Distribution of operating systems among developers worldwide 2024, by use

In 2024, over 59 percent of developers worldwide reported using the Windows operating system for personal use, but only 48 percent reported using the OS when working. MacOS, based on Unix, had the second-largest share at 32 percent of developers using it for both personal and professional use, respectively.

Linux dominates the rest of the market 

Among developers, Linux-based operating systems are highly favored for their flexibility and robust development environments, with Ubuntu ranking as the third most widely used distribution globally. Furthermore, other Linux distributions gained significant traction, such as Debian, Arch, Fedora, and Google’s ChromeOS among others.

Android as the top mobile OS for developers

When it came to mobile operating systems, Android had the highest percentage of developers using it both personally and professionally, while Apple's iOS and iPadOS held significantly lower shares. This trend extends beyond software development; Android's appeal is further highlighted by the fact that over one in four game developers globally report it as their preferred gaming platform, making it also one of the most popular platforms for game development worldwide.