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.
Comments
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.