Kotlin Tops Stack Overflow's Most Loved Programming Languages Ranking

Kotlin tops the list of most loved languages on Stack Overflow: what does this mean for developers?

The annual Stack Overflow developer survey is one of the most authoritative snapshots of sentiment in the IT community. In 2024, the results showed an unexpected yet logical trend: Kotlin took first place in the "most loved" programming language category, surpassing Rust, Python, and TypeScript. This result confirms Kotlin's growing popularity not only in Android development, but also in backend, data science, and even scenarios where Python previously dominated.

Why did Kotlin become the leader?

Kotlin is a modern language that runs on top of the JVM (Java Virtual Machine). It combines Python's conciseness with the power of Java's static typing. Here are the key reasons for its success:

• Full compatibility with Java — you can use any Java libraries and frameworks, simplifying migration of old projects.
• Null-safety — built-in protection against NullPointerException, one of the most common errors in Java and Python.
• Proper coroutine support — asynchronous programming without callback hell.
• Multiplatform — Kotlin/Native and Kotlin/JS allow writing code for iOS, Web, and Desktop.
• Expressive syntax — less boilerplate compared to Java, more similar to Python.

Comparison with Python: why this matters for PythonLib readers

For Python developers, Kotlin might seem exotic, but it offers a number of advantages, especially in a production environment:

• Performance — Kotlin compiles to JVM bytecode, providing speed comparable to Java, and 2-5 times faster than CPython.
• Typing — static typing allows catching errors at compile time rather than at runtime, as in Python.
• Ecosystem — Spring Boot, Ktor, Vert.x — powerful frameworks for backend development.
• Android development — if you want to create mobile applications, Kotlin is the de facto standard.

However, Kotlin does not completely replace Python: for rapid prototyping, ML/AI, and data analysis, Python remains king. But for high-load systems, microservices, and commercial development, Kotlin is a strong candidate.

What the Stack Overflow 2024 survey numbers say

According to the survey, Kotlin received 78% positive feedback from developers who have worked with it. For comparison: Python — 72%, Rust — 76%. Additionally, Kotlin showed one of the highest user share growth rates over the past 5 years — a 15% increase compared to 2023. The language is especially popular among developers aged 25-34 and in startups.

How to start learning Kotlin?

If you are a Python developer, the transition to Kotlin will not be painful. We recommend:

• Study the official documentation at kotlinlang.org.
• Try Kotlin Playground — an online editor without installation.
• Write a simple Telegram bot using Ktor or Spring Boot.
• Experiment with Kotlin Multiplatform for sharing code between a backend and a mobile application.

Kotlin is not a "Python killer"