In May of 2024, we opened up the 14th annual Stack Overflow Developer Survey to technologists worldwide—and the results are in! This yr, applied sciences reminiscent of JavaScript and PostgreSQL stay hottest, Rust and Markdown stay most admired, builders are most pissed off by technical debt at work, and so they don’t see AI as a risk to their jobs. Themes we see on this yr’s survey outcomes present us that builders should not threatened by AI, and builders are most pissed off by technical debt at work. On the subject of AI, 76% of respondents shared they’re utilizing or planning to make use of AI instruments, however solely 43% mentioned they belief the accuracy of AI instruments and 45% consider AI instruments wrestle to deal with complicated duties.
Expertise, AI, work and extra; there are such a lot of new insights and statistics to dive into with our latest annual developer survey findings from builders worldwide.
It wouldn’t be a Stack Overflow Developer Survey if we didn’t add just a few handfuls of recent expertise choices for builders to weigh in on this yr, and loads of long-standing applied sciences are holding sturdy, too. Javascript (62%), HTML/CSS (53%), and Python (51%) prime the record of most used languages for the second yr in a row. Javascript is a long-time mainstay for Stack Overflow customers, it has been the most well-liked language yearly for the reason that inception of the Developer Survey in 2011. Python is probably the most desired language this yr (customers that didn’t point out utilizing this yr however did point out wanting to make use of subsequent yr), overtaking JavaScript. The language that almost all builders used and need to use once more is Rust for the second yr in a row with an 83% admiration fee. Python is hottest for these studying to code. These studying to code additionally indicated they need to use a mean of 12 totally different languages subsequent yr.
This yr, we added a piece for embedded expertise ( you, 3% of builders working with embedded tech). Raspberry Pi (39%) and Arduino (30%) prime the record for hottest embedded applied sciences and customers of each need to use Cargo subsequent yr, utilized by 16% of builders and likewise has a really excessive 83% admiration rating.
Built-in developer environments, liked and criticized by many builders, constantly rank Visible Studio Code and its nearest (and associated) different, Visible Studio, as the highest two hottest choices though there are such a lot of to select from. Builders wish to be taught, however this can be the place they draw the road earlier than implementing a change that crosses over into frustration territory. If there have been a possibility to modify issues up, builders may go for Neovim which is extremely admired (83%). Visible Studio Code customers are in reality solely fascinated about attempting Neovim or Vim subsequent yr.
Software program improvement is a observe of perpetual studying, and it is sensible that we see this in our survey outcomes. However studying doesn’t simply occur in lecture rooms. Builders this yr reaffirm what they’ve indicated for a few years now: 82% are studying to code utilizing on-line assets in comparison with 49% who’re studying to code in class.
In keeping with this yr’s survey, 11% of respondents this yr indicated that they’re studying to code or determine as a pupil, 17.3% of respondents are going to high school a minimum of part-time no matter studying to code or having a developer position exterior of research. Builders are going to conventional faculties to be taught greater than coding, with 83% report having some stage of post-secondary schooling, greater than had indicated they realized to code in class. The vary of abilities that builders amass over their careers is spectacular and all of it facilities round making use of abilities to unravel issues and evolve workplaces.
Respondents this yr had been older than years previous: the biggest section of developer respondents had been 25-34 however these aged 35 and up are rising in proportion within the final three years. In 2022, 31% of respondents had been aged 35 and up. In 2023, that age bracket grew to 35% and is now at 39% this yr.
However though our respondents are getting older, one in three builders are nonetheless lower than 4 years into their skilled profession and even mid-career builders are nonetheless studying. Builders who’re new to coding or nonetheless studying can take a tip from those that know: in the event that they aren’t utilizing Stack Overflow, 84% of builders are utilizing technical documentation to be taught. Of these utilizing technical documentation, 90% use the documentation present in API and SDK packages.
Whereas it has been hypothesized that AI might have an effect on developer roles, the tendencies we see on this yr’s survey stay constant over earlier years. Most builders that responded to the Developer Survey are nonetheless full-stack (31%) or back-end engineers (17%), the highest two roles for builders for six years working. 2018 was the primary and solely time extra builders reported being back-end somewhat than full-stack. Designers and front-end builders have constantly decreased yearly. That is more than likely because of the position being subsumed by different roles like cellular builders and enterprise builders.
Studying is nice, however incomes is best. Challenges on the earth financial system have been powerful on many professions, together with builders. Most builders that aren’t in a individuals supervisor place are reporting annual wage decreases of a minimum of $10K annual USD. Sure positions have succumbed to market corrections based mostly on the fickle nature of rising applied sciences. This consists of blockchain builders, who reported a median annual wage over six figures in 2023 and now report $86K USD yearly. Pivotal roles reminiscent of web site reliability engineers reported a lower of $15K USD yearly and back-end builders reported a $9K USD annual lower. Individuals managers and people supporting the coding setting should not resistant to this development: whereas developer expertise and developer advocate professionals reported a rise in wage in 2024, senior executives and engineering managers are reporting a lower in wage this yr. Wage decreases should not an impact of adjustments in employment standing: 80-81% of builders constantly report full-time employment during the last three years.
The wage woes are irritating, however builders persevere. For the primary time this yr, we requested if builders felt AI was a risk to their job and 70% of pros agreed it was not. Builders studying to code had been extra not sure about AI as a risk in comparison with extra seasoned coders (27% of learners had been not sure in comparison with 18% of pros). It’s not for lack of attempting: 62% skilled builders are utilizing AI instruments this yr in comparison with 44% final yr. 76% of all respondents are presently utilizing or planning to make use of AI instruments. 72% of all respondents really feel constructive about utilizing AI instruments at work.
The promise of GenAI was its means to ship fast options and pace up time-consuming processes. Nevertheless, 31% of builders stay skeptical (23% considerably mistrust and eight% extremely mistrust) that these instruments provide correct options and 45% consider AI instruments are dangerous or very dangerous at dealing with complicated duties. AI is basically non-threatening as a result of it has not changed the human within the loop.
Technical debt is an issue for 62% of builders, twice as a lot because the second- and third-most irritating issues for builders: complicated tech stacks for constructing and deployment.
The intense aspect of the difficult work setting builders face is that 68% of pros report being blissful or complacent at work (for individuals managers, it’s 74%). All builders discover probably the most satisfaction in enhancing code and database high quality of their roles, and the blissful builders discover greater ranges of satisfaction than most in driving technique at work. There’s work to be performed, and most builders are making it via the pile of technical debt one work day at a time simply advantageous.
What else is there to say that wasn’t mentioned higher by builders themselves? When requested about AI and the way builders that used AI instruments at work suppose it’ll change a yr from now, final yr’s responses had been just like how one developer put it: “I count on that as instruments mature I will change from primarily writing to code to primarily reviewing generated code.” One yr later, respondents answered the identical query, and we noticed {that a} recurring subject theme was “much less time.” This developer’s response sums it up: “Much less time spent writing mundane issues.” Whether or not or not AI instruments are providing you with time again on mundane duties, your time will probably be nicely spent testing all of the developer insights we have for you at our results site.
