Java and Python’s shift was even being telegraphed in September, with Python solidly occupying the No. 3 spot while Java continued to post negative numbers. SEE: Top 5 programming languages for ...

Python adoption has been rapid, with SlashData estimating the language gained more than two million new developers in 2018. "The rise of machine learning is a clear factor in its popularity.

One language that's ascended rapidly in recent years is Python and it hasn't budged from the number two spot — a position it took from Oracle's Java last July after tying with Java in Q1 2020.