Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

The Changing Face of Software Development

Posted by Soulskill on from the strength-through-diversity dept.

CowboyRobot sends this excerpt from Dr. Dobb's: "Ten years of surveys show an influx of younger developers, more women, and personality profiles at odds with traditional stereotypes. Software development is an art and a science that is not attainable for just anyone. It takes a special type of person to write code. Developers are detail-oriented, very literal, and intelligent. Logic is paramount, and they share a passion for their craft that rises above the desire to make more money. They are also typically married, middle-aged, have children, and most likely a mortgage. In one of a series of surveys that we've performed every six months since 2001 (interviewing each time more than 1400 developers worldwide), we find the typical developer is a married, middle-aged male, who has two to three children. Males have dominated the profession for as long we've been tracking this; and during that time, they have accounted for anywhere from 84% to 94% of the workforce. The number of male developers is currently close to the low, at 86%, which might indicate more females are taking up programming."

5 of 173 comments (clear)

  1. 85% are male by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    And the others put "Yes, please" in the box marked "Sex".

  2. In my Experience by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    In my experience, 70% of female programmers sucks. Contrast this with the 30% of good male programmers.

  3. Re:Females? by petes_PoV · · Score: 4, Funny

    "females"

    I think the point is that not all developers are human (male or female).

    --
    politicians are like babies' nappies: they should both be changed regularly and for the same reasons
  4. Re:Might Indicate More Females by rvw · · Score: 4, Funny

    "The number of male developers is currently close to the low, at 86%, which might indicate more females are taking up programming."

    Might indicate more females? Do we have a large number of non-gender or 3rd gender in the workforce taking up programming?

    I think cats are on the rise!

  5. Re:Very literal? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I really have to take issue with the "very literal" comment.

    I think you're taking the statement too literally.