2024 Programming Language Rankings: What JetBrains' Report Reveals

JavaScript Remains the Top Language in 2024

JetBrains' 2024 Developer Ecosystem Report, based on 23,262 developers worldwide, shows 61% use JavaScript for web applications, keeping it the most popular language.

Python, TypeScript, Rust Gain Rapid Traction

Python ranks second with 57% usage, followed by HTML/CSS (51%), SQL (48%), Java (46%) and TypeScript (37%). Python and TypeScript saw a 3% increase over the previous year, while C#, Go and Rust each grew 1%.

Language Outlook Index Highlights Future Leaders

The new Language Outlook Index evaluates growth, stability, adoption intent, and current user share. TypeScript, Rust and Python are identified as the undisputed leaders.

Growth Statistics

TypeScript usage rose from 12% in 2017 to 35% in 2024.

Python usage grew from 32% in 2017 to 57% in 2024.

Rust usage increased from 2% in 2018 to 11% in 2024.

Java usage slipped from 47% in 2017 to 46% in 2024, after peaking at 54% in 2020.

Despite its rise, TypeScript will not replace JavaScript, which remains a fundamental technology in software development.

TypeScript offers advantages such as early error detection, improved code quality, compile‑time error catching, reliable refactoring, and native support for ES2015 modules.

Additional Findings

Go and Rust are the languages most developers plan to adopt.

Rust aims to replace C++ with strict safety and memory‑ownership mechanisms.

ChatGPT is the most tried AI coding tool (69% of developers), followed by GitHub Copilot (40%).

U.S. developers have the highest average salary at $144,000.

Top work challenges: understanding user needs (38%), communication with other roles (34%), and reading others' code (32%).

Open‑source databases MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, SQLite, and Redis dominate storage choices.

AWS is the most used cloud platform in North America (46%), with Microsoft Azure second (17%).