JetBrains, a leading software development company, recently published its annual State of the Developer Ecosystem survey, drawing over twenty-four thousand responses from developers worldwide. The survey highlighted a long-term decline in the usage of PHP and Ruby, based on trends observed over a five-year period. This revelation has sparked conversations among the developer community about the future of these programming languages.
Shortly after the survey’s release, JetBrains issued a clarifying statement, asserting that PHP is not in decline and instead is a stable, professional, and evolving ecosystem. The company did not provide an explanation for the discrepancy between its initial survey findings and this latest statement, leaving many developers puzzled. The Register, a tech news outlet, reported on the confusion, highlighting the lack of clarity from JetBrains.
The survey’s methodology involved weighting responses to address potential biases, particularly due to the tendency of JetBrains users to participate more frequently. Despite these efforts, the company acknowledged that some bias might still exist, as its customer base is more inclined to respond. The survey also noted that 85% of developers now use AI coding tools, indicating a significant shift in the development landscape.
While the survey provides insights into current trends, the conflicting statements from JetBrains raise questions about the reliability and transparency of such reports. Developers are now urged to consider multiple sources of information to form a balanced view of the programming landscape. The situation underscores the importance of clear communication and thorough analysis in industry reports, especially those that can influence perceptions and decisions in the tech sector.