JavaScript, MacOS lead usage in worldwide developer survey

JavaScript was the most-used language and MacOS the most-used desktop OS in a recent survey of nearly 9,000 developers worldwide that asked about technology usage as well as about demographics, income, and workplace.

The findings of The State of Devs 2025 report, released June 15 by Devographics, are based on a developer survey of 8,717 total respondents this past spring, although not all respondents participated in every question.

When asked which languages they code in, 83% of respondents reported using JavaScript, while 75% reported using TypeScript. Python came in fifth place, at 31%, behind third-place CSS (70%) and fourth-place HTML (69%). Java was the eighth most-used language among respondents, at 17%, trailing sixth-place PHP (25%) and seventh-place Bash (20%). MacOS proved to be the most-used desktop OS, at 57%, followed by Windows at 28% and Linux at 15%.

Asked which productivity apps they were using regularly, 56% of respondents used Jira, 30% used Notion, 21% used GitHub Projects, and 12% used Trello. Among messaging apps, Slack led the way, with 63% regularly using it, followed by WhatsApp (50%), Discord (39%), and Microsoft Teams (38%).

Other findings in The State of Devs 2025 report:

82% of the respondents identified as men, 15% as women, and 3% as non-binary or gender non-conforming.

Average yearly income was highest for developers in the US, at $143,646, followed by developers in Israel, at $128,611. The average yearly income among all respondents was $91,553.

Despite talks of an industry downturn, only 9% of respondents reported a decrease in income in the past year.

44% of developers reported being happy in their jobs, including 18% who reported being very happy.

The most commonly reported factor in discrimination was age, with 12% reporting this, followed by 11% reporting gender or gender identity.

53% said that Android was the mobile OS they used most, while 47% said iOS.

64% of respondents reported having no children, while 15% reported one, 16% reported two, 4% reported three, and 1% reported four or more.