![a.png Main image of article New Insights Into Developer Habits](/binaries/medium/content/gallery/dice/insights/2015/09/a.png)
A new global survey of developers (PDF), conducted by research firm IDC and commissioned by the Application Developers Alliance, offers some key insights for recruiters searching for top talent. The survey featured a relatively small sample size: Some 850 developers, an extremely small fraction of the millions of people building software worldwide. Nonetheless, the responses will feel familiar to anyone who’s spent a lot of time around tech pros. Some key takeaways:
- A majority of those surveyed (68 percent) had 5 or more years of experience.
- Around 57 percent said they were interested in “staying current” about development technology.
- Three-quarters (75 percent) used open-source software.
- Roughly 83 percent thought of themselves as “self-reliant,” more likely to head to online forums for programming help (for example) than questioning colleagues or mentors.