavaScript, Ruby, or Python. Additionally, PHP has experienced a long list of security vulnerabilities that may have negatively impacted its popularity. While PHP is certainly not gone and remains essential for maintaining many existing websites, particularly those built with WordPress, its adoption for new, large-scale projects appears to be waning in favor of more modern and secure alternatives.

Ruby, an elegant and expressive language that gained significant popularity, particularly with the rise of the Ruby on Rails framework, has seen a decline from its peak. While still favored by startups and teams that need to build things quickly, many companies are now moving towards languages like JavaScript/TypeScript, Go, and Python for new projects. Anecdotal evidence suggests that many “Ruby houses” have since adopted a more diverse technology stack, with some even using languages like Elixir more frequently than Ruby. Although Ruby still has a dedicated community and remains more popular in certain regions like Japan and South America, its overall adoption for new projects appears to be decreasing.

4.2. Table: Trends of Declining Programming Languages (Based on Research Material)

5. Conclusion

The landscape of web development technologies is constantly evolving, with clear trends emerging in both CMS platforms and programming languages. In the realm of CMS, WordPress continues its reign as the dominant platform, owing to its versatility, vast ecosystem, and user-friendly nature. However, specialized platforms like Shopify have witnessed significant growth, capitalizing on the booming e-commerce market. Similarly, user-friendly website builders such as Wix and Squarespace have gained substantial traction, catering to individuals and small businesses seeking ease of use and design-centric solutions. The emergence of headless CMS signifies a move towards more flexible and scalable content delivery strategies.

In the domain of programming languages, Python and JavaScript (along with its superset TypeScript) stand out as the most popular choices, driven by their versatility, strong community support, and relevance in key areas like web development, data science, and AI/ML. Java and C# maintain their strong presence, particularly in enterprise-level applications and game development, respectively. Conversely, older languages like Objective-C, Perl, Pascal, and COBOL are experiencing a decline in popularity due to factors such as the rise of more modern and secure alternatives, complexities in syntax and maintenance, and their limited applicability to current development needs. PHP and Ruby, while still in use, are also showing trends of decreasing adoption for new projects.

Looking ahead, the future direction of these technologies will likely be shaped by factors such as the increasing importance of e-commerce, the continuous demand for user-friendly website building solutions, the growing influence of AI and data science on programming language popularity, and the persistent need for performance, security, and scalability in web applications. In this dynamic environment, continuous learning and adaptation are paramount for developers and businesses to remain competitive and leverage the most effective tools for their needs.