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This is our last batch of insights for the year! Expect us to return stronger in 2025, with everything you need for a much better understanding of the industry and its needs. This blog post is the second installment of the free insights we bring to the world through the State of the Developer Nation report series, currently on our 27th edition. The series delivers six reports that look into technology trends and share data and key insights on what matters to software developers. You can find links to all of these at the end of this blog post. If you are interested in programming language communities and AI chatbots, make sure to check out part 1: “ 27.4M developers use JavaScript  & AI chatbots are used by 45% of developers for problem-solving ” which also includes more information about our Developer Nation surveys and insights on the 2 topics.  For now, we will focus on two trending topics: Network APIs and 5G and how developers build AI applications. Developer Research Report: Network APIs: The new oil in the 5G economy We dug into how developers around the world are adopting network APIs, and the results are pretty interesting!  Network APIs are essential for enabling communication, data transfer, and seamless connectivity across a wide range of applications. So, in what development projects are developers using them the most? Leading the charge is Industrial IoT, with 14% of developers integrating network APIs to enable real-time communication and data exchange across connected systems. Following closely are consumer electronics devices at 13% and apps/extensions for third-party ecosystems at 12%, reflecting the need for seamless integration in smart devices and platforms. Industrial IoT leads network API adoption, proving their vital role in powering connected and intelligent systems. What does this mean? Developers are prioritising network APIs for projects where real-time data flow, device communication, and smart integration are critical. For industries like IoT, consumer tech, and AI, these APIs are becoming essential building blocks for innovation and scalability. Want to know more about the profile of developers using network APIs and which are the most common types of APIs? We break it all down in the full report . Developer Research Report: How developers build AI-enabled applications AI is everywhere these days, and developers are paving the way in bringing smarter applications to life. Our latest research reveals how developers are integrating AI functionality into their apps and how different factors like professional status and company size play a major role in adoption rates. According to our data, open-source AI models dominate the landscape, with 66% of developers choosing them to add AI functionality to their applications. This preference is consistent across professionals (67%) and amateurs (65%), underlining the universal appeal of open models for innovation and rapid implementation. On the other hand, proprietary or closed-source models see a significant gap: while 43% of professionals integrate them, only 30% of amateurs do the same. This suggests professionals are more likely to leverage closed models for advanced or enterprise-level applications requiring reliability and support. Open-source AI models dominate adoption, but proprietary models find favor with professional developers for specialised use cases. Interested in seeing AI functionality adoption rates and the types of AI models used, broken down by company size? Dive into the full report  for all the insights. Enjoy the full report series.  As I mentioned in the introduction, the State of Developer Nation series shares six reports. The topics covered?  Sizing programming language communities The rise of AI chatbots for problem-solving Network APIs: The New Oil In The 5G Economy How developers build AI-enabled applications  What developers think about their teams  Profiling of professionals working at startups All reports are offered freely to our community and anyone interested in the technology space. Access everything with a single sign-in in our SlashData Research Space . Do you need to look deeper into technology topics? Explore our tailored solutions. Get in touch  with us.  About the authors Stathis Georgakopoulos, Product Marketing Manager Always keen to see what’s next in the industry, Stathis is the Product Marketing Manager for SlashData, setting the table and running the marketing activities. He's our go-to guy for all things marketing and does not hide his love for content marketing and creating helpful content. Bleona Bicaj, Senior Market Research Analyst Bleona is a behavioral specialist, enthusiastic about data and behavioral science. She holds a Master's degree from Leiden University in Economic and Consumer Psychology. She has more than 6 years of professional experience as an analyst in the data analysis and market research industry.

