Original Research: What Ordinary People Think About Software Developers

It seems that software developers are a mystery to regular people who professionally have nothing in common with the IT industry. Idego Group surveyed 750 US citizens to discover common misconceptions and myths about software developers. The findings reveal surprising insights into how non-technical people perceive this profession.

Thirty percent of respondents have no opinion whatsoever on software developers, viewing the profession as a job like any other. However, the overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, with 62% expressing favorable views. Only 12% held negative opinions.

Intelligence emerges as the dominant characteristic, with 42.3% describing developers as smart. Interestingly, only 4.1% consider them introverts, contradicting common stereotypes perpetuated by media portrayals.

Concerning misconceptions exist around security capabilities. Nearly one-quarter believe developers can hack social media accounts, while 20.7% think they repair computers professionally.

The research also reveals positive perceptions: 17.6% describe developers as simply fantastic, 7.8% emphasize their necessity to society, and 5.7% highlight their work ethic.

Communication and Perception

A particularly notable finding challenges the widespread belief about developer communication difficulties. While 45% remained uncertain, 28.2% actually perceived developers as communicative, suggesting the difficult to communicate with stereotype lacks substantial support.

Overall, despite widespread unfamiliarity with what developers actually do, ordinary people maintain surprisingly positive and nuanced perspectives about the profession's value to modern society.