A recent survey revealed that the top 55% of Python Developers choose Linux as their preferred dev platform.
The Python Software Foundation has released the results of its annual collaborative survey, providing a comprehensive snapshot of the Python development community. With over 25,000 respondents from nearly 200 countries and regions, this year’s survey offers valuable insights into the habits, preferences, and trends of the Python community.
Linux for the win!
One of the most striking findings is that 55% of Python developers use Linux as their primary development environment. This figure, although slightly down from last year’s 59%, solidifies Linux’s position as the go-to platform for Python development. The reasons for this are clear: Linux offers a flexible, customizable, and open-source environment that aligns perfectly with the Python philosophy.
Additionally, many popular Linux distributions, such as Ubuntu and Fedora, come with Python pre-installed, making it an attractive choice for developers.
Python 2 is still being used
Despite being officially unsupported since April 2020, 6% of respondents still use the Python 2 branch. This is a concerning trend, as Python 2 is no longer receiving security updates or bug fixes. The survey reveals that almost half of these users are under 21 years old, and a third are students. This suggests that there may be a knowledge gap or a lack of awareness about the risks associated with using an unsupported version of Python. As a community, it’s essential that we encourage and support the adoption of Python 3, which offers significant improvements in performance, security, and features.
Tools used
The survey highlights the diversity of development tools used by Python developers. Visual Studio Code (22%) and Jupyter Notebook (20%) lead the pack, followed closely by Vim (17%) and PyCharm Community Edition (13%).
This variety reflects the different needs and preferences of developers, from data scientists to web developers. Notably, 23% of respondents use only one integrated development environment (IDE), while 38% use two, and 21% use three or more.
Open Source Contributions & demographics
A significant 37% of respondents participated in open source projects in the past year, with 77% contributing at the code development level.
Furthermore, the survey provides valuable insights into the demographics of the Python community. 32% of respondents are between 21-29 years old, while 25% have been programming in Python for less than a year. This suggests that Python is attracting a new generation of developers, who are eager to learn and contribute to the community.
Use Cases
The survey reveals that Python is being used for a wide range of applications, including data analysis (44%), web development (44%), machine learning (34%), and administration, DevOps, and automation scripting (26%). This versatility is a key factor in Python’s enduring popularity, as it can be applied to a broad spectrum of tasks and domains.
Wrapping up
The findings highlight the importance of Linux, the need to transition to Python 3, and the diversity of development tools used by the community. As Rust is getting some traction, but Python is here to stay for a long time.
Via Blog
Recent articles from DebugPoint.com
- Fedora 42: Best New Featureson April 24, 2025
- GNOME 48: Best New Featureson April 23, 2025
- Xfce 4.20: Best New Featureson January 4, 2025
- Cinnamon 6.4 Brings Visual Overhaul: Key Featureson December 9, 2024
- elementary OS 8: 10 Best New Featureson December 2, 2024