The Age of the Citizen Developer is here

What happens to System Developers when AI is hitting harder than ever?

The autumn of 2024 is here! In this article, we’re looking at groundbreaking innovations in system development to keep an eye on. New tools and simplified workflows indicate an acceleration in pace: with increasingly automated processes, more and more people can enter the field as citizen developers. But what does the age of the citizen developers mean for professional system developers?

More low quality software & more developers, or better software & fewer developers in 3 years?

While AI may facilitate and act as a catalyst in development, we cannot overlook the low-code and no-code phenomenon. Software development is becoming more accessible to everyone, ushering in a new era of creativity and innovation that speeds up digital transformation in society. As users without technical backgrounds can quickly and easily create their own applications, the demand for deep coding knowledge will also change.

So the question arises: will the role of system developers evolve or become obsolete? Perhaps you will be able to focus on more complex projects and drive technology forward in the future, or you may need to completely realign your skills if the role is no longer as essential. Regardless of the outcome, it all suggests that you must adapt to the new landscape as a professional system developer.

How system developers prioritize

Did you know that 93% of system developers enjoy learning new things, sharing insights with their colleagues, and advancing in their roles? This is a promising sign for the future: evolving roles require a growth mindset!

A great tip for the future is to be proactive in your career. Look around and explore the opportunities available to you, and continue to enhance your skills as much as possible.

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Life in the age of the citizen developer

You’ve likely already caught wind of this phenomenon: last year, we discussed how to adapt to the increasingly powerful low-code and no-code platforms. The term ”citizen developer” has been around since 2010, but it’s becoming more visible in everyday life as more people take matters into their own hands.

For system developers, AI has become an ever more important part of the job, and there are no signs of that changing. Automated code reviews and AI-driven predictive analytics continue to improve, and tools like GitHub Copilot are helping more developers write code faster and with higher quality.

This technological revolution opens the door to higher efficiency and productivity, and for developers, AI-driven system development could lead to tremendous advancements in the industry—if jobs remain available.

A sharp decline in the developer index – AI vs recession in the USA

According to a report from Hiring Lab, the developer index in the USA experienced a surge, peaking at 230 in February 2022 during the pandemic. However, since then, the number has dramatically dropped to just below 68 in August 2024. This represents a decline of almost 70%.

Indeed, Hiring Lab, Software Development Job Postings on Indeed in the United States [IHLIDXUSTPSOFTDEVE], retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/IHLIDXUSTPSOFTDEVE, August 30, 2024.

What’s caused by the recession & high interest rates, and what effect does AI have?

Even we at Worko see that customers are requesting fewer developers than before, which can be attributed entirely or partially to AI and the challenging economy. Many processes are now so much more efficient that the time saved can reduce the number of developers needed.

This is a great step forward for technological evolution but could be devastating for the role of the system developer as it exists today.

More & faster development – exciting times coming up

For system developers, an autumn filled with technological changes that will shape the future of the industry awaits. By staying up to date on these trends, you as a developer can maintain your competitive strength and take advantage of the latest advancements in technology and methodology. With knowledge of new working methods, you can get closer to your customers and business partners who may themselves be curious about and experimenting with AI-driven low-code, allowing you to contribute your expertise. Let’s go!

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