Although the Web3 sector continues to mature, the number of developers within the ecosystem remains low.
According to Electric Capital’s 2023 Developer Report, Web3 developers decreased by 24% last year. Findings also show that blockchain developers active for fewer than 12 months fell by 53% year over year.
The Web3 Talent Dilemma
Evans Data Corporation recently released its biannual Worldwide Developer Population Report. This document notes that the global developer population will grow to 27 million in 2023.
“The report states: “already produced applications that do, has increased from 15.5M last year to over 17.4M today,” the report stated.
Unfortunately, Web3 developer growth continues to struggle.
David Bchiri, CEO of XRPL Commons, told Cryptonews that Web3 developer growth remains low due to certain factors.
“The learning curve of blockchain development is steep,” Bchiri said. “Knowledge is not widely spread yet. Universities and engineering schools lack experts who can teach blockchain to the next generation of students.”
Source: Electric Capital
Bchiri added that the Web3 space has been consistently short of developers over the years compared to other industries.
“Technologies are competing for a small pool of talent. Right now, AI is a trendy field that offers many good opportunities for developers, thanks to massive investments from VCs,” he remarked.
A Hands-On Approach To Attract Developers
To solve this challenge, Bchiri founded XRPL Commons, an initiative supported by Ripple that creates the conditions needed to empower Web3 developers.
While XRPL Commons primarily focuses on advancing the XRP Ledger ecosystem, Bchiri noted that the program aims to encourage developer growth throughout the blockchain sector.
XRPL Commons is unique because it offers Web3 developers the opportunity to learn how to code and build blockchain projects firsthand. XRPL Commons has a dedicated space in Paris’ Marais district, which serves as a hub for developers to come and learn how to code for free.
XRPL Commons annual 2023-2024 report notes that 120 people worldwide attended XRPL Commons’ in-house developer training sessions. The report also states that 17 hands-on blockchain courses are being offered at universities across the globe to help attract Web3 talent.
“Developers will learn blockchain and embrace the technology only if they find compelling career opportunities in that space,” Bchiri said. “It is our responsibility to help create these journeys for them to pick their interest.”
Bchiri explained that since its inception, XRPL Commons has focused on helping entrepreneurs launch companies through its residency program, “The Aquarium.”
“Time will tell if these companies will be sustainable, but as they grow, they offer great opportunities for builders to join, learn and contribute to a vibrant ecosystem,” he stated.
A Foundation For Web3 Developer Advancement
The Web3 Foundation (W3F)—an initiative supported by Polkadot—is also working to attract more developers to the blockchain.
Bill Laboon, Director of Education and Governance Initiatives at W3F, told Cryptonews that W3F takes a two-pronged approach to attract developers.
“We provide better tooling and infrastructure, along with appropriate tutorials and documentation for developers of all levels,” Laboon said.
Laboon explained that the first objective involves funding team projects that are useful to Web3 advancement. This is accomplished through the Web3 Foundation Grants Program.
“The grants program has accepted 658 proposals, of which 471 have been completed. A total of $19.5 million has gone towards funding these projects,” Laboon remarked.
This grants program is also easy for all developers to engage with, as Laboon noted that every review and interaction is done publicly on GitHub.
In addition to funding, the Web3 Foundation offers numerous educational initiatives.
For example, the Foundation has partnered with educational platform EdX to produce “Web3x,” which provides courses on blockchain fundamentals, Rust programming, and Polkadot.
“We also provide assistance to the Polkadot Blockchain Academy for more in-depth teaching of how to build on Polkadot,” Laboon added. “Finally, we often give speeches and workshops all around the world and online, at conferences, universities, and meetups, to teach people about Polkadot and Web3.”
A Co-Working House For Web3 Locals and Nomads
The House of Web3 in San Francisco’s Presidio Heights neighborhood also serves as an attraction for developers.
Noëlle Becker Moreno, Edge & Node CMO and House of Web3 Co-Founder, told Cryptonews that The House of Web3 was created by Edge & Node to be a true ‘home’ for creators, visionaries, and leaders progressing the sector forward.
An inside look at the House of Web3 in San Francisco. Source: House of Web3
“The house also enables digital nomads to have a place to visit, collaborate and grow together,” Becker Moreno said. “It was built to raise the tide for everyone involved in Web3, offering a supportive environment where developers, founders, and VCs can connect, inspire, and cheer each other on as they work toward a shared vision of a decentralized future.”
While The House of Web3 serves as an ideal connecting space for blockchain developers, it also hosts a number of free events, meetups, and workshops weekly.
“Attracting more Web3 developers starts with education, access to tools, and a supportive community,” Becker Moreno remarked. “The House of Web3 does this by hosting developer workshops, preparatory sessions for hackathons, and a wide range of events that bring in builders from not only Web3, but act as a pathway for those in Web2 and AI.”
Web3 Developer Growth Predicted To Increase
Although Web3 developer growth is low, industry experts believe that the talent pool will increase as opportunities advance.
“One of the biggest challenges in attracting new Web3 devs has been the learning curve for developers entering the space,” Becker Moreno said.
She remains hopeful, though, noting that the tools and frameworks in the industry are maturing rapidly.
“To continue attracting developers, we need to introduce them to initiatives like the ones mentioned here. These provide a collaborative environment and a community that can serve as mentors, help to demystify the complexities, and nurture their sustained progress in this growing ecosystem,” she remarked.
Yet Laboon pointed out that philosophical challenges must also be conquered.
“The benefits of blockchain can be difficult to explain, while the drawbacks are often widely publicized,” he said. “Despite blockchains being a ‘truth machine,’ people often see them as simply the home of scammers, drug dealers, or silly meme coins.”
To combat this, Laboon believes that the Web3 industry needs to do a better job of explaining the benefits of blockchains.
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