AI has evolved from an emerging trend to a critical driver of business performance, with companies hiring for AI skills consistently outperforming their peers. 

In our 2024 AI Skills Report,  we found that companies actively hiring for AI-related roles outperformed the market by 13% in share price growth between Q2 2023 and Q2 2024. AI is already having a noticeable impact, driving not just the bottom line of early adopters, but their value as well.

In this article, we delve into the latest findings from our AI adoption survey, exploring how companies leveraging AI talent are achieving exceptional growth and the steps tech teams can take to harness AI’s transformative potential.

Why Companies Can’t Afford to Delay AI Adoption

Despite its transformative potential, some companies remain hesitant to integrate AI, viewing it as a compliance or security risk rather than a value driver. However, delaying AI adoption can mean falling behind faster-moving competitors. 

HackerRank data shows that companies engaging in AI hiring posted a remarkable 40% growth in share price year-over-year, with the most engaged firms—those with 15 active tests that assess AI skills—achieving a 46% increase.

Companies that integrate AI effectively see tangible benefits beyond share price growth. For instance, AI-driven tools can reduce operational bottlenecks by automating repetitive tasks, freeing up teams to focus on strategic goals. 

Take e-commerce, for example. Companies in this industry that use AI for personalized recommendations report up to a 25% increase in sales conversions. For hiring managers, this highlights the importance of finding candidates who can deploy AI solutions that directly align with business priorities.

These numbers underscore the importance of acting now. But scaling hiring for cutting-edge disciplines like AI is easier said than done. Here are a few challenges you might face during your journey to embrace AI, and how to overcome them.

Overcoming Challenges in AI Hiring

1. The AI Skills Gap

One of the biggest barriers to hiring for AI is the skills gap. Many organizations struggle to find candidates who can manage complex AI implementations and align these technologies with business goals.

Solution

Future-proofing your AI hiring strategy doesn’t have to be daunting—it’s about staying informed and proactive. Roles like AI ethicists are essential for ensuring technologies align with ethical standards, while prompt engineers help fine-tune generative AI(GenAI)  tools for better performance. Here’s how to get ahead:

1. Spot Trends Early: Follow industry insights from platforms like LinkedIn and tech blogs. Emerging titles like AI compliance officers signal shifts in regulatory needs.
2. Upskill Internally: Offer training to current employees on AI tools or compliance frameworks.
3. Diversify Recruitment: Look for cross-disciplinary talent—ethics scholars or linguists might bring fresh perspectives.
4. Collaborate with Academia: Partner with universities to attract fresh graduates trained in cutting-edge AI.

By embracing these strategies, you’ll build a team equipped to navigate the evolving AI landscape​.

2. Unmonitored Generative AI Use

Developers and employees increasingly use generative AI tools, which, if unsupervised, could expose companies to compliance and data security risks. We recently found that 49% of developers use GenAI without company support.

Solution

To address the unmonitored use of generative AI effectively, businesses must combine policies, training, and oversight:

1. Establish AI Governance: Create comprehensive policies outlining acceptable uses, including restrictions on sensitive data input, ethical considerations, and compliance mandates.
2. Train Employees: Educate staff on the strengths, limitations, and risks of generative AI, emphasizing data privacy and security.
3. Implement Monitoring Tools: Use software to track AI interactions, ensuring policy adherence.
4. Foster a Culture of Accountability: Encourage employees to report potential misuse and provide regular updates on AI-related risks.
5. Stay Adaptive: Regularly review and revise policies as AI technology evolves.

How Companies Can Gain a Competitive Edge

Assess AI Skills Effectively

Relying on traditional resumes or interviews might not be enough when evaluating AI candidates. Instead, use technical skill assessments tailored to AI competencies, such as data modeling, natural language processing, or machine learning frameworks.

Invest in Ethical AI Practices

The rapid growth of AI adoption has brought ethical concerns to the forefront. Companies must ensure their AI initiatives are transparent and unbiased to avoid regulatory issues and reputational damage.

Organizations can incorporate fairness and bias audits into their AI workflows, ensuring that algorithms don’t inadvertently harm specific groups. Establishing a diverse AI ethics board can provide oversight and accountability.

Conclusion: Embracing AI to Stay Competitive

Companies that treat AI as an opportunity instead of a threat are already seeing substantial benefits, from market outperformance to operational efficiencies. By investing in AI hiring today, organizations can position themselves as leaders in their industries, ready to navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities of tomorrow.

The post Companies Hiring for AI Skills Outperform Market by 13% appeared first on HackerRank Blog.

With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, conversations about AI’s role in tech have shifted from distant hypotheticals to immediate realities.

There’s a growing chorus of questions about the implications of large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT. How well can conversational AI code? And will AI replace developers?

But in contrast with the alarmism, a recent HackerRank survey found developers have an optimistic perspective on AI. 

Only 9% believe AI will replace them, with the majority expecting AI to enhance, rather than replace, their roles. This optimism among developers should guide hiring managers in their strategic planning, offering valuable insights into how AI can be an ally rather than an adversary in workforce development.

In this article we break down our survey’s findings in more detail, allowing hiring managers and developers to get an accurate picture of the tech industry’s future with AI.

Developers Are Embracing AI as a Tool, Not a Threat

Two years ago, the launch of ChatGPT and other generative AI tools stirred a wave of speculation about AI’s potential to disrupt jobs, particularly in software development. With AI’s ability to generate code snippets, troubleshoot, and optimize workflows, concerns were understandable. However, data today presents a clearer picture.

Developers are not overwhelmingly anxious about being replaced. Instead, they increasingly view AI as a valuable tool that complements their skills. In fact, 64% of developers feel AI will moderately or greatly increase their career opportunities. 

This shift in perception is pivotal for hiring managers, as it highlights developers’ willingness to leverage AI to boost productivity rather than seeing it as a competitor.

