The open source Linux operating system is stealing the wind from Windows' sails, as far as third-party software developers are concerned and Microsoft's latest operating system Windows Vista is also impacted. According to statistics Evans Data Corporation the volume of software developers that were crowding the Windows platform in 2006 has suffered a considerable decrease. Third-party developers to build applications on top of an operating system are an important resource as they manage to contribute to the increase in audience for the respective platform.

"Windows dominance on the client is cracking, according to the latest release of Evans Data Corp's North American Development Survey. Targeting of the Windows OS has declined by 12% from a year ago, continuing a two-year gradual decline. Currently 64.8% of North American developers are targeting some version of Windows, as opposed to 74% last year. Further, this is expected to drop another 2% in the coming year. Although Windows remains the largest market segment, Linux targeting has increased by 34% from 8.8% targeting a year ago to 11.8% today," reveals a fragment of the Evans Data Corporation press release.

Although the number of developers building on top of Windows is on a descendant trajectory, Microsoft's platform remains the preferred operating system in comparison to Linux and Mac OS X. Evans Data Corporation additionally revealed that JavaScript is the most widely used scripting language topping PHP, Ruby and Python. Additionally, developers are increasingly focusing on the implementation of virtualization technologies. "If we look back over the 10 year trend we've been tracking on OS targeting," said John Andrews, President and CEO of Evans Data, "it's clear that a shift away from Windows began about two years ago, and the data shows that this migration is now accelerating. Linux has benefited, but we also see corresponding growth in niche operating systems for non-traditional client devices. The landscape is changing."