Programmers Survey | Hacker News Reader

Programmers Survey

docs.google.com

37 pointsakarambir38 comments

I think this is a satire:

* The survey lists it's purpose as identifying trends in software development. Hardly, as this will outline just what a small subset of trends on HN (and HN is just a tiny, itty bitty subset of all softwate development). Since HN is primarily web and mobile development, you won't learn about any trends in game development, for example.

* 'Unbuntu' listed as an Operating System. Misspelling aside, Ubuntu is not an operating system.

* GNU/Linux not listed as an operating system. Especially among developers, it's a popular choice and i'm surprised to see something like ChromeOS listed while GNU/Linux isn't.

* PHP and Javascript listed in both "alternate technologies" and in programming languages.

* MySQL but no other databases. I'd venture a guess to say that Postgres is just as common among HN users, if not more common, than MySQL.

* No blackberry under mobile phones while Symbian and WebOS are listed?

* Minix as an operating system..?

* Only two web frameworks listed under additional technologies. Not the biggest problem, but a bit funny.

* I'm unaware of Ada being used for anything currently.

How is Ubuntu not an operating system?

It's a flavor of Linux?

This survey seems half-assed....

> It's a flavor of Linux?

That doesn't disqualify it from being an operating system.

It's not an operating system, it's a distribution of software other people wrote that comprises an operating system.

It's not even an original distribution of Linux at that, it's just downstream Debian plus some crappy GUI apps.

--- Ubuntu user

Yup, it's a Debian derivative, but I like how light weight it was and how easy it is to get it going from the liveCD.

I'm still on the last LTS, so haven't experienced the non-Gnome version yet.

You think Ubuntu is light-weight?

...what?

It doesn't use much disk, CPU, or brainpower.

It's a software distribution. It includes GNU/Linux, which is an operating system, but Ubuntu itself is not an operating system.

For the purposes of the survey, they either need to list 'GNU/Linux', or if not that then every major distro of GNU/Linux plus an 'Other Linux' option. Otherwise their results will be filled with inaccurate data. Hence OP's suspicion of satire.

I fully agree it's satire or a really bad survey, but that doesn't disqualify Ubuntu from being an operating system.

> Ubuntu is not an operating system.

Ubuntu seems to disagree http://www.ubuntu.com/

"Ubuntu is a fast, secure and easy-to-use operating system used by millions of people around the world."

I don't think much time was spent putting this survey together...

Unbuntu - Like Ubuntu but... less so.

"Which technologies" has a blank option after MySQL, maybe that is for NoSQL ;)

Probably someone's school work. They are going to be excited about the number of participants.

Here's the results page if you want to see it without taking (or retaking) the survey:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewanalytics?formkey=dF...

Do you want my work information or my personal projects information? Because they are very very different...

Seems like it's only applicable to a very narrow subset of developers. Pretty much the only question that I could check anything off for was the first one. I don't develop for mobile, and I don't use any of the listed tech for web apps.

What if I don't use Ubuntu but I do use Linux?

Then you choose "Other UNIX Based".

The fact that it lists Minix as an OS choice but not (say) Fedora makes me wonder if it's supposed to be a joke, but if so it's way too subtle for me.

Minix 3 isn't (intended to be) a joke. It's supposed to be a reliable, self-healing, UNIX-like operating system.

I understand that, but placing it on a "what OS do you use daily to develop with" while leaving out far more popular OSes gives a distinct "it's a pretty obscure OS; you probably haven't heard of it" hipster vibe.

Note that it says "Unbuntu", not "Ubuntu"...

It's especially strange since Ubuntu is not an operating system (though it includes GNU/Linux, which is).

Pretty sure the whole survey is a joke/satire.

Edit: Now 100% sure that it's satire, since it's actually spelled "Unbuntu".

Self reported results, right? Not very reliable.

edit: I meant, as in some people choose to respond so the sample is biased.

You have Win mobile, WebOS and no Blackberry? :)

Or does Blackberry just go into Java-based application?

I can't fill this out without an F# option.

So many missing languages. No Scala? No Erlang? Trends aren't going to be identified if the up-and-comers can't even be entered.

Who/what/where will be publishing results?

after submitting the survey click on view previous results. Alternatively click https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewanalytics?formkey=dF...

Just a note. Result will be skewed for the HN crowd. Know the audience and context for bias.

Shucks, no ColdFusion haha

Where's Scala?

Nice use of google docs I say

The subject really shouldn't say "(google.com)" in it... very misleading. Initially, I had thought this was posted by Google, but then saw the content/url and realized it's google docs.

Surely there's been a sufficient trend of posts, particularly more recently with a number of Google+ links, that google.com is no longer seen as being indicative of anything?

Yeah, I'm being slow to adjust...

This is why I think the subdomain should be included...

Agreed!

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