Career Prospects: An Optimistic Outlook

A significant portion of developers remains optimistic about their career prospects, with two-thirds of respondents predicting growth in job opportunities. In fact, 35% anticipate a large increase in future career opportunities, and another 29% expect a moderate increase. This confidence in future job market growth suggests that developers are preparing to adapt and thrive in an AI-enhanced environment, not retreat from it.

This insight is essential for tech hiring managers who are grappling with talent strategies. As the industry evolves, organizations that foster a positive view of AI will attract forward-thinking developers eager to integrate AI into their workflows. Companies that emphasize AI upskilling and career growth are likely to see lower turnover rates and greater loyalty, as developers recognize the potential for long-term career development.

The Role of AI in Enhancing, Not Replacing, Developer Skills

One of the key takeaways from this survey is that developers view AI as a way to enhance their work, not replace it. AI tools can handle certain aspects of coding, but they still rely on human insight, creativity, and problem-solving. 

AI excels at repetitive, rule-based tasks, freeing developers to focus on more complex, strategic projects. This augmentation rather than replacement should reassure hiring managers and provide clarity on AI’s true role within tech teams.

Rather than seeking candidates solely focused on manual coding, companies can look for developers who understand how to use AI to optimize workflows. This mindset aligns with the industry’s shift toward embracing hybrid skills that combine technical expertise with AI proficiency.

Building a Future-Proof Team: Why AI Training Is Key

Developers’ positive outlook on AI reflects a growing acceptance of AI as a critical skill. For hiring managers, this shift underscores the importance of building a future-proof team by prioritizing AI literacy and training. 

Consider incorporating AI training into onboarding or as part of ongoing professional development to  increase productivity and inspire innovation. With AI tools, developers can automate repetitive tasks, streamline code reviews, and enhance their problem-solving capabilities. 

AI training also fosters adaptability—a skill that will become increasingly valuable as AI technology continues to evolve. Hiring managers can stay ahead by ensuring their teams are equipped to learn and leverage the latest AI tools. This approach allows companies to remain agile, attracting talent that is both skilled and adaptable to the rapid technological changes ahead.

How Hiring Managers Can Leverage Developer Optimism

The positive sentiment among developers offers hiring managers a unique opportunity to leverage this optimism in recruitment and retention strategies. Companies that position AI as a productivity tool rather than a job-replacement risk are more likely to attract candidates who see value in continuous learning and adaptation. 

Emphasizing a forward-looking company culture—one that sees AI as an ally—can be a major draw for candidates. Companies that actively promote AI upskilling and professional development signal to candidates that they are committed to future-proofing their teams. This approach can also reduce turnover, as employees will feel secure in their roles and confident in the company’s dedication to career growth.

The Bottom Line: AI as a Catalyst for Growth

The AI Skills Survey underscores an important message for the tech industry: AI is not here to replace developers; it’s here to empower them. The majority of developers are embracing AI, expecting it to create opportunities and propel their careers forward. This optimistic outlook on AI’s role in tech offers hiring managers a roadmap for building resilient teams that thrive in an AI-driven world.

Hiring managers can respond to these insights by prioritizing AI training, fostering a culture of continuous learning, and positioning AI as a valuable tool rather than a threat. In doing so, they’ll attract and retain top talent, create a competitive advantage, and align their workforce with the future of tech.

The post Are Developers Worried AI Will Take Their Jobs? appeared first on HackerRank Blog.

Generative AI (GenAI) has transformed how developers work. But what exactly are they using it for?

To answer this question, we conducted a survey of 6,300 developers and tech leaders and gathered insights into how developers leverage GenAI to streamline workflows, learn new concepts, and automate tedious tasks. 

Here’s what we found.

1. Learning New Concepts

GenAI is an invaluable assistant for developers venturing into new technologies or programming languages. Whether understanding complex algorithms or breaking down intricate frameworks, AI can be an interactive learning tool, providing real-time answers and guiding developers through unfamiliar territory.

What Developers Say:
“I use AI to get a start on unknown concepts as a conversational assistant.”

Tip for Developers: Use GenAI platforms like ChatGPT or GitHub Copilot as learning companions. When faced with new challenges, ask the AI to break down complex ideas step by step. For example, AI can simplify explanations if you need help understanding recursion or machine learning models. 

2. Debugging

Debugging is a time-consuming task that GenAI helps automate. Developers can input their problematic code, and the AI will point out potential issues and suggest fixes. This significantly reduces the trial-and-error process and helps developers resolve bugs faster.

What Developers Say:
“[GenAI] helps me find answers for niche questions and summarizes documentation, allowing me to get to building faster.”

Tip for Developers: Consider tools like Tabnine that integrate AI into your development environment. These tools can automatically scan your codebase and identify real-time errors or inefficiencies.

3. Code Review

While code reviews are critical to ensuring high-quality, maintainable software, the work can be time consuming. GenAI can automate this process by flagging common coding mistakes, suggesting improvements, and even rewriting code sections for better performance.

What Developers Say:
“I use AI for repetitive tasks where I can see a pattern…for stuff that does not require a personal or human touch.”

Tip for Developers: Use AI tools like CodeGuru or Codacy to automate your code review process. These tools can help spot common errors, enforce best practices, and even improve code quality by suggesting alternative approaches.

4. Documentation

Maintaining up-to-date documentation is essential for team collaboration and code sustainability, but keeping pace with ongoing changes can be challenging. GenAI can automatically generate and update documentation, ensuring developers can access the latest information without sacrificing extra time.

Tip for Developers: Platforms like Scribe AI can automatically generate documentation from recorded workflows or live coding sessions. This tool can save developers time by keeping their project documentation in sync with their code changes.

5. Codebase Understanding

Navigating a large, unfamiliar codebase can be overwhelming, but GenAI can help developers quickly grasp the structure and relationships between various components. This is especially helpful when joining new projects or taking over a codebase developed by another team.

