While virtual 3-D worlds where avatars do everything from interact socially to build entire communities is a passion for millions, virtual realities may not be the place to create your next developer relations event, according to Evans Data Corp. The analysts' latest Developer Relations Program report finds that some software vendors have used environments like Second Life to host developer relations events, only to find attendance disappointing.

According to the report:

• Only 10 percent of respondents have attended a Second Life developer event.
• A majority -- 56 percent -- say they have no plans to participate in any virtual developer events in the future.
• Many developers are interested in the virtual 3-D world: 34% of respondents said they would attend a future Second Life event, just not any time soon.

“Companies should focus on what works in terms of developer relations programs now,” said John Andrews, president and CEO of Evans Data Corp. “While it’s great to be creative and take advantage of the latest technology, such as 3D environments, the data shows that the market isn’t quite there yet for serious training and events.”

Paid developer relations programs

Research highlights about paid developer program memberships include:

• 47 percent of developers pay their own way
• 40 percent have their fees taken care of by the their employer
• 12 percent share the expense with a company subsidy

Certifications

The Evans Data Developer Relations Program report also covers certification -- being certified in a specific software language, tool or environment. The report finds that certification is slightly more important to independent software vendors than to systems integrators or VARs (63 percent and 58 percent respectively). However, importance varies among the developer segments such as commercial, custom, and OEM.

Visit the Evans Data Corp. web site for a summary of the 2008 Developer Relations Program report.

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