Python overtakes JavaScript as the most popular programming language

Instead of being replaced by AI coding tools, developers are increasingly integrating AI into applications and engaging with AI projects on GitHub.

According to GitHub’s latest report, Python surpassed JavaScript as the most popular language on GitHub, reflecting a rise in data science and machine learning. Developers are rapidly building AI models and engaging with AI projects on GitHub. They’ve also noticed an Increased interest in AI agents and smaller models that require less computational power.

1.4 million new developers globally joined open-source projects on GitHub, with a majority of them contributing to commercially backed and generative AI projects. 

In 2024, there was a 59% surge in the number of contributions to generative AI projects on GitHub and a 98% increase in the number of projects overall.

There are more developers than ever

The data also shows the rise in the number of developers suggesting AI helping more people learn to code and build software. The number of people actively contributing to GitHub projects is particularly expanding, especially in regions like Africa, Latin America, and Asia, with significant growth in first-time open-source contributors. Brazil’s developer community is growing fast, and India is expected to become the world’s largest developer population on GitHub by 2028.

Python on the throne

Python is now the most used language on GitHub. The rise in Python usage correlates with large communities of people joining the open-source community and with the rise in machine learning and data science projects.

Systems programming languages, like Rust, are also on the rise, even as Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, and Java remain the most widely used languages on GitHub, the report says.