What Developers Say:
“AI helps me find answers for niche questions and summarizes documentation.”

Tip for Developers: Use tools like Sourcegraph to search, understand, and fix bugs more efficiently across large codebases. These tools make exploring the entire code structure and understanding dependencies easier.

6. Implementation

GenAI can be used to suggest optimized code during the implementation phase. It can take an initial problem statement and generate code solutions, allowing developers to focus on refining and adjusting the results to fit their needs.

What Developers Say:
“Mainly I use it to write some blocks of code…I don’t have to waste time writing the usual code again and again.”

Tip for Developers: Try using GitHub Copilot to generate code based on the problem you’re trying to solve. This allows you to implement initial solutions quickly and spend more time refining your approach.

7. Testing

Creating thorough test cases is vital, but manually writing them for every function can be tedious. AI can automatically generate test cases, improving code coverage and helping catch potential bugs before they become significant issues.

Tip for Developers: Tools like Test.ai can automate test generation and even create edge cases that a human developer might overlook. This improves the depth and breadth of testing coverage without extra effort from developers.

8. Refactoring

Refactoring code ensures long-term maintainability and efficiency, but it can be hard to prioritize due to how time consuming it can be. GenAI simplifies this by automatically suggesting refactoring options that clean up code and improve performance without changing its functionality.

What Developers Say:
“Optimizing code to reduce its complexity & increased speed is where AI proves to be most useful.”

Tip for Developers: Use refactoring tools like Refactor.ai that suggest code improvements while maintaining original logic. This can significantly reduce the time spent on manual refactoring and improve code quality.

9. Design & Architecture

While AI can’t entirely replace human creativity, it can assist in designing software architectures by suggesting frameworks, libraries, or technologies that fit the project’s scope. AI’s data-driven approach to recommending best practices can be a helpful guide in the initial stages of system design.

Tip for Developers: Use AI-driven architecture tools like AWS Well-Architected Tool to guide design decisions based on the architecture’s needs. It provides suggestions for frameworks, database setups, and infrastructure options based on your project’s requirements.

10. Deployment

AI can improve the deployment process by automating the setup and verification steps in CI/CD pipelines. It helps ensure configurations are correct and deploys new versions with minimal errors or rollback requirements.

Tip for Developers: Consider integrating AI with tools like CircleCI or GitLab to automate your deployment process. AI can handle environment setup, error checking, and automatic rollbacks.

11. Integration

Integration can often involve compatibility challenges for developers working with multiple systems or APIs. GenAI provides guidance and assistance with integrating disparate components, ensuring that everything works smoothly without conflicts.

Tip for Developers: Utilize AI-based integration platforms like MuleSoft that help developers seamlessly connect applications, reducing the time spent troubleshooting integrations.

The post The Top 11 Ways Developers Are Using GenAI (Survey) appeared first on HackerRank Blog.

2023 was a wild year for software developers. Layoffs and tech hiring slowdowns created a sense of economic uncertainty, while AI’s sudden leap to mainstream use is already disrupting how developers write code and how companies think about their skills strategies. 
After such major upheaval, it’s only natural to ask – what the heck is going on?

We explore that question in our 2024 Developer Skills Report. As the leader in evaluating developer skills, we leveraged original platform data and survey responses to observe what’s really happening in tech hiring and skills.

Key Findings

Market Optimism

The end of 2022 and the first half of 2023 were dicey in the hiring market, and tech in particular.

However from July 2023 forward, we’ve seen several signals that things may be heading in a more positive direction. New test creations are up 58% and test invites are up 86% since July 2023.

Market Concerns

Despite these positive signals, concerns about layoffs or a recession still linger.

52% of developers remain concerned about layoffs. Generally, developers are less vulnerable to layoffs compared to other disciplines, but there is plenty of anecdotal data from friends, coworkers, and social feeds to stoke anxieties regardless.

Similarly, nearly half of developers feel their industry is in a recession. Fortunately, though, 68% of developers think conditions will be better in 2024.

AI Goes Mainstream

AI has already become a staple in tech roles, altering work methodologies and skill strategies. The increase in AI-focused skill assessments signals organizations are rapidly seeking technical talent with this skill set.

Developer Perceptions vs. Management Views

A significant gap exists between what developers value and what executives, managers, and recruiters believe they value. This disparity extends to perceptions about job security, opportunities, and the effectiveness of upskilling programs.

Skills Verification Is Vital to Hiring and Upskilling Initiatives

Assessing technical skills – and having confidence in your findings – is critical for any company to hire, upskill, and promote their developers. But developers don’t sense their organizations have an accurate understanding of their existing skills. Neither developers or management feel a 4 year college degree prepares them adequately for today’s workforce.

Developers are opportunity-minded

In the current economic climate, managers, leaders, and recruiters all say developers value security more than opportunity, by about 40% to 33%. 

Developers disagree. 44% to 27%, developers place more importance on opportunity. 

Don’t get complacent. Developers aren’t hunkered down, grateful just to have a job. They will move on if the right opportunity presents itself.

For more on these and other findings, check out our 2024 Developer Skills Report.

The post 2024 Developer Skills Report: New Trends in Hiring and Upskilling appeared first on HackerRank Blog.

Are you ready for the AI revolution in coding and software development? Our new Developer Skills: AI report reveals key insights that every developer and tech hiring team should know.

The AI revolution is changing the very nature of what it means to be a developer. Our survey of more than 42,000 global developers in February and March 2023 showed that 82% of developers believe AI will redefine the future of coding. Furthermore, 75% are already adjusting their skills to keep up with this game-changing shift. With such a significant impact on the industry, it’s crucial for both developers and companies to understand these changes and adapt accordingly.

