So many Mac developers are using ChatGPT, SetApp survey says

Ukraine-based developer SetApp has published the results of its seventh annual Mac Developer Survey. Highlights of the findings include strong interest in distributing apps outside the App Store and a large number of developers are already interested in using ChatGPT within their developer workflow.

What to learn

“These results provide valuable insights on the current state of Mac development from those who know best – app makers,” says Oleksandr Kosovan, CEO and Founder of Setapp.

“With nearly 200 developers on board and a drive to help the Mac dev community improve, we understand the value of staying on top of the latest trends and industry insights.”

According to the survey, almost one-third of surveyed Mac developers distribute their apps solely outside of the Mac App Store. It also shows us 60% of respondents expressed interest in distributing their iOS apps through third-party app stores as a way to grow users and add revenue streams.

It is interesting that App discovery, marketing, and user acquisition remain the biggest challenge any developer faces, followed by all the challenges of making money from good ideas.

But it’s all about AI. Maybe

ChatGPT is getting popular. The survey claims 39% of respondents have already used it within their development flow while another 41% state they are currently working on it.

That’s despite the risk of sharing confidential data with these systems, and warnings from security researchers that criminals have begun to find ways to exploit ChatGPT’s APIs, including use of tools to bruteforce access to accounts.

All the same, these technologies are growing in popularity. 44% of developers say they have already implemented these tools in their apps with an additional nearly one-third (28%) stating they were working on doing so.

The study also revealed that accessibility is a priority for many developers. Almost nine out of ten respondents (87%) put effort into making their apps accessible with visual impairments getting most focus.  The survey also suggests the economic downturn has impacted around 75% of Mac software developers.

Developers were pretty effusive with praise for Apple silicon (though not every developer builds for Mac, even if they are Mac developers). 71 percent have already optimized for these processors, while 73 percent reported a big or slight boost in app performance.

Key takeaways: 

• Almost ⅓ of the Mac developers distribute their apps solely outside the Mac App Store.
• 60% of developers are interested in distributing their iOS apps through third-party app stores.
• Highly personalized user experience and enhanced security with facial recognition are the most common reasons to implement AI/ML models in the apps.
• 39% of devs have implemented ChatGPT in their development flow; 41% are working on that.
• 75% of the surveyed Mac developers have felt the impact of the economic downturn on their businesses.

You can take a look at the full findings here.

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