Java is the programming language of the year according to the Tiobe index http://www.tiobe.com/tpci.htm.

Although the index is purely an quantitative web based count of activity , it does also mean it is free from any editorial or company bias. The award is quite unusual as it measures the percentage growth. So that means even if you are bottom of the class you have a chance to win. If you are already at #1, as Java was, it is really hard to achieve. For example C# was close in the running as it grew 1.35% to a measured 3.55% (Java was top with 22.25%) and grew 4.77%

Combined with the new app servers like Geronimo as I blogged previously , this measure of activity could grow even higher.