SANTA CRUZ, CA. April 12, 2016 - Software developer program membership has seen huge growth over the past decade, with the number of developers in developer programs increasing from less than 45% in 2007 to almost 80% today according to Evans Data's annual Developer Relations Program survey - a growth rate of 78%. Developer programs are set up by technology vendors to recruit developers onto their platforms and support them once they are there. They also provide a barometer of support for various technologies, and with companies far outside the software industry now opening APIs, the field of Developer Relations is exploding.

The survey of over 670 developers, conducted in March, also showed that most developers are now in programs that they have adopted within the last 6 years. Twenty-two percent have been in the program they have been in the longest for two years or less, while 41% have been in their longest lasting program for three to six years. Together, 63% of developers have been in the program they have been in longest for six years or less.

"Industries everywhere are discovering that they need to publish open APIs in order to stay competitive in an interconnected world," said Janel Garvin, CEO of Evans Data. "When you publish an API then you've got a platform and platforms are nothing unless developers adopt and use them. Consequently we're seeing large growth in the number and scope of Developer Relations programs. Not only do platforms need to stay competitive, but so do the programs that support them."

Evans Data's Developer Relations Program 2016 survey provides insight into developers' program memberships, their demographics, their firmographics, and the dynamics behind program elements and what work and what doesn't in a developer program. Topics include: Developer Program Membership, Perceptions of Top Programs, Justifying Programs and ROI, Developer Outreach, Spurring Developer Interaction and Participation in Programs, Startups and Accelerators, Training, Support, Resources for Programs, and more.

See complete Table of Contents here.

Evans Data Corporation provides regularly updated IT industry market intelligence based on in-depth surveys of the global developer population. Evans' syndicated research includes surveys focused on developers in a wide variety of subjects.

Copyright 2016 Evans Data Corporation. All other company names, products and services mentioned in this document are the trademarks and property of their respective owners.

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