“We’ve entered an AI revolution that is poised to change the very nature of what it means to be a developer and write code,” said Vivek Ravisankar, co-founder and CEO at HackerRank. “I see the result of this revolution as faster innovation than ever before, the democratization of development, and expanded opportunities for developer creativity. And this is just the tip of the iceberg.”

AI Is Already Being Used to Augment Coding Tasks

The report found that developers and employers alike are racing to embrace artificial intelligence in the workplace. Access to AI assistants will transform key elements of development work—automating many repetitive or tedious tasks and creating space for more abstract thinking and creative problem-solving.

“AI is set to become a key part of developer workflows, with the rise of AI assistants like GitHub Copilot and all-purpose tools such as ChatGPT,” said Ankit Arya, Principal Product Manager, AI at HackerRank. “Personally, I use ChatGPT for retrieving information or code snippets while coding, and I find it way more efficient than traditional search engines. AI’s potential lies in augmenting developers’ skills rather than replacing them.”

On the Hiring Front, an Uptick in Demand for AI Skill Sets

Employers, too, must prepare for this AI revolution. They face pressure to find, hire, and nurture teams with the technical skills required to capitalize on new innovation and business opportunities driven by AI advancements. We have seen an 81% increase in the creation of new assessments with AI-related questions on our platform since ChatGPT’s public launch in November 2022, signaling a growing interest in hiring for AI-centered skill sets.

Our report also revealed a gap between the AI skills companies need and the skills they’re currently testing for. Our analysis of nearly 1,000 job descriptions revealed that the most in-demand skills for AI-related roles are machine learning, Python, PyTorch, TensorFlow, deep learning, and AWS. However, companies continue to test for more general and conceptual topics, like problem solving and statistics.

To remain competitive, developers need to adapt their skills, and companies need to refine their hiring practices. With the AI revolution already underway, it’s more important than ever to stay informed and embrace the changes it brings.

Don’t miss the chance to stay ahead of the curve—download the Developer Skills: AI report now and get the insights you need to navigate the AI-driven future of coding and software development.

The post AI Is Changing How Developers Work — and How Companies Hire Skills appeared first on HackerRank Blog.

The processes companies use to hire developers have huge implications for their ability to build high performing teams. But what do developers think of employers’ hiring processes? And are they happy with the current state of affairs?

To answer these questions, we took to our community of developers on LinkedIn to get their opinions, and created an ebook highlighting the key takeaways. 

From interview prep and employer communication to the factors that influence their decision to accept an offer, the developers shared their thoughts on all things technical hiring. And, if we’re being honest, their answers surprised us.

75% of Developers Think Technical Interviews Are Broken

One of the most shocking findings of our survey was the generally negative sentiment developers have about the current state of technical interviews. One of the polls we conducted asked developers whether or not they thought that technical interviews are broken.

It turns out that the answer is yes, overwhelmingly so. Some 57% of respondents agreed that technical interviews are broken, and 18% strongly agreed. The reasons for this sentiment are many, and include irrelevant interview questions, inadequate time limits, and the use of outdated interview tech.

If you’re an employer, this statistic might scare you. For every four candidates you interview, three will be frustrated with your hiring process. This is an urgent problem, because developer dissatisfaction with technical interviews has a direct impact on hiring outcomes. 

Unhappy Developers Lead to Unaccepted Offers

In another poll we conducted, 34% of developers reported that the quality of interview questions impacted their decision to accept a job offer. And another 26% of developers identified candidate experience as the main factor influencing their decision to accept a job offer. 

Indeed, a developer’s experience during the hiring process has a real impact on their decision to accept a job offer. Fortunately, developers identified a number of changes they’d like to see in how the tech industry interviews.

Key Takeaways

Embrace Shorter Interviews

92% of developers think technical interviews should be one hour or less. Of that 92%, half think interviews should be one hour. The other half (46% of total) think interviews should only be 30 minutes.

That’s far shorter than current industry standards. But when more than nine in 10 developers agree on something, it’s worth listening. 

Embrace shorter interviews. Your candidates—and likely your interviewers—will appreciate it.

More Real-World Questions

When it comes to improving technical interviews, 65% of developers said they wanted more real-world questions.

While algorithmic-style challenges have been a staple of technical interviews for some time, there is growing frustration with this format among candidates. 

Consider posing real-world technical challenges instead. Not only will you better deliver on developer preferences, but you’ll also enable your hiring team to evaluate the skills a candidate actually needs on the job. 

But asking the right questions doesn’t just help your team identify candidates with the right skills. 34% of developers said the quality of interview questions impacts their decision to accept a job offer. 

A Future Driven by Real-World Skills

Developers aren’t happy with the current way the tech industry conducts coding interviews. However, their responses also indicated strategies that employers can use to build more effective and equitable hiring processes.

To learn more about these developer-sourced interviewing strategies, check out our ebook: 5 Changes Developers Want to See in Your Hiring Process.

The post 5 Changes Developers Want to See in Your Interview Process appeared first on HackerRank Blog.

The past few years have seen plenty of uncertainty in the tech industry. Yet even as the broader economic outlook appears to be softening, the demand – and competition – for skilled tech talent has only increased.

To get an unbiased, unparalleled view into the programming language popularity, HackerRank undertook an intensive study of our platform data. From the supremacy of Java and Python to the rise of Go and TypeScript, 2023 is on track to be a pivotal year for developer skills.

Methodology

Our ranking of the most popular programming languages draws from our 2023 Developer Skills Report. In that report, we used exclusive data from the HackerRank platform to understand employer demand, developer preference, and candidate engagement.

We tracked the popularity of languages by analyzing the languages candidates chose to use on assessments with multiple options available, as well as their proficiency in those languages. For key languages on our list, we’ve included data and insights on employer demand for the skill. We also included HankerRank Community practice data to get a full spectrum of skill preferences. The rates of change for data are based on the difference between volume in 2021 and 2022. In total, our analysis is based on the language preferences of 2.8 million developers.

