Python is currently the most popular programming language on GitHub, closely followed by TypeScript and JavaScript, with a diverse mix of established and emerging languages rounding out the top 25 according to the latest GitHub and industry trend reports.
Below, each language’s popularity is explained in the context of how developers are using them on GitHub in 2025.
1. Python
Python leads due to its readable syntax and dominance in artificial intelligence, data science, and automation. Its rich ecosystem and the rise of generative AI have attracted massive open-source activity and community engagement.
2. TypeScript
TypeScript, a superset of JavaScript, continues to climb in popularity. It enables scalable and maintainable code for large applications, contributing to its growth in modern web and enterprise development.
3. JavaScript
JavaScript remains fundamental to web development, powering dynamic sites and applications. Its frameworks—React, Angular, and Vue—help sustain high contributions and repository activity on GitHub.
4. C#
C# thrives due to its strong standing in enterprise, game (with Unity), and desktop application development. Its cross-platform adaptability further helps its repository growth.
5. HTML
HTML is essential for web content structure. It sees persistent use because it underpins nearly all front-end web projects on GitHub.
6. Rust
Rust is lauded for security, performance, and modern syntax. Its growing adoption in systems, embedded, cloud, and blockchain development is fueling more repositories each year.
7. C++
C++ remains a major player for performance-critical software such as games, databases, and scientific computing. It’s entrenched in many influential GitHub projects.
8. C
C endures in legacy codebases, system development, and embedded programming, ensuring its presence among top repositories.
9. Go
Go (Golang), favored for its concurrency features and simplicity, excels in cloud-native, microservices, and highly scalable backend infrastructure, driving up its GitHub activity.
10. Lua
Lua is lightweight yet powerful, with usage spanning gaming (notably in Roblox), scripting, and embedded systems.
11. Kotlin
Kotlin grows due to its endorsement for Android app development and its interoperability with Java, leading to many mobile-focused GitHub repositories.
12. Java
Java’s robust ecosystem and dominance in enterprise, Android, web, and cloud apps ensure a high volume of GitHub contributions.
13. Swift
Swift is the language of choice for iOS, macOS, and Apple ecosystem apps, contributing to its steady GitHub growth.
14. Jupyter Notebook
Jupyter Notebook has surged in popularity, reflecting the data science and AI boom, especially for sharing and showcasing code, visualizations, and research in a reproducible format.
15. Shell
Shell scripting underpins automation and DevOps workflows. Its high utility in infrastructure and CI/CD pipelines keeps it vibrant in public and private repositories.
16. CSS
CSS is inseparable from HTML for styling web applications, mirroring its widespread usage in millions of front-end projects.
17. GDScript
GDScript, specific to the Godot game engine, is seeing growth as Godot’s adoption increases among indie game developers.
18. Solidity
Solidity’s role in Ethereum and smart contract development means it features heavily in blockchain and decentralized application projects on GitHub.
19. Vue
Vue’s approachable structure and growing community make it a top framework for front-end development, often paired with JavaScript and TypeScript.
20. PHP
PHP persists due to its legacy in powering the server-side for millions of websites and content management systems such as WordPress.
21. Dart
Dart, with Flutter, is rapidly climbing for cross-platform mobile and web app development, reflected in the surge of related repositories.
22. Ruby
Ruby, best known for Rails, still powers many web applications and automation scripts, maintaining active contributions.
23. Objective-C
Objective-C, while declining, retains relevance thanks to existing iOS/macOS apps and legacy codebases.
24. PowerShell
PowerShell is central to automation and system management in Windows environments, making it a staple for IT-related repositories.
25. Scala
Scala sits at the intersection of object-oriented and functional programming, with its strength in big data (Spark) and backend systems bolstering GitHub activity.
These languages make up the foundation of modern software development on GitHub in 2025, reflecting current technological trends, enterprise adoption, and the ongoing evolution of open-source collaboration.
