The State of Developer Experience Report 2024, conducted by Atlassian in partnership with DX and Wakefield Research, explores the challenges and opportunities in improving developer experience (DX) amid increasing complexity in software development. The study surveyed over 2,100 developers and managers across various industries to identify friction points, inefficiencies, and the role of AI in shaping the future of development. The report emphasizes that happier developers are more productive and suggests that improving DX can lead to better software outcomes.
Many organizations struggle to define and measure developer productivity effectively. The report highlights that 69% of developers lose over eight hours per week due to inefficiencies, mainly caused by technical debt, insufficient documentation, and inefficient processes. While nearly all engineering leaders recognize the growing complexity of development work, less than half of developers believe their organizations are taking action to address these challenges. These inefficiencies cost large organizations millions annually, making it crucial to improve DX.
Many organizations still rely on outdated productivity metrics, such as lines of code written, number of story points completed, or hours worked. However, these measurements do not accurately reflect developer effectiveness since much of their time is spent dealing with inefficiencies rather than writing new code. Leaders acknowledge the flaws in these metrics but continue using them due to a lack of better alternatives.
The report finds that developer experience and productivity are closely linked. However, 41% of organizations use the same tools to measure both productivity and satisfaction, which may not capture the full picture. Leaders believe AI-powered automation and collaboration tools are the most effective ways to improve DX, but developers report minimal productivity gains from AI tools. A significant percentage see little to no improvement in their daily workflows despite the adoption of AI-based development tools.
AI is viewed as a potential driver of efficiency, but its real-world impact remains limited. Only 38% of developers report significant productivity improvements from AI tools, although optimism about AI’s future potential is higher. Many developers expect moderate improvements in the next two years, particularly in reducing tech debt, enhancing documentation, and automating testing.
While leaders acknowledge the importance of DX, actual investment remains inadequate. A large majority believe DX is critical for attracting and retaining talent, yet only a small portion of developers are satisfied with their organization’s investment in this area. Many developers consider leaving their jobs due to poor DX. However, 76% of organizations plan to increase investment in DX within the next year, which is expected to reduce inefficiencies and improve satisfaction.
A positive DX consists of three key elements: feedback loops, manageable cognitive load, and flow state optimization. Regular team retrospectives help identify bottlenecks, and dashboards in project tracking tools provide visibility into workflow efficiency. Developer experience platforms can help teams monitor system health and performance. AI-powered tools can assist in reducing cognitive load by improving searchability of documentation and automating incident response. Reducing interruptions through “focus time” policies, such as meeting-free days or structured focus blocks, helps developers stay engaged in deep work.
Platform teams are becoming increasingly important in DX. By 2026, 80% of large organizations are expected to establish platform engineering teams, which provide internal tools and services such as CI/CD pipelines, monitoring, and logging. These teams help reduce friction and improve DX by standardizing development environments and automating repetitive tasks.
There is no universal metric for DX, but effective measurement should include developer sentiment, workflow analysis, and key performance indicators (KPIs). Custom DX surveys provide insights into pain points and areas for improvement, and sharing survey results publicly fosters engagement. Workflow and process analysis help track key friction points, such as slow build processes or excessive meetings, and guide improvements. Instead of traditional productivity metrics, organizations should focus on measuring perceived ease of software delivery, perceived productivity, and employee engagement. Organizations that prioritize DX measurement and improvement see increased productivity and retention.
Atlassian has implemented an internal initiative to improve DX by focusing on tools, teams, and culture. This initiative includes automating pull requests, upgrading test libraries, and investing in developer experience platforms. Developers are given more control over their roadmaps, and time is allocated to address tech debt. The company also fosters a culture of standardization, hackathons, and regular demonstrations to improve engagement. Since its launch, this initiative has led to a 25% increase in developer satisfaction over two years, demonstrating the impact of investing in DX.
The State of Developer Experience Report 2024 underscores the need for organizations to prioritize DX as a key driver of productivity and retention. Developers lose significant time due to inefficiencies, costing organizations millions annually. Traditional productivity metrics are ineffective and should be replaced with better DX KPIs. AI has potential but is not yet delivering significant productivity gains. Platform engineering teams will play a crucial role in improving DX. Direct feedback from developers is essential for identifying and addressing DX challenges. Investing in DX leads to increased productivity, satisfaction, and retention. Organizations that make DX a priority will be better positioned to attract and retain top talent while ensuring long-term success in software development.