The Most Popular Programming Languages

#1. Java

What this language is used for: 

• Mobile applications
• Cloud applications
• Video game development
• IoT devices
• Web-based applications
• Big data
• Machine learning

Java is a high-level, object-oriented programming language used to create complete applications. The language is platform independent, allowing it to run on any device that supports its environment. 

This combination of performance and versatility made Java the most popular programming language with developers in 2021 and 2022. You can do just about anything with Java. (Well, almost anything.) 

Building a machine learning model? Check. Developing IoT software for a smart fridge? Java has you covered. And of course, it’s the official language for Android development, the leading smartphone system in the world. Big data frameworks such as Apache Spark and Hadoop have also made Java a popular supporting skill for data scientists. Java usage is widespread, with companies such as Google, Netflix, Uber, and Spotify using the language.

Growing in popularity at a rate of 155%, Java is likely to retain its number one position for the foreseeable future.

#2. Python

What this language is used for: 

• Web development
• Data analysis
• Data visualization
• Task automation
• Machine learning

Python is an interpreted, high-level, general-purpose programming language, and one of the most popular languages for rapid development.

There are a number of reasons behind Python’s popularity with developers. It’s easy to learn, usable on nearly every project, and vital for the field of data science. There’s also a range of powerful Python frameworks, including Django, Bottle, Web2Py, and PyScript. Python usage is also widespread, with companies including Intel, IBM, Netflix, and Meta using the language.

#3. C++

What this language is used for: 

• Browser rendering
• Device operating systems
• Video game development
• Cloud systems
• Banking applications

C++ is a general purpose, compiled, and statically typed programming language. Known as “C with Classes,” C++ is an extension of C with the functionality of user-defined data classes. 

The high performance of C++ has made it the top language for use cases requiring fast rendering, including browsers, banking applications, and motion design software.

Another major contributor to C++’s ubiquity is its ability to work closely with system hardware. Developers use C++ as their first choice for hardware-oriented applications, including video game engines, operating systems, and cloud systems.

Another contributor to C++’s ubiquity is its age. C++ is more than 40 years old. In that time, it’s grown to support millions of applications, and developers have perfected it with new libraries and 20 updates. Beyond new application development, C++ skills are vital for maintaining existing applications and infrastructure. 

While C++ rounds out the medal podium with a third-place ranking, it’s unlikely to surpass Python anytime soon. Python utilization is almost 50% higher, and their growth rates are about the same.

#4. JavaScript

What this language is used for: 

• Web development
• Mobile development
• Interactive design
• Data visualization

JavaScript is a dynamic scripting language used for adding interactive behavior to web pages and applications. The main way developers use JavaScript is to manage the behavior and user experiences of websites. But there are a number of other interesting use cases for JavaScript. Node.js is a framework that extends the functionality of JavaScript to back-end, server-side applications. And libraries like D3.js make JavaScript useful for data visualization. There are also a range of powerful JavaScript frameworks, including, React, Angular, Vue, jQuery, ExpressJS, and Backbone.

JavaScript stands out as the first front-end language on our list. And you might be wondering why it doesn’t rank higher. After all, outlets like Stack Overflow and Codecademy rank JavaScript as the top language in the world. The difference is down to methodology.

Lists like Stack Overflow’s are survey-based, which means they measure the percentage of developers who know a language. In contrast, HackerRank’s list is based on the frequency at which developers choose to use a language. This provides visibility into both the languages that developers know and their likelihood to use them.

That’s not to say that JavaScript isn’t widespread. A staggering 97.3% of all websites use JavaScript as a client-side language. And with usage increasing at a rate of 157% per year, JavaScript’s popularity is only going to grow.

#5. C#

What this language is used for: 

• Mobile development
• Desktop development
• Web development
• Enterprise applications
• Cloud services
• Video game development

C# is a general purpose, object-oriented, component-oriented programming language developed around 2000 by Microsoft as part of its .NET initiative. C# is based on the C family of languages, and has similarities to C, C++, Java, and JavaScript. 

An extension of C, C# adds on a number of features, including variable checking, type checking, bound checking, and garbage collection. Like other members of the C language family, C# is a popular and well-established language, with companies such as Microsoft, Stack Overflow, Accenture, and Intuit using it in their tech stack.

#6. SQL

What this language is used for: 

• Relational database management

SQL is an industry-standard structured query language for creating, defining, implementing, accessing, and maintaining relational databases.

SQL has been growing at a steady rate of 133%, but was replaced in the top five by C#, which is growing at a rate of 173%.

SQL stands out on this list as the only database-oriented language in a crowd of front-end and back-end languages.

That fact goes a long way in explaining its placement on the list. It’s ubiquity as database management earns it strong popularity, but it’s too specialized to challenge the popularity of more versatile languages like Java, Python, and JavaScript.

#7. C

What this language is used for:

• Enterprise applications
• Operating systems
• Video game development
• Calculation-based applications
• Programming language development

C is a general-purpose, statically-typed, and compiled programming language. C is a foundational programming language that’s become known as the mother of all languages. Many of the most popular languages are built on C, including:

• C++
• C#
• Python
• Java
• JavaScript
• PHP
• Perl
• D
• Limbo
• Verilog

Because C has contributed to so many other languages, developers who learn C will acquire fundamental skills that transfer to any other language.

While the languages C inspired have surpassed it in popularity, the language is still a vital part of modern development.

#8. PHP

What this language is used for: 

• Web development
• Desktop app development

PHP is a widely-used open source and general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited for web development.

PHP’s popularity is owed to the fact that it was one of the first server-side languages that developers could embed into HTML. It’s also fast, secure, versatile, and supported by a strong open source community.

While PHP isn’t as popular as other general-purpose languages, its specialization gives it an advantage in web development over languages like Python.

