# When Escape Routes Become Toll Roads: Mapping How Developers Move Between Programming Languages

DevFeed: [When Escape Routes Become Toll Roads: Mapping How Developers Move Between Programming Languages](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/when-escape-routes-become-toll-roads-mapping-how-developers-move-between-programming-languages-8797.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://blog.jetbrains.com/research/2026/08/programming-language-migration/>)

Author: Vladimir Volokhonsky

Published: 2026-08-12T16:15:18Z

Content type: article

Language: en

Sources: [Kotlin : A concise multiplatform language developed by JetBrains | The JetBrains Blog](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/kotlin-a-concise-multiplatform-language-developed-by-jetbrains-the-jetbrains-blog.md>)

Topics: [migration](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/migration.md>)

Tags: [articles-2](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/articles-2.md>), [deveco](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/deveco.md>), [developers](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/developers.md>), [kotlin](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/kotlin.md>), [mapping](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/mapping.md>), [migration](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/migration.md>), [programming](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/programming.md>), [research](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/research.md>)

## AI overview

A survey-based article on how developers move between programming languages. Project requirements are the main switching driver, while Kotlin stands out for its development experience and modern features.

## Source excerpt

TL;DR: This post relates findings about language migration from the 2025 State of Developer Ecosystem survey. In general, project requirements are still the most common reasons for switching languages. One outlier from this trend, however, is Kotlin. People switch to Kotlin not because they have to; they switch because it simply feels better to work [...]