For many development teams, tools are more than just software - they’re the engine driving every project, sprint, and release. Yet, our data shows that the decision to purchase new tools often lies not with the developers but with the leadership team, whose insights and strategies shape the tech stack. So, how exactly are CEOs, CTOs, and other technology leaders involved in deciding on the tools that will power their teams? In this blog post, we’ll dive into the involvement of technology leaders in tool selection, comparing their influence to other technology professionals within their organisations. We’ll also explore how factors like software development experience and company revenue affect their role in decision-making. With revenue often linked to organisational complexity and resources, understanding these dynamics provides a clearer picture of how management shapes the tools that teams use. This blog post is based on data collected in the 27th edition of SlashData’s Developer Nation survey, which reached more than 9,000 respondents from 130+ countries worldwide. In this blog post, we look at over 6,500 technology professionals working for organisations with two or more employees, more than 1,500 of whom identify themselves with management roles. The role of tech leaders vs other tech professionals in tool buying decisions When we break down involvement across four main roles within organisations - technical, non-technical, management, and IT operations - there are some notable differences. The technical professionals are the least involved in overall selection or purchase decisions, with 14% reporting no involvement at all. Meanwhile, managers are more involved, especially when it comes to approval of the overall team budget (28%), approval of expenses on tools and components (32%), and final selection decisions (50%).  IT operations professionals are more likely to be responsible for final tool selection than their technical peers The management group includes tech/engineering team leads, CIO/CTO/IT managers, and CEOs. Of these, CIO/CTO/IT roles are the most influential in making the final tool selection, approving expenses, and determining the budget for developer tools. For instance, 67% of CIO/CTO/IT managers make the final decision on tool selection for their teams, compared to 59% of CEOs and only 36% of tech leads. 67% of CIO/CTO/IT managers make the final selection decision for team/company tools This pattern highlights that managers drive final decisions, balancing functionality with budget and strategic goals. Recognising this influence, SlashData has now expanded its market research efforts  to focus more on CEOs, CTOs, and other C-level executives, providing insights tailored to these decision-makers and their unique priorities in shaping technology strategy. How experience in software development shapes tech leaders’ involvement in tool selection Involvement in tool selection and budget decisions isn’t solely determined by role - it’s also shaped by experience. Managers' involvement in tool selection decisions increases with experience in software development, especially for key decision-making activities.  Leaders with over five years of experience are the most actively involved, particularly in making recommendations (54%) and final selection decisions (52%) for team or company tools. This suggests that seasoned leaders leverage their expertise to guide important tool choices, balancing strategic needs with practical insights from years in the field.  This trend also extends to budget-related decisions. Executives with extensive experience are more likely to set the overall team budget for developer tools (30%) than beginners in the field (19%). The proportion of involvement in approving expenses and overall budget climbs steadily with experience, highlighting a likely correlation between tenure and budgetary authority. This pattern paints a clear picture of how experience shapes managers’ role in building a company’s tech stack. How company revenue shapes tech leaders’ involvement in developer tool buying decisions Understanding how revenue impacts tech leaders’ involvement in tool selection is essential, as financial resources often dictate the complexity of decision-making processes. Our data shows that tech leaders’ level of involvement in tool selection and budget decisions generally increases as company revenue grows. In smaller companies (monthly revenue up to $5,000), tech leaders’ involvement in tool selection is limited, which is true for other role categories as well, potentially suggesting limited resources.  However, as revenue increases, tech leaders become more actively involved, particularly in making recommendations and making final decisions. This suggests that companies with higher revenue likely have more complex needs, requiring executive input to ensure tool choices align with strategic goals.  For instance, around 46% of tech leaders in companies generating over $50,000 monthly are involved in approving expenses on tools and components, compared to only 23% in companies with a monthly revenue of up to $5,000. Similarly, around 62% of tech leaders in companies with over $50,000 in monthly revenue make final selection decisions for company tools, compared to 45% of those with a monthly revenue of up to $5,000. 62% of tech leaders in companies earning at least $50,000 monthly are involved in making final tool selection decisions Are you targeting tech leaders who make tool purchase decisions? Contact us to gain insights into their preferences. About the author Bleona Bicaj, Senior Market Research Analyst Bleona Bicaj is a behavioral specialist, enthusiastic about data and behavioral science. She holds a Master's degree from Leiden University in Economic and Consumer Psychology. She has more than 6 years of professional experience as an analyst in the data analysis and market research industry.

