Java Enters Top of Most Loved Languages According to StackOverflow 2024

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Java in the top of the most loved languages according to StackOverflow

StackOverflow, the largest developer community in the world, has published the results of its annual developer survey for 2024. This year, interesting changes occurred in the list of the most loved programming languages: Java not only maintained strong positions but also entered the top 5 most "loved" languages among professionals.

The 2024 StackOverflow survey covered over 90,000 developers from 185 countries. Participants were asked to rate the languages they worked with over the past year on a scale from "love" to "hate." In the "loved" languages category, Java took an honorable 4th place, trailing only Rust, Python, and TypeScript. At the same time, Java surpassed competitors such as Go, Kotlin, and C#.

Why do developers love Java?

Stability and reliability: Java is famous for its backward compatibility. Code written 10–15 years ago often runs on modern JVM versions without changes.
Performance: Thanks to JIT compilation and garbage collector optimization, Java remains one of the fastest languages among platform-independent solutions.
Ecosystem: A huge number of libraries and frameworks (Spring, Hibernate, Apache Kafka) make Java the #1 choice for enterprise solutions.
Community: A massive community, millions of questions on StackOverflow, and plenty of free learning materials.

Interestingly, Java also made it into the top languages with the lowest level of "dislike." Compared to JavaScript or C++, which often receive polarizing ratings, Java is perceived by the community as a "workhorse" – predictable, powerful, and versatile.

What do the developers themselves say?

In the survey comments, participants note that Java is especially valued for its ability to scale. "I've been writing Java for 8 years, and every new release makes the language more convenient. Records, pattern matching, sealed classes – these are things we lacked before," shares one respondent. Another developer adds: "Java isn't trendy, but it works. When you need a stable backend for a bank or an airline – you choose Java."

Java's popularity in the StackOverflow survey is also explained by its active use in education. Many universities still teach Java as a first language, which builds a loyal audience for years to come.

Full picture of the ranking

Top 5 most loved languages according to StackOverflow 2024:

Rust (83% positive ratings)
Python (77%)
TypeScript (73%)
Java (71%)
Go (69%)

For comparison: Kotlin, which is often called "improved Java," took 7th place (65%). C# was in 8th place (63%), and JavaScript was in 11th (58%).

Thus, Java confidently holds its place among the elite of programming languages. Despite the emergence of new competitors, it remains one of the most loved tools in a developer's arsenal. If you are not yet familiar with Java – now is the time to take a closer look at this language, especially if you are interested in backend development, Android, or enterprise solutions.

The full results of the StackOverflow Developer Survey 2024 are available on the platform's official website.