Inside the Mind of the Modern Developer: Insights from Stack Overflow‘s 2018 Survey

Each year, Stack Overflow goes on a mission to better understand the developer community it serves. Through its annual developer survey, the company collects responses from over 100,000 programmers around the world on an exhaustive range of topics – from preferred tools and technologies to employment status, career ambitions, and beyond.

The end result is a treasure trove of data and insights into the rapidly evolving world of software development. It‘s a glimpse into the minds and lives of the people behind the digital products and services that increasingly rule our world.

As an experienced full-stack developer and coding mentor, I eagerly await the release of the Stack Overflow survey each year. I always come away with new knowledge and perspective that helps me stay on the cutting edge of my craft.

So join me on a deep dive into the key findings and stories from this year‘s survey. We‘ll probe the burning questions: Who exactly are these software developers increasingly shaping our future? What tools are they using, and how are they honing their skills? And where do they see the world of programming heading in the years to come?

The Programming Polyglots

Modern developers are a diverse bunch, but a few attributes unite them. They tend to be young – over half of the respondents were under the age of 30. They‘re driven and ambitious, with only 15% wanting to stay in their current role over the next 5 years. And they‘re lifelong learners, constantly picking up new languages and frameworks to keep their skills sharp.

Full stack development has become the norm. Over 48% of respondents classified themselves as full stack developers, comfortable working across all layers of the application stack. This was especially common amongst more experienced devs – over 60% of those with 5+ years of experience identified as full stack.

But even those who specialize tend to be polyglots. The average developer is proficient in 4 or more programming languages. For back-end specialists, the most popular languages are JavaScript, Python, and PHP. Front-end devs favor JavaScript overwhelmingly, with HTML/CSS and TypeScript also in the mix.

Speaking of JavaScript, it continues its reign as the most commonly used programming language for the 6th year running. But Python is hot on its heels, loved for its versatility and ease of use. Python is now the fastest-growing major programming language.

Show Me the Money

Of course, we can‘t talk about developers without looking at compensation. Salaries vary widely depending on geography, education, and experience. In the US, the median salary for a developer is $100,000. But that jumps to $130,000 for those with a master‘s degree or higher. And developers in the San Francisco Bay Area command a median salary of $142,000, 42% above the national average.

Experience pays dividends in terms of salary as well. Developers with over 10 years under their belt earn nearly double their junior counterparts on average. Late career developers (20+ years experience) can expect to make upwards of $200,000 in the US.

But high salaries aren‘t everything, and they don‘t guarantee job satisfaction. Only 65% of developers reported being satisfied with their compensation. Common complaints included feeling underpaid relative to peers and limited opportunities for advancement. Still, overall job satisfaction remained high at 73%.

The Web Still Reigns Supreme

The web isn‘t going anywhere, and web developers are as in-demand as ever. Over 67% of respondents reported building web applications as part of their job. Mobile wasn‘t far behind at 42%, followed by enterprise and desktop apps.

On the front-end, React cemented its position as the most beloved web framework, with 64% of users expressing interest in continuing to develop with it. Angular clocked in at 56%, while the upstart Vue.js has quickly earned the love of the developer community with a 78% satisfaction rating.

Over on the back-end, Node.js and Express continue to be popular choices for building web applications and APIs in JavaScript. But Python frameworks like Django and Flask are also well-loved and growing quickly in usage.

Data Deluge

Data, data, everywhere. The database market is more competitive than ever, with both SQL and NoSQL options battling for mindshare. MySQL and PostgreSQL lead the pack among relational databases, while MongoDB is the go-to for document stores. And Redis dominates among key-value stores, loved for its speed and simplicity.

But increasingly, developers are opting for managed database services in the cloud rather than administering their own database servers. Amazon Web Services‘ RDS and DynamoDB offerings are the most widely used, but Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud are seeing increased adoption.

This shift to the cloud extends beyond just databases. Over 80% of companies now use cloud platforms for some portion of their application hosting and infrastructure. AWS maintains its lead, but Azure is making inroads, especially among larger enterprises.

Coding Schools on the Rise

One of the most striking changes in the developer landscape in recent years has been the rise of coding bootcamps and accelerated learning programs. These intensive, short-term programs aim to quickly get students job-ready with practical programming skills.

According to the Stack Overflow survey, 15% of professional developers now report having gone through a full-time coding bootcamp. These bootcamp grads tend to be newer to the field, with 60% having less than 5 years of experience.

The verdict is still out on the long-term career outcomes for bootcamp grads. On the positive side, 79% of bootcamp grads reported finding a job requiring their newly acquired skills within 3 months of graduation. And their median salary of $65,000, while lower than the overall developer average, is still a respectable starting wage.

But there are challenges as well. Some companies are still skeptical of bootcamp grads, questioning the depth of their knowledge. And the competition for entry-level developer jobs in major tech hubs can be fierce. Still, as coding bootcamps mature and refine their curricula in partnership with employers, their impact is sure to grow.

Betting on the Future

Where do developers see the world of software development heading? What are the technologies and trends they‘re most excited about?

AI and machine learning top the list. A full 73% of respondents expressed excitement about the potential of AI, and 35% named machine learning as a key skill they plan to learn in the next year. Developers are eager to level up their data science chops and build intelligent applications.

Blockchain and cryptocurrency are also generating buzz, with 29% of developers interested in learning more. But there‘s still a fair amount of skepticism, with only 15% saying they‘re strongly convinced of the long-term significance of the technology.

In terms of the major tech companies, Google is still seen as the most desirable employer, with 65% of developers expressing interest in working there. Amazon and Microsoft were next at 45% and 37% respectively. Facebook and Apple bring up the rear, with favorability ratings hovering around 30%.

But developers aren‘t just waiting for employment offers – many are striking out on their own. A third of respondents reported participating in entrepreneurial activities or having ambitions of starting their own company. The dream of the indie hacker is alive and well.

Eyes on the Horizon

If one theme unites developers across languages, frameworks, and geographies, it‘s a restless desire to always be learning and improving. The pace of change in the world of software is relentless, and developers know they need to keep leveling up their skills to stay relevant.

Over 87% of respondents reported teaching themselves a new language or framework in the past year. Many made use of online courses, digital books, and official documentation to expand their knowledge. And open source continues to be both a vital learning resource and a way for developers to sharpen their abilities – 64% reported contributing to open source projects.

Willingness to constantly evolve and grow is simply table stakes for anyone hoping to build a lasting career in software. But with change comes immense opportunity. As new technologies open up fresh possibilities and entire industries go digital, the potential for developers to shape our world has never been greater.

So here‘s to the developers – the tinkerers and troubleshooters, the hackers and hustlers. They‘re building the future one line of code at a time. As the Stack Overflow survey shows, they‘re a force to be reckoned with and an increasingly essential part of the global economy.

Personally, digging through the survey results each year is a reminder of why I love being a developer – the constant challenge, the camaraderie of the community, the chance to create something meaningful. If you‘re a fellow member of the tribe, I‘d encourage you to dig into the findings yourself and reflect on what they mean for your own career and coding practice.

And if you‘re not yet a developer but are considering taking the plunge, I hope this served as an illuminating look at what lies ahead. It won‘t always be easy, but I can promise it will be one hell of a ride. Code on!