What’s shaping the future of software development?
Talk Python to Me Episode 504, “Developer Trends in 2025,” brings together leading voices from the Python community to unpack the biggest shifts impacting the way developers work — from the rise of AI-assisted coding to changes in cloud tooling and the growing dominance of self-taught engineers.
Calvin Hendryx-Parker – CTO of Six Feet Up and founder of IndyPy
Gina Häußge – Creator and maintainer of OctoPrint
Ines Montani – Co-founder of Explosion, creator of spaCy
Richard Campbell – Host of .NET Rocks and RunAs Radio
Trends Shaping the Developer Landscape
1. More Developers Are Self-Taught
Panelists shared their own diverse journeys — from linguistics to hardware engineering — and underscored how documentation, community, and hands-on learning continue to lower barriers into the field.
2. AI Tools Enhance Productivity — With Guardrails
GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, and similar tools are boosting development speed, especially for seasoned engineers. However, panelists cautioned that junior devs need mentorship and oversight to avoid over-reliance and maintain code quality.
3. Local AI Is Gaining Momentum
To address privacy, cost, and sustainability concerns, developers are turning to local-first AI tools. Calvin spotlighted options like Aider Chat, Goose, Mistral, and Llama — open-source LLMs that provide real-time coding support without sending data to the cloud.
4. Cloud Choices Are Often Inherited
Developers typically don’t select their cloud provider, but understanding cloud tooling remains critical. The panel urged devs to gain hands-on experience with AWS, Azure, or GCP to stay adaptable in team environments.
5. Developer Experience Must Be a Priority
The importance of designing better experiences for developers was a recurring theme throughout the episode. Whether through well-documented libraries, reliable tooling, or thoughtful AI integration, empowering developers remains essential.
As the developer ecosystem continues to evolve, the panel made one thing clear: thriving in 2025 requires more than just technical skill. Whether you're writing code, mentoring a team, or adopting AI tools, success depends on thoughtful practices, a growth mindset, and a strong developer-first foundation.
