State of Devs 2026

This year's overview was contributed by Miranda Heath, founding director and researcher at the Software Stewardship Lab.

It is an uncertain time to be a developer.

Nearly half of this year's survey respondents had experienced job insecurity and insufficient wages. A quarter had been laid off at some point in their career, and nearly 1 in 10 had been laid off within the last 9 months. Over a quarter anticipated needing to change careers altogether within the next 5 years.

Link to sectionCareer Security

✨

+0.59

Within the next 5 years, how likely do you think it is that you will have to change careers due to reasons beyond your control?

All Respondents

Query Builder…

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Median: 3

1

Very unlikely

1,243

-0.43

2

Somewhat unlikely

1,422

+0.23

3

Equally likely/unlikely

1,273

+0.25

4

Somewhat likely

956

+0.31

5

Very likely

440

+0.47

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

5,334

98%

2.6

3

10

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(Mental) State Management

This was the first Devographics survey to ask about developers' mental state, and the results hint at some worrying changes in what it feels like to be a software developer, too. Around two thirds of respondents had felt less motivated and more cynical recently. Around half had struggled to focus, procrastinated more, felt unusually drained, and felt less accomplished and effective at work.

Link to sectionMental State

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-0.42

Which of the following have you experienced recently?

Multiple

All Respondents

Query Builder…

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

01

Having reduced motivation or interest for work

2,943

-0.37

02

Feeling increasingly cynical about my work or industry

2,700

+0.42

03

Feeling emotionally drained at the end of the workday

2,553

+0.27

04

Finding myself procrastinating more

2,389

+0.19

05

Having trouble focusing on tasks I used to enjoy

2,289

+0.27

06

Having a reduced sense of accomplishment at work

2,237

-0.32

07

Feeling less effective at work

2,021

-0.21

08

Having trouble sleeping or irregular sleep patterns

1,595

+0.58

09

Having trouble disconnecting from work outside of work hours

1,479

+0.29

10

AI fatigue

Answers matching “AI fatigue” 12

11

Other Answers

27

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

4,484

82%

4.5

10

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These changes are indicative of burnout: a state of exhaustion that occurs when work drains more of your energy than it sustains. 62% of developers reported having had burnout at some point in their career, the same proportion as in last years' survey.

Link to sectionWorkplace Issues

+0.59

Which of these workplace issues have you experienced throughout your professional career?

Multiple

All Respondents

Query Builder…

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

01

Bad management

3,374

+0.38

02

Burnout

3,344

+0.34

03

Work-life balance issues

3,114

+0.30

04

Boredom

+6

2,905

+0.28

05

Job insecurity

+1

2,578

+0.34

06

Mental health issues

-1

2,551

+0.49

07

Insufficient wages

-3

2,452

+0.31

08

Harassment

-1

813

+0.35

09

Discrimination

-1

678

+0.31

10

🚫 None

-1

243

-0.25

11

Other Answers

64

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

5,352

98%

4.3

10

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The fact that burnout continues to be common in software development is no reason to normalise it, however. Burnout can seriously impact people's health and wellbeing. This can also be seen in the data: developers who had experienced burnout were generally less happy, and more likely to have ongoing physical and mental health issues.

We Need to Talk About AI

There is also an elephant lurking in the room, quietly fuelling the uncertainty. And for the first time this year, Devographics asked developers to share their views on it. I am, of course, talking about AI.

While AI use was extremely prevalent, views towards AI were heavily polarised, with 49% of respondents feeling positive towards it, and 42% feeling negative.

Link to sectionAI Sentiment

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-0.69

On a scale going from 100% negative to 100% positive, what is your overall opinion regarding AI?

All Respondents

Query Builder…

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Median: 50%

1

100% negative

314

+0.50

2

Mostly negative

489

+0.36

3

Negative

660

-0.24

4

Slightly negative

451

5

Neutral

530

6

Slightly positive

729

-0.17

7

Positive

1,087

-0.33

8

Mostly positive

456

+0.30

9

100% positive

150

+0.33

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

4,866

89%

51%

50%

10

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Our understanding of the psychological impact of AI coding is still developing, but early evidence suggests prompting can feel addictive, heavy reliance on AI can undermine learning and running agents in parallel can lead to a state cognitive overload dubbed 'AI brainfry'. In line with this, nearly one half of respondents felt AI did not have a positive impact on their mental state.