The challenge Our client, a leading e-commerce solutions provider, wanted to understand the needs of developers working on headless or composable e-commerce projects. Headless e-commerce, which decouples the front-end from the back-end, enables businesses to deliver faster, more personalised experiences across channels. The study focused on identifying the platforms, frameworks, and features developers use, along with their project timelines and preferences. The approach SlashData worked as an extension of the client’s team to draft and run a targeted survey of 150+ users, capturing a comprehensive view of the current trends, tools, and practices in headless and composable e-commerce development. The result This research allowed our client to assess their standing in the current landscape of headless and composable e-commerce solutions. The findings were used to inform our client’s product strategy and investment decisions, helping them align their offerings with what is most important to their target audience. Why SlashData The survey was hosted on SlashData’s proprietary survey platform, allowing advanced data cleaning and ensuring that our client received the highest quality results. We were also able to leverage our developer network and vetted partners to target the specific audience of interest for our client. Interested in uncovering insights to transform your e-commerce strategy? Contact us . Related services Quantitative Developer research

All Reports Network APIs: The new oil in the 5G economy Exploring developer adoption and implementation of network APIs About this Report Network APIs, which enable developers to easily access advanced network capabilities, have gained significant attention recently. In this report, we will explore the number and profiles of the developers currently leveraging network APIs, as well as an overview of the types of network APIs developers are using. Key Questions Answered What percentage of developers use network APIs? Which regions have higher adoption rates of network APIs? In what types of projects are developers using network APIs involved? What functionalities of network APIs do developers use? Click to expand ACCESS FULL REPORT Methodology The 27th edition of the Developer Nation survey reached more than 9,000 respondents from 130+ countries around the world. This research report delves into key developer trends for Q3 2024 and beyond. Contact us First name* Last name* Work Email* Company * Role* Message I agree to SlashData's Privacy Policy and I want to be contacted SUBMIT

All Reports How developers build AI-enabled applications Types of models developers incorporate in AI-powered applications About this Report This report explores how software developers add artificial intelligence (AI) functionality to their applications. We start by looking at the percentage of developers who add AI functionality to their applications, breaking it down by professional status and company size. Following this, we focus on the types of models that these developers use in their applications. Key Questions Answered What percentage of developers add AI functionality to their applications? How does the usage of AI functionality in applications differ based on company size? What types of models do developers use to add AI functionality to their applications? Click to expand ACCESS FULL REPORT Methodology The 27th edition of the Developer Nation survey reached more than 9,000 respondents from 130+ countries around the world. This research report delves into key developer trends for Q3 2024 and beyond. Contact us First name* Last name* Work Email* Company * Role* Message I agree to SlashData's Privacy Policy and I want to be contacted SUBMIT

All Reports The rise of AI-chatbots for problem-solving How much traction have AI chatbots gained over the last six months in the technology industry? About this Report In this report, we explore the use of AI chatbots for problem-solving by professionals, hobbyists, and students involved in technology projects. More specifically, we look at how much the adoption of AI chatbots increased between Q1 and Q3 2024 across different role types, experience levels, and geographic regions. Key Questions Answered How has the overall adoption of AI chatbots changed over the past six months across different user groups? Which roles and industries are experiencing the fastest growth in AI chatbot usage? How does AI chatbot usage differ between professionals, hobbyists, and students? What regional trends are emerging in AI chatbot adoption? What specific challenges or needs are prompting beginners and non-technical users to increasingly turn to AI chatbots for problem-solving? Click to expand ACCESS FULL REPORT Methodology The 27th edition of the Developer Nation survey reached more than 9,000 respondents from 130+ countries around the world. This research report delves into key developer trends for Q3 2024 and beyond. Contact us First name* Last name* Work Email* Company * Role* Message I agree to SlashData's Privacy Policy and I want to be contacted SUBMIT