4 ms·

I think it might come close, though. I mean, yes, there might be some percentage of Linux users that get all their answers from good old mailing lists, but sure

by svckr 11y ago

I think it might come close, though. I mean, yes, there might be some percentage of Linux users that get all their answers from good old mailing lists, but surely the bias should not be that big?

dhd415 11y ago
There's a pretty big discrepancy between the popular technologies on StackOverflow and the TIOBE index (http://www.tiobe.com/tiobe_index http://www.tiobe.com/tiobe_index), so I think there's a significant possibility of bias. I think there are a set of technologies for which StackOverflow is seen as a good resource and other technologies for which StackOverflow has much less useful information and that results in some bias by virtue of self-selection.
- cholantesh 11y ago
  I only gave a cursory glance, but I don't think the discrepancy is that vast. The most significant difference I saw was the growth trend and position of Javascript. That said, I think you're right in that StackOverflow's demographic doesn't represent the wider marketplace - web development, particularly of the .NET and Java varieties, as well as DB development is probably over-represented on SO.
  - Normal_gaussian 11y ago
    We were just talking about this in the office. We all use linux (one uses a Mac - temporary iOS developer...) and we work across the "full stack" from embedded to web. When working on embedded, C, Postgres, or pretty much anything that is completely UIless we get most of our information from short to the point blogs, with 1/3 or less from SO. When working on web (php, node, css/js/popular framework) or mobile we pretty much exclusively use SO. The blogs and documentation here are full of stupid terms and too much text. The other cases I was thinking of were Python and R. Both of which I found were SO heavy, and whose blogs seemed awfully similar to the front end stuff.

4 ms·

I think it might come close, though. I mean, yes, there might be some percentage of Linux users that get all their answers from good old mailing lists, but sure

by svckr 11y ago

I think it might come close, though. I mean, yes, there might be some percentage of Linux users that get all their answers from good old mailing lists, but surely the bias should not be that big?

dhd415 11y ago
There's a pretty big discrepancy between the popular technologies on StackOverflow and the TIOBE index (http://www.tiobe.com/tiobe_index http://www.tiobe.com/tiobe_index), so I think there's a significant possibility of bias. I think there are a set of technologies for which StackOverflow is seen as a good resource and other technologies for which StackOverflow has much less useful information and that results in some bias by virtue of self-selection.
- cholantesh 11y ago
  I only gave a cursory glance, but I don't think the discrepancy is that vast. The most significant difference I saw was the growth trend and position of Javascript. That said, I think you're right in that StackOverflow's demographic doesn't represent the wider marketplace - web development, particularly of the .NET and Java varieties, as well as DB development is probably over-represented on SO.
  - Normal_gaussian 11y ago
    We were just talking about this in the office. We all use linux (one uses a Mac - temporary iOS developer...) and we work across the "full stack" from embedded to web. When working on embedded, C, Postgres, or pretty much anything that is completely UIless we get most of our information from short to the point blogs, with 1/3 or less from SO. When working on web (php, node, css/js/popular framework) or mobile we pretty much exclusively use SO. The blogs and documentation here are full of stupid terms and too much text. The other cases I was thinking of were Python and R. Both of which I found were SO heavy, and whose blogs seemed awfully similar to the front end stuff.