Software Developers Continue Flocking To Web

So, you think just because the bubble has burst that developers are leaving the Internet for dead? Think again.

According to a recent survey by Santa Clara-based Evans Data Corp., nine out of ten developers say they’ll continue to target Internet applications as part of their core work.

The bi-annual North American Developer Survey is based on in-depth interviews in September with more than 800 U.S. and Canadian developers.

Their findings? “Internet-Web” development occupies the time of more than 90 percent of developers, including a third who devote more than 50 percent of their time to the Web. “Internet/Web” even edged out “client-server” and desktop” when developers were asked to describe the type of software they write.

“The Internet continues to be the most compelling development environment today because it has so much potential to reach so many people and change the way companies do business,” says Evans Data analyst Jay Dixit.

But being realistic about the future, the developers were also asked about the future and what types of applications they might need to address, especially with all the new cross-compatible devices coming on the market.

A majority of those surveyed cited “Cross-device publishing” as one of the most significant trends and greatest problems in Web development, looking ahead 12 to 24 months.

Web Services is still regarded as the “most significant trend” in Web development; more than 37 percent are currently developing Web Services-enabled applications with more than 63 percent planning to write code for Web Services in the next year.

Beyond the two-year threshold, the biggest problem respondents expect is having less time to develop and maintain sites, followed by content management and creating better and richer user interfaces.

“Even though we’ve seen the dot-com bubble grow and then finally explode, the Internet is still there and still holds just as much promise,” says Dixit.