What the 2020 JetBrains Developer Survey Reveals About Language Trends and Developer Habits

JetBrains released the 2020 Developer Ecosystem Report based on feedback from over 34,000 developers, with 20% from China, 19% from the United States, and 17% from India. The report adds new sections on R, micro‑services, testing, big data, and developers' lifestyles.

In the past 12 months, Python usage surpassed Java, though Java remains the most popular language.

Go, Kotlin, and Python are the top three languages developers plan to adopt or migrate to.

Web development is the most common application type; nearly 70% of web developers also work on backend development.

Programming is the primary hobby pursued by developers in their spare time.

Programming Languages

JavaScript remains the most used language, followed by HTML/CSS. Go, Kotlin, and Python are the top three languages developers plan to adopt or migrate to.

Development Environment & Operating Systems

Development Types

69% of respondents are involved in backend development, and 57% in frontend development.

Lifestyle & Entertainment

The survey added a lifestyle section covering habits, information sources, and charitable behavior; about two‑thirds of respondents completed this part. Most developers start work before noon and can be easily woken by an alarm. 32% spend 32 + hours per week coding, 29% spend 17‑31 hours, and 38% devote 3‑8 hours weekly to personal programming or side projects. Most read professional material on their smartphones. Half of the developers do not trust artificial intelligence. Only 16% own cryptocurrency, while 65% prefer laptops. Most have no pets; cat and dog owners are evenly split. Programming is the top hobby, followed by video games, music, and reading. Nearly 60% practice coding in spare time, and half donate to charity.

Full report: https://www.jetbrains.com/lp/devecosystem-2020