#9. Go

What this language is used for:

• Cloud development
• Back-end development
• Distributed networks
• General development

Go is an object-oriented programming language that Google created in 2009 for networking and infrastructure. But since launch it’s evolved into a general-purpose language used in a wide range of applications.

Over a decade after Go’s launch, interest in the language has continued to grow. From 2018 to 2020, Go was the number one language developers wanted to learn. Companies such as Uber, Twitch, Dropbox, and – yes, Google – are using Go in their tech stack. 

Go stands out in this list as the second fastest-growing language. This year, Go overtook Swift’s spot at number nine. And it might have enough momentum to take PHP’s ranking in the near future. Go’s popularity is growing at a rate of 190%, while PHP is growing at 145%. Add in the fact that employer demand for Go increased by 301%, and its growth may even impact the popularity of other languages. 

 #10. Swift

What this language is used for: 

• iPhone app development
• MacOS app development

Swift is an open source, general-purpose programming language with a focus on performance, safety, and design patterns. Designed by Apple to replace Objective-C, Swift is the go-to language for iPhone, iPad, and Mac iOS development. 

Beyond iOS, Swift is a general-purpose language suitable for a wide range of use cases. However, drawbacks such as incomplete cross-platform support and poor interoperability with third-party tools limit its versatility.

Upon its launch, developers had hoped that Swift could challenge the popularity of Python. But Swift never quite caught on as a general-purpose language, and its usage levels reflect its role as a specialized technology. This is demonstrated by its decline in popularity from nine to ten in our list. Employer demand for Swift is also limited, with it ranking thirteenth in demand.

#11. Kotlin

What this language is used for: 

• Android development
• Back-end development
• Data science

Kotlin is a cross-platform, general-purpose programming language designed for safety, productivity, developer satisfaction, and Java interoperability. Kotlin is most known for its role in mobile development, with over 60% of Android developers using the language. 

Android apps that use Kotlin include Trello, Evernote, and Coursera. Beyond Android applications, developers use Kotlin for roles throughout the tech stack, including back-end development, full-stack development, and data science.

Kotlin popularity is on the rise, moving from twelfth to eleventh in popularity. However, its usage is far lower than classic languages like Java and Python. Employer demand for the language is also limited, as Kotlin doesn’t appear in our list of languages with the highest demand.

#12. Ruby

What this language is used for: 

• Web development
• Video game development
• Scientific computing
• Data processing
• Automation tools
• Data analysis

Ruby is an interpreted, dynamic, open-source programming language with a focus on simplicity and productivity. Ruby has a diverse range of use cases, including data-driven web apps, marketplaces, and desktop apps. 

Ruby is most known for Ruby on Rails (RoR), a framework optimized for productivity, efficiency, and DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself). Developers have gradually shifted away from Ruby over the past several years, and it’s not surprising to see it drop from eleventh to twelfth in popularity. 

#13. TypeScript

What this language is used for: 

• Web development
• Mobile development
• Enterprise-level development

TypeScript is an open-source, object-oriented language that is an extension of JavaScript, meaning JavaScript code is valid TypeScript code. Developed by Microsoft in 2012, TypeScript describes itself as “all of JavaScript, and then a bit more.” 

The language builds on the foundation of JavaScript with additional features, including classes, object-oriented techniques, and scalable code bases. TypeScript has been gaining popularity for years, and ranked 4th in GitHub’s 2022 language rankings. 

From 2021 to 2022, TypeScript showed large gains in its popularity with developers. With a doubletake-inducing 2,788% gain, TypeScript is growing faster than any other programming language. That popularity is also translating into hiring demand. TypeScript demand grew by a huge 392% (or 282% compared to trend).

Its growth may also affect the growth of larger languages. TypeScript is tightly linked with JavaScript. Will its growth come at the expense of JavaScript, or will it serve to amplify it?

#14. Scala

What this language is used for: 

• Mobile development
• Web developments
• Big data systems
• IoT development

Scala is a high-level, statically-typed programming language that combines object-oriented and functional programming. Its multi-paradigm approach to programming makes it ideal for a number of use cases, including big data, distributed systems, Android applications, and IoT devices. A major benefit for developers is that Scala is interoperable with Java code and libraries.

#15. R

What this language is used for: 

• Statistical computing
• Data analysis

R is an open-source programming language for statistical computing and data analysis. Researchers and scientists use R for data visualization and statistical analysis in a number of industries, including academia, research, fintech, retail, government, healthcare, and social media.

The popularity of R has fallen over the past several years. From 2021 to 2022, R dropped from the thirteenth to the fifteenth most popular language. And while R grew by 59% in 2022, most other languages on this list are growing two to four times faster. 

The differences in total volume are even more striking. Only 1,239 developers opted to use R in their assessments. But 484 times as many developers used Java – almost 600k. The gap in relevance between these two languages is striking.

Given all these data points, we expect another language to replace R on this list in the near future.

Key Takeaways

• It’s unlikely that lower-ranked languages will break into the top five. The gap in volume is too great to overcome.
• Go and TypeScript are the languages to watch. Their popularity and demand are growing at a rate unmatched by other languages.
• Ruby, R, SQL, and Swift saw their rankings decrease. Their usage is still growing, just not fast enough.
• General-purpose languages like Java and Python tend to outrank more specialized languages like SQL and Swift. While the popularity of specialist languages is strong, their specialization means they’ll never reach the widespread usage of more popular languages. 

For more insights about trending languages and technical skills, read HackerRank’s 2023 Developer Skills Report.

The post The 15 Most Popular Programming Languages of 2023 appeared first on HackerRank Blog.

There’s a lot of information about what specific programming languages developers use. But language popularity doesn’t necessarily translate to employer demand. To get an unbiased, unparalleled view into the dynamic world of in-demand programming languages, HackerRank undertook an intensive study of our platform data. 

