In 2024, the tech world saw significant developments and challenges, particularly in areas like AI, developer experience, and security. One of the most notable trends was the impact of AI on developer teams. Many developers started using AI tools, but initial excitement waned as trust issues with generated code arose. The debate on whether AI improves or reduces code quality continues, as does the discussion on its effect on job opportunities. Will developers become redundant, or will AI simply increase productivity? The answers remain uncertain and may only become clear in the future.
Pressure on developer teams grew in 2024, especially with increasing security demands. Many developers found this challenging, and salaries did not always compensate for the stress, particularly in the open-source community where many still work voluntarily. Security saw a rise in sophisticated attacks on repositories and supply chains.
A study analyzed developer activity from 2020 to 2024, suggesting a shift towards small, highly productive teams with senior developers. AI tools allow developers to implement significant ideas with fewer commits, potentially making small teams of five or fewer sufficient for product development. However, both forum commentators and study authors expressed doubts about this approach.
One blogger argued against this view, considering more factors than just equating AI with labor. According to him, AI leads to more software production rather than more unemployed developers.
In 2024, a startup named Cognition gained attention with its AI, Devin, which promised to handle entire software projects independently. Despite receiving significant investments, the project has become quiet since spring.
Software security was a major concern, with 70% of software companies suffering from security vulnerabilities. Technical debt increased, affecting team morale. Dependent packages often caused issues, and prioritizing critical risks was recommended for secure software and team well-being.
For over thirty years, a Windows dialog for formatting drives remained unchanged, initially intended as a temporary solution. This persistence highlights how some temporary fixes become permanent.
The AI hype, fueled by tools like OpenAI and Copilot, faced skepticism in 2024. Questions arose about whether AI-generated code was beneficial for both authors and reviewers. The industry also saw conflicts over the new AI-driven business landscape. Studies suggested that AI assistants might improve code quality, contrary to some opinions.
A Stack Overflow study revealed that average developer salaries decreased by around $10,000. In Germany, top salaries reached $82,000, while in the US, they reached $225,000. Technical debt was a significant frustration for developers. Enthusiasm for AI solutions dropped slightly, but the use of AI tools in projects increased.
Security threats in 2024 included targeted attacks on public Git repositories. A notable incident involved 2.8 million malicious Docker Hub repositories containing phishing or malware links. This highlighted vulnerabilities in repository metadata security.
A controversy arose when Haier, an appliance manufacturer, attempted to remove an open-source plugin for Home Assistant. The plugin allowed smart home integration of Haier devices. After media reports, Haier proposed collaborating with the developer to optimize the plugin.