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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."

6 of 173 comments (clear)

  1. Females? by Ragzouken · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Can we stop saying "females" when we mean "women". We're not Ferengi.

  2. 85% are male by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

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

  3. 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.

  4. Very literal? by ErnoWindt · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I really have to take issue with the "very literal" comment. In my experience (stretching over 20 years), it's the non-literal types who are the best software engineers. They not only have an imagination, but understand nuance as well. I'd say a literal-minded person might succeed at programming at a very low or entry level, but beyond that, it's imagination and creativity that win the day.

    1. 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.

  5. Re:Might Indicate More Females by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    "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?

    It could possibly indicate that there a fewer programmers in total.
    Example: a team of 10 persons, 8 guys, 2 girls. One of the guy leaves, no one replaces him. This lowers the men ratio of the team (from 80% to ~78%), yet there are no more women than before. So the higher women ratio does not necessarily mean there are more women than before.