We found that, despite recent uncertainty in the tech industry, demand for skilled tech talent hasn’t slowed down. But demand for key skills and competencies isn’t distributed evenly. Heading into 2023, we have some key projections on how demand for certain skills is changing. 

No matter how you measure it, 2023 is on track to be a pivotal year for developer skills. From the rise of Go and TypeScript to the decline of Swift and Ruby, here are a few of those key trends. 

The Most In-Demand Programming Languages

#1. Java

Java is a high-level, object-oriented programming language used to create complete applications. The language is platform independent, allowing it to run on any device that supports its environment. 

In terms of growth relative to the market, demand for top-ranked Java is actually growing slightly slower than the market. But Java still leads second-ranked Python by a strong margin. Its first-place ranking is secure for the foreseeable future.

#2. Python

Python is an interpreted, high-level, general-purpose programming language, and one of the most popular languages for rapid development. Python usage is widespread, with companies including Intel, IBM, Netflix, and Meta using the language.

Demand for Python is catching up to demand for Java. While Java is growing slower than the market, Python grew relative to the market. While Python’s growth may mean that it narrows Java’s lead, the wide gap between them means we’re unlikely to see any place-trading.

#3. SQL

SQL is an industry-standard structured query language for creating, defining, implementing, accessing, and maintaining relational databases. In 2022, demand for SQL grew at a steady rate and managed to surpass C++. It’s also growing faster relative to the market. 

But while SQL improved its demand ranking, it decreased in its popularity ranking. SQL’s third-place demand ranking is noticeably higher than its sixth-place popularity ranking. The source of this gap in supply and demand is unclear. Interest in the SQL vs NoSQL debate has risen steadily over the last decade. Developers turning toward non-relational database systems could be a contributing factor.

#4. C++

C++ is a general purpose, compiled, and statically typed programming language. Known as “C with Classes,” C++ is an extension of C with the functionality of user-defined data classes. The high performance of C++ has made it the top language for use cases requiring fast rendering, including browsers, banking applications, and motion design software.

In 2022, C++ fell from third to fourth place, overtaken by SQL’s steady growth rate. Demand for C++ is also growing slightly slower relative to the market. However, demand for the language isn’t going anywhere. C++ skills are vital for maintaining existing applications and infrastructure.

#5. JavaScript

JavaScript is a dynamic scripting language for adding interactive behavior to web pages and applications. Primarily used for building interactive web experiences, JavaScript stands out as the first front-end language on our list.

At fifth place, JavaScript has nearly four times the volume of the sixth-ranked Bash. This calls attention to an important characteristic of this demand-based ranking. After the top five, there is a huge gap in volume, placing the leading programming languages in a category of their own. While JavaScript is growing slightly slower than the market, its top-five ranking is secure.

#6. Bash

Bash is a command-line language for Unix operating systems. The language allows developers (or anyone who works with data) to work with computer files directly instead of using a graphical user interface (GUI). This makes it a useful skill to learn for cloud engineers and data scientists.

Bash stands out on our list as the only in-demand language that did not rank in popularity with developers. It will be interesting to see how this misalignment between supply and demand will affect the job market. Will an abundance of opportunity and demand inspire developers to learn the language? Or will a small talent pool of developers skilled in the language force employers to pay a premium for their skills? In 2020 Bash was already correlated with higher compensation than popular languages like C, C++, C#, Python, and Java.

#7. C#

C# is a general purpose, object-oriented, component-oriented programming language developed in 2000 by Microsoft as part of its .NET initiative. C# is based on the C family of languages, and has similarities to C, C++, Java, and JavaScript. 

Demand for C# sits in the middle of the language family. C++ far exceeds C# in demand, but C# holds a notable lead over C.

#8. Go

Go is an object-oriented programming language that Google created in 2009 for networking and infrastructure. But since launch it’s evolved into a general-purpose language used in a wide range of applications.

Go has been gaining popularity with developers for several years. In 2022 it was the second fastest-growing language, with its popularity increasing at a rate of 190%. And that popularity is translating into hiring demand. Demand for Go grew by 301% in 2022. 

One potential side effect of Go’s success is that it might affect the growth of larger languages. Developers looking to learn a new general-purpose language might start choosing Go over languages with weak demand. (We’re looking at you, Ruby.)

It will be interesting to see if Go has the momentum to challenge the rankings of other languages on our list. While demand for Go is growing at 140% relative to the market, C# is only growing at 10% relative to the market. Though momentum is on Go’s side, the gap between the two languages might be too large to overcome in just a few years.

#9. TypeScript

TypeScript is an open-source, object-oriented language that is an extension of JavaScript. Developed by Microsoft in 2012, TypeScript describes itself as “all of JavaScript, and then a bit more.” 

TypeScript has been gaining popularity for years, and ranked 4th in GitHub’s 2022 language rankings. Like Go, we’re seeing that popularity translate into hiring demand. At 392%, TypeScript had the highest growth in demand of any programming language.

It will be interesting to see how TypeScript’s growth will affect JavaScript. The two are tightly linked. TypeScript’s growth could come at the expense of JavaScript, or it could serve to amplify it.

#10. R

R is an open-source programming language for statistical computing and data analysis. Researchers and scientists use R for data visualization and statistical analysis in a number of industries, including academia, research, fintech, retail, government, healthcare, and social media.

While it ranks low on our list, demand for R is growing. At about 60% relative to the market, it posted the fifth-highest growth in demand.

What’s interesting is that growing employer demand for R is misaligned with its falling popularity with developers.

From 2021 to 2022, R dropped from the thirteenth to the fifteenth most popular language – dead last on our list. And while R grew by 59% in 2022, most other languages we ranked grew two to four times faster. 

How will this conflict between supply and demand play out in the job market? Like Bash, we’ll be watching closely to see if growing demand inspires developer interest or raises the compensation for R skills.

#11. PHP

PHP is a widely-used open source and general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited for web development. PHP’s popularity is owed to the fact that it was one of the first server-side languages that developers could embed into HTML. 

