Hilary Carter | 22 November 2024
In early 2024, Intel sponsored a study with Linux Foundation Research to better understand what open source software developers need most to grow their careers and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving technology landscape. The study was rooted in a hypothesis that open source developer needs are unique from those of product developers, and that more research was needed to validate the professional activities and experiences so many of us in the open source community know to be valuable. If you’ve ever attended KubeCon, Open Source Summits, or FOSDEM, you’ll know what I’m referring to when it comes to building knowledge networks and making important connections to help solve challenges so much faster.
The resulting Open Source Software Developer Report 2024 shines a light on the key resources, tools, and activities that developers value for continuous learning and skill development. Here’s what it revealed:
The Diverse Landscape of Developer Needs
Developers today are looking for a balance between honing deep technical expertise and gaining a broader understanding across different domains. Nearly all survey respondents—99%—emphasized the importance of learning new skills, with 96% underscoring the need to keep up with fast-paced tech changes.
Key Resources for Skill Development
Developers are turning to a range of resources to support their growth:
- Documentation and Sample Code: Essential tools, with 99% and 89% of developers respectively finding them critical for their roles.
- Tutorials and Public Forums: 86% and 82% of respondents rely on these platforms for learning and troubleshooting.
- Training Courses and Certifications: Formal education remains a priority, with 76% putting weight on training and 45% emphasizing certifications.
The Role of Community and Events
While events weren’t the primary focus of this study, they emerged as a significant factor for professional growth. Open source events, meetups, and special interest groups (SIGs) provide unique opportunities for networking and interdisciplinary learning, with 82% of developers recognizing these gatherings as important for career advancement.
Embracing Emerging Technologies
Developers are also exploring innovative solutions like Generative AI to support their learning journeys. Tools like ChatGPT are proving valuable for personalized learning and automating routine tasks, with 53% of respondents highlighting AI as important to their roles and career paths.
Overcoming Barriers and Looking Ahead
Despite the variety of resources available, developers still face challenges like time constraints and accessibility. The findings point to a growing need for more accessible options and support categories to help developers overcome these hurdles. Given what we know about the value that different offerings have on open source developer career journeys, now is not the time to cut back. Any new investment that can be made to support developers to give them better tools and resources, travel funding, and other resources and opportunities, will be welcome.
Overall, the Open Source Software Developer Report 2024 maps out a path for ensuring developer success - and based on what we also know from other studies, open source success equates to brand success. With a blend of traditional and cutting-edge resources, developers can continue to advance their careers, contribute to innovation, and stay engaged with the broader open source community. And that’s a recipe for competitive advantage if ever there was one!