Problems in Software Development: Developers Survey Results

Software development faces significant challenges that extend beyond technical issues. According to Idego Group's developer survey, 70% of software development problems are non-technical.

The research revealed that bad management tops the list of concerns, affecting 31% of respondents. Issues include excessive product owners, unclear task descriptions, unrealistic schedules, and constantly changing requirements. One developer noted that continuously changing requirements every time the client changes their idea about the application's functionalities are a big issue.

Communication problems

Communication problems rank as the second major challenge, reported by 13.7% of developers. Miscommunication between teams and clients frequently occurs because the development team interprets project requirements differently from what the client had in their mind. Technical jargon further complicates discussions when teams speak with non-technical clients.

Client-related issues

Client-related issues concern 10.9% of respondents. Clients often lack understanding of backend processes, leading to unrealistic expectations and tight deadlines that developers struggle to meet.

Legacy code and integration

Legacy code and integration problems affect nearly 10% of developers. Framework restrictions and difficulties incorporating new code into existing project structures create friction. Additionally, using outdated technology prevents teams from adapting to industry changes.

Other frequently mentioned problems include application performance (6.16%) and lack of motivation (6.16%).

Experience level influence

Experience level significantly influences which problems developers prioritize. Junior developers with less than two years experience show less concern about performance, security, and usability compared to senior developers. However, legacy code problems, scope changes, poor management, and communication challenges affect developers across all experience levels equally.

The survey included 45% developers with over six years of experience, 33% with 2-5 years, and 22.5% with less than two years of experience.