IBM Data Analytics

Introduction

This report was created based on data from the Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2019 and a dataset from the GitHub Jobs API. The objective was to gain insights into developers’ current and future preferences for languages, databases, and frameworks. This information is particularly useful for HR departments hiring engineers and developers, and consultants that could challenge technical choices made by developers.

Methodology

The datasets from Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2019 and GitHub Jobs API were cleaned, explored, and evaluated using Python and Jupyter notebooks. The aim was to identify trends and preferences in the choice of programming languages, databases, and frameworks among developers.

Findings

Full-stack languages like JavaScript, HTML/CSS, SQL, and Python are trending. These languages are commonly used in start-ups and for new web-based applications.
MongoDB shows rapid growth in popularity while PostgreSQL is also advancing, possibly due to its open-source nature. MySQL seems to be losing ground.
The demographics of the survey participants lean towards a younger crowd, implying that they might be working in start-ups or smaller companies.
There is a noticeable gender inequality with only 7% of the respondents being women.
There is a gap between what developers prefer to do and the market demand for developers and engineers.
Skills indicating Machine Learning (ML), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Mobility, and Apps command high salaries.

Discussion

The data reveals that full-stack tech is booming, with popular languages, databases, and platforms being prominent choices for building start-ups and scale-ups. However, the survey population is skewed towards a younger demographic, suggesting that the results might be more nuanced with a different or more diverse dataset. Additionally, the pronounced gender imbalance presents an issue within the industry that needs to be addressed.

Conclusion

Open Source languages are soaring, driven by the rise of ML, AI applications, and the increasing need for web applications. The data also reveals a gap between what developers prefer and what the market demands, which could be due to the skewed population in the survey. It’s recommended to complement this survey with older respondents to attain a more comprehensive perspective. Lastly, the gender inequality within the industry calls for strategies to attract and retain more women, which could bring about a more diverse and inclusive workplace, adding new perspectives and potential branding advantages.