While demand for PHP is low compared to other general-purpose languages, its growth rate is actually quite high. Demand for PHP grew at about 180% relative to the market, making it the second fastest-growing language, surpassed only by TypeScript. 

PHP might have enough momentum to challenge R and break into the top ten. PHP’s volume is only slightly lower than R’s, but it’s growing about three times faster relative to the market. This rise in demand may help correct PHP’s lagging compensation, which Stack Overflow ranked second to last in 2020 and 2021.

#12. C

C is a general-purpose, statically-typed, and compiled programming language. A foundational programming language, C has become known as the mother of all languages. 

While it ranks low on our list – third to last – demand for C is still growing. At about 70% relative to the market, C posted the fourth-highest growth rate out of any language. While it doesn’t have the volume or growth to surpass PHP in the near future, its place is secure against the two struggling languages that appear next on our list.

#13. Swift

Swift is an open source, general-purpose programming language with a focus on performance, safety, and design patterns. Created by Apple to replace Objective-C, Swift is the go-to language for Mac, iPhone, and iPad iOS development. 

In 2022, Swift had the second-largest decrease in demand. Its volume in 2022 was only 80% of what it was in 2021. Swift’s popularity is also limited, demonstrated by its drop from nine to ten in our list on language popularity. Taking both of these figures into account, we can see that Swift is in a state of decline. This can be attributed to the fact that Swift never quite caught on as a general-purpose language, and has had to settle for specialization in iOS development.

#14. Ruby

Ruby is an interpreted, dynamic, open-source programming language with a focus on simplicity and productivity. Ruby has a diverse range of use cases, including data-driven web apps, marketplaces, and desktop apps. 

In 2020 Ruby ranked fifth in Stack Overflow’s list of highest paying programming languages. But despite high compensation, demand for Ruby is declining. Its demand in 2022 was only 66% of what it posted in 2021. It’s also growing the slowest relative to the market out of any language on our list. Developers have gradually shifted away from Ruby over the past several years, and it’s not surprising to find its demand fading as well.

Ruby is already dead last in demand. If it continues at this rate, another language will inevitably take its place. 

Key Takeaways

• Python and Java rank first and second in both employer demand and popularity with developers. It’s interesting to note that supply and demand for these key languages are aligned.
• The gaps in volume between languages are significant, effectively dividing the list into four tiers:
  • The first tier consists of the top five languages (Java, Python, SQL, C++, and Java Script), which have enough volume to stand in a league of their own. 
  • The second tier (Bash and C#) sees a significant drop in volume, with Bash having only 25% of the volume of JavaScript. 
  • The third tier (Go, TypeScript, R, and PHP) have similar demand levels and are growing the fastest. 
  • Rounding out the list is the fourth tier (C, Swift, and Ruby), whose languages barely post enough volume to rank on the list.

Methodology

Our ranking of the most popular programming languages draws from our 2023 Developer Skills Report. In that report, we used exclusive data from the HackerRank platform to understand employer demand, developer preference, and candidate engagement.

We tracked the demand for languages by analyzing the number of tests requiring developers to use a specific language. For some languages we also reference their popularity with developers, which is based on the languages candidates chose to use on assessments with multiple options available. The rates of change for data are based on the difference between volume in 2021 and 2022. In total, our analysis is based on tests taken by 700,000 developers.

The post The Most In-Demand Programming Languages for 2023 appeared first on HackerRank Blog.

It’s hard to turn anywhere in 2022 without hearing talk of recession. Depending on the day of the week or the latest indicator, we’re either already in one, or heading into one. From layoffs to inflation to cooling real estate markets, all signs seem to point to a worsening economy. 

But what does that mean for developers and skilled tech workers?

We explore that question in our 2023 Developer Skills Report. And rather than relying on survey data, this year we’ve tapped into exclusive HackerRank platform data. This lets us observe what’s really happening in tech hiring, from which skills and languages employers are looking for to market temperature and candidate engagement. 

Slower growth is still growth

Overall, we see signs of a cooling market unfolding throughout 2022, but we also continue to see growth in tech hiring and in employer demand for a variety of skills and programming languages. Nearly every metric we analyzed is up in 2022 compared to 2021. But the growth curve has shallowed somewhat from the aggressive up-and-to-the-right trajectories we saw in 2021. 

While the broader economy may well be heading toward a recession (or already in one), developers will likely be insulated from the worst of it. 

What do employers want? Java, Python, SQL, and Data Science skills

Employer demand for top skills and languages increased by 140% and 138%, respectively. Java remains the most in-demand programming language, followed by Python and SQL, which this year surpassed C++. In terms of growth, Go and TypeScript made significant gains this year, both growing more than 300% year over year.

On the skills side, employers are hungry for anything data science-related. This includes second-ranked Machine Learning, as well as new additions to our skills for 2022, Data Wrangling, Data Visualization, and Data Modeling. REST API skills were also highly sought after, with demand jumping 250%.

Forecast for 2023 points toward resumed growth

In forecasting language and skill demand into 2023, our data team took a decidedly conservative stance, leaning toward the low end of the 95% confidence interval. And even with those lowered expectations, we’re still forecasting an uptick across most of the languages and skills we’re tracking. 

EMEA and Latin America seem best positioned heading into 2023

2020 taught us that globalization only goes so far, and that different regions fared better or worse through the COVID shutdowns. By indexing regional performance – in the form of assessment invites – against the global trendline, we can see that EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) and LATAM (Latin America) endured more severe and longer-lasting downturns than North America or the APAC (Asia Pacific) region. Both underindexed into 2021, and EMEA continued to underindex until October 2021. 

But now, as North America and APAC slip into underindexing, EMEA and Latin America seem poised to continue to modestly overindex. 

For more on these and other findings, go and check out our 2023 Developer Skills Report.

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