TOP PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES 2019: PYTHON, GO AND TYPESCRIPT KEEP RISING
The IT sector is changing as rapidly in recent years as ever.
New technologies emerge every day, and it’s really challenging to keep up with the changes. Every year, we take a snapshot of the current state of software development to help with recognizing the current trends and to read the scene for upcoming changes.
We are proud to say our own survey had 695 participants this year, more than double from the year before. So now we present even better data, for a more precise insight on the trends of the top programming languages of 2019.
So, let’s look at the data, and see what trends are emerging in 2019.
TOP PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES 2019
JavaScript reigns supreme among the programming languages of 2019 according to our own survey, standing head and shoulders above the rest at 54.24%. It seems to have lost some ground compared to last year, but it is still undoubtedly the most relevant language.
Java sits in second place, and apparently, it has grown since last year by a tangible margin, from 30.03% to 34.96%.
Python is #3 in our survey, and it is growing rapidly. Some sites report it has even surpassed Java this year and is well-loved by developers for its simplicity and flexibility.
THE MOST ANTICIPATED PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES TO START USING IN 12 MONTHS
The option for not considering any new languages is still in the lead, but by a significantly smaller margin compared to last year. It suggests more initiative in the industry.
Python reached 21.73% in being considered to add as a language in the next 12 months compared to 18.15% last year. It proves again what is shown by the top programming languages of 2019 chart: it may be high on the list already, but it just keeps climbing.
Go, in second place, also gained more consideration than last year. While it is not among the top ten most commonly used programming languages in 2019, it is certainly one to look out for. According to our survey, only 4.03% is using it right now, but a comparably massive 17.41% is considering to start using it in the next 12 months.
TypeScript is another up-and-comer, with marginally less consideration to pick up than Go, but with over three times as many using it already. TypeScript has grown into one of the top programming languages in 2019, with plenty of room to continue growing.
JavaScript has dropped on the chart from 16.17% all the way to 12.66% on being considered to implement in the near future. The fact that so many are already using it could play a part in the drop, but it also has direct competition from Go and TypeScript.
Kotlin became highly in demand when Google announced it as an official programming language for Android apps two years ago. It may not have reached the top of the charts yet, but it has been steadily growing and is expected to continue.
EMERGING TRENDS IN PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES FOR 2019
Our survey of programming languages in 2019 seems to show there are five languages deserving special attention at the moment.
JAVASCRIPT IS CEMENTED TO THE TOP
Standing as the clear #1 programming language in 2019, and still taking a respectable spot among the most considered ones, JavaScript is clearly the present of programming. Due to its widespread use, it is a language that is extremely useful to know and have a specialist in.
PYTHON HAS NOT PEAKED YET
Python has been steadily climbing the charts over the last few years, and our survey suggests it is third on the top programming languages 2019 list, getting close to overtaking Java for the #2 spot, while some even report it already has.
Whatever the case may be, Python is considered a strong candidate to pick up in the near future. It has been around since 1991, and with its simplicity and versatility, it is as relevant now as it ever was, making it a useful language to add to the repertoire.
TYPESCRIPT IS WELL ON ITS WAY
TypeScript took a big leap forward among the top programming languages in 2019. Our survey shows it went from 11.22% to 15.83% over the last year. Also, even more companies are considering using it than a year ago, so further growth is expected in the near future.
TypeScript code can be easily transpiled to JavaScript, but in most cases, it is easier to use, so JavaScript’s dominance alone makes sure TypeScript will be around for the foreseeable future.
GO MAY BE THE NEXT BIG THING
While Go may not have broken into the ten top programming languages in 2019, it is probably on the verge of getting there. A very significant 17.41% considers implementing it in the coming months. Go code also transpiles into JavaScript, it is known for being reasonably easy to write and read, and apparently, Google is considering transitioning its products to Go. All this could cause Go to skyrocket in popularity, but it has not proven its staying power yet.
KOTLIN IS RISING THROUGH ANDROID APPS
As an alternative for Java, but specifically used as the official programming language for Android apps, Kotlin is highly in demand right now. It has not reached top popularity yet, but it is already extremely important for Android application developers, and it will certainly stay as one of the more relevant languages for some time.
EMERGING TRENDS IN GOOGLE SEARCHES
The PopularitY of Programming Language (PYPL) index is based on Google’s data on how often language tutorials are searched for, which indicates direct interest. The data is always compared to the same month a year earlier, highlighting current relevancy and shifting interests on a monthly basis.
SUMMARY
Overall, it can be said that JavaScript is still the king of the hill, and it is a good investment currently, but it could be taken over in the long run. Python has already made its way to the top programming languages in 2019, and it seems to continue growing, so it could be a great language to commit resources to.
Kotlin is a key language for mobile and specifically Android app developers, and it has the potential to grow into one of the very top programming languages in the coming years.
TypeScript and Go are both strong up-and-comers. Their simplicity and similarity to JavaScript is likely working for them in the long run and may even cause them to eventually make the current #1 obsolete.
Further reading:
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About the author:
Gabor Zold is a content marketer and tech writer, focusing on software development technologies and engineering management. He has extensive knowledge about engineering management-related topics and has been doing interviews with accomplished tech leaders for years. He is the audio wizard of the Level-up Engineering podcast.
_ We’re a full-stack web development agency, building web applications from design to delivery with Angular, React, and Node.js
