Image courtesy of Progress.
JavaScript is still a niche player in many fields, among more prominent players such as C++, Python, and C#. But, JavaScript will break out of the niche mold before long. As it gains popularity, and as its speed continues to rise, the language will continue to find inroads into environments like virtual reality and the IoT.
As new software development ecosystems pop up, JavaScript will increasingly be included as a first-class citizen. Consider: 10 years ago using JavaScript on the server was unthinkable, but today Node has 3.5 million users and an annual growth rate of 100%. Five years ago, using JavaScript to drive a native iOS or Android app was a niche, but today React Native and NativeScript are growing at staggering rates. Three years ago, using JavaScript to build desktop apps was rare, but today Electron is downloaded over 100,000 times each month.
Yes, JavaScript will never be used for all programming, because many other languages are better suited to solve certain problems and use cases, but its widespread usage ensures it will always be a factor. Jeff Atwood's famous quote on the topic now seems more prophetic than ever: "[A]ny application that can be written in JavaScript, will eventually be written in JavaScript."