2023 Stack Overflow Developer Survey: Popular Languages, Databases, Frameworks, and AI Tool Usage

Stack Overflow released its 2023 Developer Survey, with more than 90,000 developers participating, covering developer demographics and insights on technologies, AI, careers, and communities.

Quick Index:

Most popular programming language: JavaScript

Highest‑earning language: Zig

Most popular database: PostgreSQL

Most popular web framework/technology: Node.js

Most popular IDE: Visual Studio Code

Most popular AI search tool: ChatGPT

Most popular AI development tool: GitHub Copilot

Trust in AI tools: 39% somewhat trust

AI usage scenario: 82.55% use AI to help write code

Future expectation: developers expect AI to change workflows within a year

Most Popular Programming Language

JavaScript has been the most popular language for 11 consecutive years; Python overtook SQL to become the third most popular. Bash/Shell, C, Ruby, Perl, and Erlang all moved up one rank. Go and Rust also saw usage increases.

Highest‑Earning Programming Language

Zig developers have a median annual income of $103,611 (≈ ¥740,000). Zig is designed for stability, maintainability, and performance as a systems‑programming alternative to C. PHP and Dart rank at the bottom.

Compared with last year, Zig’s rise is dramatic, while Clojure, previously the highest‑paid, fell to fifth place.

Most Popular Database

PostgreSQL overtook MySQL to become the most popular database in 2023.

Among professional developers, 49.09% use PostgreSQL (up 2.61% YoY); MySQL holds 40.59%, SQLite 30.17%, DynamoDB 10.31% (surpassing Oracle), and Oracle 10.06%.

For learners, MySQL is most used (45.71%), followed by MongoDB (28.15%) and SQLite (26.93%).

Most Popular Web Frameworks and Technologies

Node.js and React.js are the two most popular web technologies, with professional developers using them at similar rates; among learners, Node.js is slightly more popular (52% vs 48%). Other popular choices include jQuery, Express, Angular, Next.js, and Vue.js.

Most Popular Integrated Development Environment

Visual Studio Code remains the top IDE, with usage rising from 75% to 81% of respondents.

Most Popular AI Search Tool

ChatGPT is the leading AI search tool, used by 83% of respondents, followed by Bing AI (20%), WolframAlpha (13%), and Google Bard AI (10%).

Most Popular AI Development Tool

GitHub Copilot leads with 55% usage, followed by Tabnine (13%) and AWS CodeWhisperer (5%).

Trust in AI Tools

Less than 3% of users highly trust AI accuracy, while about 6% strongly distrust it; 39% express some trust, and 30% are neutral.

AI Tool Usage Scenarios

The vast majority of developers use AI tools to help write code; other uses include debugging, documentation, learning codebases, and testing.

Expectations for Future AI Tool Impact

Both professional developers and learners believe that AI tools will change development workflows within a year.

For the full report, visit https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2023/ .