BW: In-Depth Survey of Over 300 Linux Developers Now Available

"Conducted in March 2000, it consists of over 300 in-depth interviews with Linux developers on matters such as what type of apps they're creating, which languages and distributions they use, desktop environments, relationship with open source software issues and development tools."

"The study found severe dissatisfaction amongst Linux developers with the tools currently available. Of eleven tools categories studied only two - compilers and editors - were rated as adequate by more than 75% of the developers. Judgments on other categories, such as debuggers, profilers, modeling tools, error detection tools, GUI frameworks, testing tools and code management tools ranged from slightly less than 50% rating them as adequate all the way down to only 10%. Over half of the Linux developers are still predominantly using command line tools and utilities."

"In addition, the study found that 87% of Linux developers don't care if the tools they use are open source or proprietary. "There is a huge opportunity here for a vendor to fill this market need," said Janel Garvin, Vice President of Research. "Linux has shown fast growth up to now, but development tools are enormously strategic to an operating system, and there is a crying need for tools if Linux is going to survive."

Press Release