DORA: Only 10% of developers see big productivity boost by AI

This is one of the insights from DORA’s new 2024 State of DevOps report!

This year focuses on how AI tools are changing the game, the importance of platform engineering, and why understanding developers is essential for improvement.

These are some of the takeaways from the research.

Empower developers to work more independently

For the second year in a row, this research highlights that AI tooling is actually lowering software delivery performance. But the explanation may surprise you; it’s not just that AI code is unreliable.

The real link between AI tooling and weaker delivery performance is the tendency for AI-driven coding to result in larger batches of code.

AI simply makes it easier to churn out more code in less time, leading to more complex deployments.

Also, software delivery throughput and quality are becoming less aligned, and overall performance appears to be slipping compared to last year.

And to address this issue, organizations should invest in tools and processes that empower developers to work more independently – like better documentation and self-serve platforms.

While these developer platforms may slow down delivery at times, they ultimately enhance both individual and team performance.

We code faster, but meetings are still dragging on as usual

And here’s a surprising twist: while AI adoption boosts individual productivity, flow, and job satisfaction, it may also decrease time spent on valuable work. Yup, you read that right!

We may be coding faster, but admin work and endless meetings aren’t going anywhere.

Now, here’s where the real magic happens: documentation. It’s the secret weapon for leveling up your development game.

DORA’s research shows a solid link between good documentation and better performance. They estimate that a 25% bump in AI adoption could lead to a 7.5% boost in documentation quality – making it more reliable and easier to navigate.

Key to platform engineering success? Put developers first

This year’s report also digs into platform engineering and what it means for developers.

A key factor in the success is to approach platform engineering with user-centeredness (users in the context of an internal developer platform are
developers), developer independence, and a product mindset.

Here are the highlights:

1. Internal platforms can help individuals and teams get more done, but they might also slow things down and introduce some instability. Still, companies using these platforms often deliver software faster and perform better overall.
2. To make internal platforms work, you need to understand your developers. Think about their goals, not just the tasks they need to finish. The more independence they have, the better!
3. Good leaders make a huge difference. When they have a clear vision and support their teams, it leads to happier, more productive developers.

Overall, software delivery seems to be facing challenges in 2024, reflecting the tough conditions many companies are dealing with in today’s economic climate. Buckle up!