"JavaScript is the world's most popular scripting language." Perhaps, based on usage. But shell must be the world's most ubiquitous scripting language. Not every computer has a Javascript engine but most have a shell. Many, many computers have no browser, let alone a GUI. Some small form factor computers might have embedded Javascript engine but that's a minority. No browser on the router.
“Shell” isn’t a language. It’s a collection of languages. And not even a consistent one:
- Most BSDs don’t ship Bash as part of base. They default to ksh
- macOS does ship bash but an ancient version and defaults to Zsh
- Some Linux distorts don’t ship sh, instead symlinking to dash or bash.
- Windows doesn’t have any of the above as part of its base install.