Windows 10 adoption is on the rise and not only among consumers and not only is Microsoft saying so. According to Evans Data, developers are adopting Windows 10 at a rapid pace.
The Evans Data study indicates that the number of developers using Windows 10 has increased more than 645 percent in the last six months, going from 198,000 in the late spring of this year to over 1.4 million today. The number of developers targeting Windows 10 also has jumped significantly and currently stands at over 3.7 million, according to the market research firm’s study.
However, the study does not differentiate how many of the developers adopting Windows 10 are existing users and how many are net new Windows developers taking an interest in the latest version of the operating system.
“Developer adoption is key to the success of any platform,” said Al Hilwa, an analyst with IDC. “We have seen great interest from developers skilled in .NET and other traditional desktop developers in refurbishing existing apps or building new ones. I estimate the level of engaged developers in Windows 10 today is around 1 million. I would estimate that a half of these are multi-platform oriented.”
The study, which combines an exhaustive developer population model with the results of Evans Data’s biannual Global Development Survey also provides fresh population data for the four major regions: North America, APAC, EMEA, and Latin America, and for more than 40 countries. Population numbers for adoption of the hottest tech areas also are included.
“Windows 10 is absolutely being received well by developers, especially those who never adopted Windows 8,” said Janel Garvin, CEO of Evans Data, in statement. “Developers were hesitant about 8, but Windows 10 brings a lot more promise for those who want to target newer devices without losing their connection to the still mammoth world of Windows on the desktop. The possibility of addressing all Windows devices with one app is very appealing.”
For the general developer population, estimates and projections for growth to 2021 show India and China to be the fastest growing markets, though the rate of growth for Russia rivals them, and Brazil is seen to be having an immediate upsurge, the research firm said.
In a blog post last month, Terry Myerson, executive vice president of Windows and Devices at Microsoft, said more than 110 million devices had been upgraded to Windows 10 at that point.
“Our aspiration is for customers to choose Windows, and to love Windows,” Myerson said. “Our early data shows customers from France to Brazil to China to the U.S. strongly preferring Windows 10 over Windows 8.1 or Windows 7. Through the usage of these first adopters of Windows 10, and great work by the Windows ecosystem of developers, application compatibility and kinks have been worked out of Windows 10.”