A Software Development Kit (SDK) provides developers with a set of tools, libraries, code samples, and documentation to build applications for a specific platform or to interact with a particular service's Application Programming Interface (API). Choosing the right programming languages for your SDKs is essential for driving adoption and ensuring a positive experience for the developers using your product or service.

🎯 The Most Important Consideration: Your Target Audience

Before examining general language popularity and trends, understand this: the most critical factor in selecting programming languages for your SDKs is a deep understanding of who your target developers are and the specific ecosystems they operate within. Trends are secondary to providing tools that fit seamlessly into your users' existing workflows.

Why is this paramount? Developers adopt tools that reduce friction and integrate naturally with their current stack. An SDK in an unfamiliar language or one that doesn't follow the conventions of their preferred ecosystem creates barriers, increases the learning curve, and ultimately hinders adoption.

🔥 Top Languages for SDK's in 2025

While the target audience determines the necessary languages, understanding broader language usage provides context and helps identify other languages that could expand the SDKs potential user base.

1. Python

   Python is frequently used in Data Science (Pandas, NumPy, SciPy), AI (LangChain, LangGraph), Machine Learning (TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn), and scientific computing. It's also widely used for backend web development (Django, Flask, FastAPI), scripting, and automation.

   Python is essential for APIs related to data, AI / ML, or backend web services. Its simple syntax has made it frequently adopted by data analysts and software engineers alike.

   • Key Industries: Tech, Finance (FinTech), Academia / Research, Cloud Infrastructure Automation.

2. JavaScript / TypeScript

   JavaScript is the primary language for the web and is widely used in frontend frameworks such as React, Angular, and Vue. It is increasingly strong on the backend via Node.js with Express and Fastify. Mobile development via React Native and desktop apps via Electron extend its reach. TypeScript adds static typing, crucial for large-scale applications and robust SDKs, enhancing tooling (IntelliSense) and reducing runtime errors.

   It's indispensable for any API targeting web developers (frontend or full-stack) and often finds itself embedded in mobile via React Native and desktop via Electron.

   • Key Industries: Virtually all industries with a web presence, SaaS, E-commerce, Media.

3. Java / Kotlin

   Java and its corresponding Java Virtual Machine (JVM) is used in many large-scale enterprise backend systems such as Spring, and Spring Boot. It was also the original foundation of the Android mobile platform. Kotlin, which also runs on the JVM, is now the preferred language for new Android development and is gaining popularity for backend services as well. Kotlin is prized for its modern syntax and safety features that help keep mission critical software running correctly.

   Java and Kotlin are critical for APIs targeting enterprise backend developers or the Android ecosystem. Providing SDKs for both Java and Kotlin support will help you cover this space well.

   • Key Industries: Finance, Insurance, E-commerce, Big Data, Android App Development, large enterprises.

4. C#

   C# is the flagship language of the Microsoft .NET platform. It's heavily used for building Windows desktop applications (WPF, WinForms), web applications and services (ASP.NET Core), cloud applications (Azure), and cross-platform mobile apps (MAUI). It's also a primary language for game development via the Unity engine and provides strong tooling support via Visual Studio and the NuGet package manager.

   C# SDKs are therefore essential for APIs needing integration within the .NET / Windows / Azure ecosystem or those targeting Unity game developers.

   • Key Industries: Enterprise Software, Finance, Gaming, Healthcare, companies heavily invested in the Microsoft stack.

5. Go

   Go has gained rapid adoption in cloud-native development (used heavily in Docker, Kubernetes, Istio), microservices, networking tools, and command-line interfaces (CLIs). It's known for performance, efficient concurrency handling via goroutines, fast compilation, and creating statically linked binaries for easy deployment. Go also has several quality web frameworks such as Goa, Huma, Chi, and Gin.

   Go SDKs are ideal for APIs related to infrastructure, backend systems, or performance-sensitive services, especially those targeting developers building cloud-native applications.

   • Key Industries: Cloud Computing, Infrastructure Software, DevOps, Backend Services.

Using liblab for SDK Generation

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We breakdown the significant benefits of SDK generation in more detail here. You can also check out our SDK Evaluation Checklist for Enterprises.

Developing and maintaining high-quality, idiomatic SDKs in multiple languages requires significant effort and specialized expertise. Supporting even a few of the languages identified by trends or specific audience needs can quickly become both complex and time consuming.

liblab addresses this challenge by creating SDKs directly from your OpenAPI spec and supports every major programming language.

Conclusion

Understanding programming language trends offers context, but the primary factor for SDK language selection should be the target audience(s). Prioritize building SDKs in the languages and platforms your developers use to facilitate integration and adoption. While languages like Python, JavaScript / TypeScript, Java / Kotlin, C#, and Go have large user bases, their relevance depends on your specific users. Well-designed SDKs serve as the main connection between an API and developers. Providing high-quality, conventional SDKs supports the developer community and the API platform.