Link to sectionAI Mental State

✨

+0.67

AI tools have had a positive impact overall on my mental state

All Respondents

Query Builder…

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Median: 2

1

Strongly Disagree

1,023

+0.56

2

Disagree

1,189

+0.17

3

Neutral

1,534

+0.20

4

Agree

867

+0.39

5

Strongly Agree

242

+0.36

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

4,855

89%

1.6

2

10

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Above all, it was clear that developers wanted to talk about the impact of AI on their profession. Over 1500 respondents chose to write something about their outlook on AI. Common topics included the need to work our how to use AI safely and sensibly, how AI is making work less rewarding, and how AI is driving unsustainable expectations of productivity from management.

Link to sectionAI Outlook

✨

What else would you like to to add regarding your general outlook about AI?

Freeform

All Respondents

Query Builder…

View:

NestedFlat

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

01

Developer impact

8

Answers matching “Developer impact” 428

02

Anti-AI sentiment

4

Answers matching “Anti-AI sentiment” 403

-0.69

03

Industry impact

7

Answers matching “Industry impact” 337

04

Pro-AI sentiment

4

Answers matching “Pro-AI sentiment” 302

+0.50

05

Neutral sentiment

7

Answers matching “Neutral sentiment” 265

+0.28

06

AI Career Impact

3

Answers matching “AI Career Impact” 237

07

Technical impact

6

Answers matching “Technical impact” 206

08

Ethics impact

2

Answers matching “Ethics impact” 105

09

Environmental Impact

Answers matching “Environmental Impact” 66

10

Code Assistance

1

Answers matching “Code Assistance” 48

11

Information Gathering

Answers matching “Information Gathering” 22

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

1,650

30%

10

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Ongoing Issues

And while it feels as if AI is changing too many things too fast, some things in software development change frustratingly slowly.

People who identify as female continue to be far more likely to experience discrimination than their male colleagues. Troublingly, they are also more likely to avoid colleagues, change their behaviour or appearance, or even change careers in response to workplace issues. This suggests it is still the path of least resistance for women to mould, change or erase themselves to fit in with a workplace culture that disadvantages them, rather than expecting that industry to change.

Similarly, LGBT+ respondents and respondents with ADHD and autism described feeling pressure to hide their identity at work. Unfair treatment and pressure to mask puts these groups at additional risk of burnout and its related harms.

Link to sectionDiscrimination

Have you ever experienced discrimination in the workplace based on any of the following factors?

Multiple

Gender is one of Woman, Non-Binary or GNC, Not Listed678

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

01

Gender or gender identity

308

02

🚫 None

275

03

Age

121

04

Disabilities

95

05

Physical appearance or characteristics

53

06

Sexual orientation

-1

51

07

Country of origin

40

08

Political beliefs or affiliations

39

09

Caregiving responsibilities

-3

35

10

Race

-3

32

11

Other Answers

21

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Gender is one of Man3399

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

01

🚫 None

2,480

02

Age

390

03

Country of origin

+7

231

04

Physical appearance or characteristics

179

05

Political beliefs or affiliations

-2

167

06

Disabilities

-2

161

07

Race

-2

123

08

Gender or gender identity

-2

98

09

Religion or spiritual beliefs

-1

85

10

Caregiving responsibilities

-3

79

11

Sexual orientation

-2

59

12

Other Answers

39

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

678

12%

1.9

20

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Strange Winds

Being a developer right now might feel a little like being in the middle of a sandstorm. Strange winds are blowing, and it can be hard to see the path ahead. But if we keep a conversation going—if we continue to talk about the impact of AI, the parts of our work that give us joy and meaning, and how we can stand up for them—maybe the landscape will look all the more beautiful once the dust settles.

Link to sectionTech Emotion

✨

+0.24

Which emotions best describe how you currently feel about the tech industry?

Multiple

Limited4

All Respondents

Query Builder…

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

01

Exhausted

2,451

+0.41

02

Disillusioned

2,165

+0.45

03

Curious

1,916

-0.45

04

Overwhelmed

1,868

+0.20

05

Anxious

1,849

+0.24

06

Hopeful

1,102

-0.32

07

Angry

909

+0.42

08

Excited

897

+0.44

09

Engaged

577

-0.24

10

Motivated

492

+0.31

11

Disappointed

Answers matching “Disappointed” 13

12

Other Answers

104

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

4,694

86%

3

10

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You can feel this the mostly strongly when looking developers' attitudes towards the tech industry. Working in an ever-changing and and uncertain industry can be exhausting. It can make you feel disillusioned, anxious, angry, and overwhelmed. But with change comes possibility, and where there is possibility, there is curiosity, hope, and excitement yet to be had!

Miranda Heath

Founding director and researcher at the Software Stewardship Lab

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