Stack Overflow 2024 Developer Survey: What I'm Paying Attention To

The Stack Overflow 2024 Developer came out, and I always enjoy browsing through it. My network of tech professionals is relatively small and biased towards people earlier in their careers. The survey shares insights that are not immediately visible to me.

The following are some points I want to highlight.

1) Other developers think AI tools do not threaten their jobs.

From the Stack Overflow blog post about the 2024 survey:

"On the topic of AI, 76% of respondents shared they are using or planning to use AI tools, but only 43% said they trust the accuracy of AI tools, and 45% believe AI tools struggle to handle complex tasks."

After using AI tools myself, I would be a part of this group. AI responses often need a few iterations through re-prompting to get a code snippet that I would keep. Some of this might be user error on my part. Learning how to use AI tools more effectively will be an ongoing commitment.

2) Visual Studio Code is the most popular code editor.

I keep thinking of doing a deep dive into learning Vim. Something about not needing to get my hands off the keyboard sounds appealing. However, I keep reminding myself that learning a new tool (or code editor) is productive procrastination.

VS Code has been working well enough. It has lots of extensions that I'm comfortable using. I tell myself that I should master the tools I'm already using.

3) Python is most popular for those learning to code

Since I've been paying attention to these surveys in 2021, Python hasn't been the most popular language for those learning to code. It was either JavaScript or HTML/CSS that was most popular.

This shift might be a response to AI tech staying relevant. Newcomers planning their entry into the industry are targeting the hot AI niche.

As someone who's a few years into my career switch, I haven't mapped Python into my learning plan. I feel like the right direction for me is to go deeper with existing skillsets.

At the moment, this means getting more familiar with TypeScript to build on my recent bootcamp experience. Also, this means building out cloud projects to apply knowledge from the certifications I've earned.

4) Those aged 35 and up are growing in proportion to the last three years

I'm a part of this group. I have yet to meet other mid-30s career switchers, but if it's a growing segment... I must find my people!

The people I've met on my journey have been younger. For example, recent university graduates taking a bootcamp to get practical experience, young veterans who left after their first contract with the military, etc.

Where are the people like me? The ones who've spent ten-plus years in one career but then switched to the tech industry. If this is you, connect with me on LinkedIn. I'd like to hear about your experiences with changing careers.

5) One in three developers are still less than four years into their professional career

This highlight surprises me since I keep hearing that the tech industry is oversaturated with entry-level candidates. There might be less entry-level competition than I initially thought.

From what I've read, the tech industry needs more experienced professionals. If two-thirds of those surveyed are in their mid/late careers and there's still a demand for experience, I can stay persistent in upskilling to earn myself one of these senior positions.

6) Salaries have dropped

This highlight makes sense to me. Companies are potentially laying off people and replacing them with cheaper hires. Salaries are dropping from record highs but are still high compared to other industries.

With salaries dropping, I should manage my expectations by waiting for the next boom cycle before realizing my income goals. Or, I can stop depending on an employer for more financial stability.

Here's a link to the Stack Overflow blog post with their summary of key points.

Here's the full survey data with an overview of the results at the top of the page.

If you've checked out the survey, what points do you find interesting? Let me know in the comments.