What comes with a language.
WHAT A STANDARD LIBRARY PROVIDES
Common functionality without external dependencies.
WHY THAT MATTERS
Every external dependency is something to install, update, audit and trust.
WHAT VARIES ENORMOUSLY BETWEEN LANGUAGES
How much is included.
WHAT A COMPREHENSIVE STANDARD LIBRARY PROVIDES
Fewer dependencies Consistent quality Long-term stability
WHAT A MINIMAL ONE PRODUCES
Reliance on the ecosystem, and dependency trees that grow quickly.
WHAT AN ECOSYSTEM INCLUDES
A package manager Available libraries Frameworks Tooling Documentation and community
WHAT TO ASSESS BEFORE CHOOSING A LANGUAGE
Whether libraries exist for what you need How well maintained they are How easily answers are found
WHY THAT MATTERS MORE THAN LANGUAGE FEATURES
You will spend more time using libraries than admiring syntax.
WHAT TO BE CAREFUL WITH
Very large dependency trees Libraries maintained by one person Ecosystems where packages are abandoned frequently
