Python
As a foundational pillar in modern computing, the Python programming language initiated a profound transformation in the software development and data science worlds upon its release in the early 1990s. It single-handedly democratized high-level programming by migrating the craft from complex, low-level compiled languages to a much more accessible, highly readable, interpreted syntax. This pivotal shift dismantled previous barriers of steep learning curves, placing powerful, general-purpose coding tools into the hands of countless developers, scientists, and innovators globally.