The Ongoing State of JavaScript

The latest State of JavaScript Survey has just been published, bringing us a wealth of details about what parts of the JavaScript ecosystem are used, loved, and wanted by developers.

The JavaScript ecosystem is constantly evolving.

As we delve into the survey results, it’s clear that the trend towards TypeScript continues to intensify. Almost a third of developers program in TypeScript all the time, with almost three-quarters using it more than half the time. Only 9% stick exclusively to JavaScript.

TypeScript is becoming the norm.

When it comes to Frontend Development, almost all respondents (98%) use JavaScript, with two-thirds (69%) using it for Backend Development. Mobile apps proved more popular than desktop apps, and its use for data visualization and graphics and animation was fairly substantial.

JavaScript is ubiquitous in Frontend Development.

In terms of other languages, respondents were able to make multiple choices, revealing that 44% also program in Python, 31% in PHP, and 27% in Java.

JavaScript is just one part of the programming landscape.

Given the almost ubiquitous use of JavaScript for Frontend Development, it’s interesting to see how the competing Frontend Frameworks are faring. The 2023 report sees a new style of interactive chart that has information about how many developers use each library, the extent to which they know about them, how much they want to try them, and the extent to which they intend to stay with them.

React remains the most popular Frontend Framework.

The chart of API usage is also an eye-opener. Is WebSocket replacing Ajax? Are we really writing so many PWAs?

API usage is changing rapidly.

As usual, the survey looks at what JavaScript developers feel is missing from the ecosystem. And as I’ve said before, static typing is something you should be careful about wishing for. Use TypeScript if that is what you want, and leave JavaScript as it is. Even so, it’s still the most requested feature, with 57% of respondents wanting it. A Standard Library is a more sensible request. My vote would be for jQuery. You might think this wouldn’t be widely supported in these revisionary times, but 22% of respondents to the survey still use it.

Developers want more from the JavaScript ecosystem.

There’s a lot more to discover in the State of JavaScript 2023 survey. If you want to take part in future surveys, you can sign up to be notified.

“The State of JavaScript Survey is a valuable resource for developers and businesses alike. It provides a snapshot of the JavaScript ecosystem and helps us understand where we’re headed.” - JavaScript expert