There is a new google toy as of today: Google Trends. So of course, I wanted to see how PHP is faring on the trendy landscape. Here is a comparison of PHP, Java, C#, and Perl:

PHP???Java???C#???Perl

PHP seems to be holding steady, or slightly declining. But, Java is waning, as I discussed in Why isn't PHP the natural successor to Java?. C# seems to be steady and slightly increasing, while Perl is steady and slightly decreasing. So where are those Java programmers going if not PHP? Are they going to Ruby and Ruby on Rails?

Java???Ruby???Ruby on Rails

It looks like Ruby and Ruby on Rails are tiny fish in Java's pond. Perhaps those Java developers are going to C# or one of Microsoft's unsearchable variants. It would be interesting to see the MSN search trends. However, there is one area where Ruby on Rails seems to be doing well:

Struts???Ruby on Rails???framework

It used to be that most of the PHP frameworks were cloning Struts. Now they clone Rails. There is an increasing interest in frameworks.

There are countries where PHP is more popular. Here is the PHP vs. Java chart for the Netherlands. Right at the end, PHP beats out Java. Search, Derick. Search.

PHP???Java

One last Trend. What is trendier that Ajax these days? Certainly not JavaScript.

Javascript???AJAX

Notice how Javascript searches are declining while Ajax is ascending. Strangely I would have thought that the interest in AJAX would have created an increase in Javascript searches. It doesn't look like the total search volume of the two terms together is increasing that much. Looking at the news volume graph is striking. The AJAX press release machine is in full gear. So is AJAX the thing that everyone is talking about, but nobody is doing? Can you say Web 2.0 bubble?

Please use the AJAX enabled comment form below to tell me how wrong I am.

DISCLAIMER: These graphs and conclusions are for entertainment purposes only. Opinions expressed should not be construed as trendy advice. The particulars of any person's concerns and circumstances should be discussed with a qualified trend spotting practitioner prior to making any decisions.

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