Developers are now writing more applications in Apple's Macintosh environment than they are in Linux, according to a June survey by research firm Evans Data Corp. Both still lag far behind Microsoft's Windows platform, though, the study noted. More than 80 percent of the 400 North American professional software developers responding to the survey said they program on Windows, while 7.9 percent now use Mac OS and 5.6 percent prefer Linux. The survey also found that Linux still leads Mac OS as a development target, with more than twice as many developers targeting Linux as Mac OS. "Windows firmly remains king, but developers are obviously attracted to Apple's devices, while at the same time Linux has lost some of its luster after years of only single-digit adoption," said Janel Garvin CEO of Evans Data Corp. Among the other findings:

* Mobile and cloud development will increase in importance over the next three years, while the DevOps movement will be least important, developers said.

* Nearly half of the respondents said they use or expect to use Java ME for development.

What does this mean? The findings most likely reflect the fact that developers are writing apps for more than the desktop, and Apple is leading the way for smartphone and tablet development. Is it simply that Apple has all the momentum right now, and Linux gives the appearance of having stalled (only recently being upgraded to version 3 to reflect some minor tinkering with the kernel)? Perhaps. But the key word here is "professional." These are developers working for companies that are willing to spend for the latest technology, that want to go where the pack is heading, and that want to be seen as ahead of the curve (or at least on top of it). Does it mean Mac OS is better or more stable than Linux? No. It simply means more companies are spending on iMacs, that come preloaded with lots of cool applications. Less bother, less DIY means more productive programmers.