JavaScript continues to hold its position as the most-used programming language globally, according to the 2024 edition of JetBrains’ State of Developer Ecosystem Report. The report reveals that 61% of developers worldwide use JavaScript to build web applications, solidifying its dominance in the developer landscape. Following JavaScript, Python ranks as the second most popular language with 57% of developers, while HTML/CSS and SQL come in third and fourth, used by 51% and 48% of developers, respectively. However, among the top languages, it’s TypeScript that stands out in terms of growth, with its usage increasing by 3% compared to the previous year.
Despite its steady popularity, JavaScript’s growth rate is showing signs of slowing down, with only a slight increase in usage from the previous year. In contrast, Python and TypeScript have experienced a notable uptick, with both seeing a 3% rise in adoption. This shift reflects broader trends in the developer ecosystem, where languages suited to modern development needs, such as TypeScript’s strong support for large-scale JavaScript applications, are gaining traction. Additionally, C#, Go, and Rust also saw modest increases in usage, indicating growing interest in these languages as developers look for alternatives to traditional programming paradigms.
The 2024 JetBrains report also introduces a new metric designed to assess the future growth prospects of programming languages—the JetBrains Language Promise Index. This index takes into account factors such as five-year usage growth, the stability of that growth, and the intentions of developers to adopt or switch to these languages. The report reveals that TypeScript, Rust, and Python are the “undisputed leaders” in terms of future promise. TypeScript has seen impressive growth, rising from just 12% of developers in 2017 to 35% in 2024, while Python’s usage has surged from 32% to 57% over the same period. Rust, though still smaller in adoption, has also experienced rapid growth, increasing from 2% to 11% in just a few years.
While JavaScript remains the go-to language for many developers, the JetBrains report notes that its usage has slightly decreased since its peak in 2020, when 54% of developers were using it. This decline is not necessarily indicative of a broader trend, but rather reflects the diversification of the programming landscape, with newer languages like TypeScript, Rust, and Python carving out significant niches. As developers continue to explore more specialized tools for modern development tasks, the overall ecosystem is becoming more dynamic, with languages like Python and TypeScript emerging as key players for the future.