China is taking the lead in the global software development arena, boasting over 9.4 million developers—about one-third of the world’s total, according to recent data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).
Li Xiaodong, Vice President of the Internet Society of China and Director of the Fuxi Institution, highlighted the significance of this milestone. “China’s proportion of software developers globally surpasses its share of internet users, demonstrating the strength of our digital talent base and its pivotal role in driving the future of the digital economy,” he said.
China’s impact extends to the open-source community as well. A report by the Cloud Computing Standards and Open Source Promotion Committee under the China Communications Standards Association reveals that Chinese projects now make up 17% of global open-source software, ranking China second worldwide.
Embracing Open Source
Open-source software allows anyone to view, modify, and distribute its source code freely. Today, open source touches nearly every aspect of software development, with 97% of developers and 99% of companies worldwide utilizing open-source solutions.
One of China’s notable contributions is HarmonyOS, known as Hongmeng in Chinese. Launched in August 2019, HarmonyOS is an open-source operating system designed for a variety of devices, including smart screens, tablets, wearables, and cars. More than 70 organizations have joined the HarmonyOS ecosystem, and over 8,100 individuals have contributed to its code, according to MIIT.
Xie Shaofeng, Chief Engineer with the ministry, remarked on China’s growing presence in open source. “China has become the second-largest country in terms of open-source participants, with the fastest growth rate in the world. The number of devices using HarmonyOS has exceeded one billion,” he stated.
A Rising Influence in Global Innovation
Li believes China’s expanding role in open source signals its increasing global influence and commitment to technological innovation. “As China’s contributions to open source align with its proportion of global internet users and developers, its global influence and technological innovation will continue to rise, delivering greater rewards while adhering to the open spirit of the internet,” he said.
This growth not only underscores China’s dedication to advancing technology but also highlights the collaborative spirit that drives the global digital economy forward.
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China leads global software development with 9.4 million developers
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