IMO, unless you're doing embedded work or building minimal containers, you'll pretty much always have access to a decent runtime (or several). Python: almost e

IMO, unless you're doing embedded work or building minimal containers, you'll pretty much always have access to a decent runtime (or several). Python: almost every conventional server. Python dependencies are so ubiquitous that you aren't likely to find a Linux install without it. Perl: every DEB and RPM machine, and anything with Git installed. You can't really escape it, unless you're embedded. PowerShell (yeah, I know): every Windows machine from XP onwards (though usable only from 7 onwards), and some Linux computers if installed. Java: lots and lots of places will have this available. Dockerized runtime of your choice: not ubiquitous, but I expect more and more developer machines and servers to gain Docker or Docker-like container support. There really isn't any reason to stick to AWK, unless you're working directly on embedded devices or just like using it.