C and C++ reign as the top languages of our software users. No surprise there: just read the job requirements listed in the classifieds. Assembly language s retain a strong 50 percent of our readers' loyalty, followed by Fortran (9.8 percent), Ada (9 percent) and an assortment of Basic and Pascal users.

Today, slightly less than 5 percent of our EEs identify themselves as users of the Sun Microsystems Internet language, Java, consistent with the 6.1 percent performing Internet applications work. That will change significantly, since 35 percent of our software users anticipate utilizing Java by 1998.

Similarly, Sun Microsystems can take heart in the results from our 445 Japanese survey participants. While fewer than 4 percent use Java today, 39 percent expect to be up and running on it in two years.

Browsers popular

Even if they are not yet Java-savvy, 42 percent of our software gurus are tapping into the Internet via Web browsers.

Among operating systems, DOS prevails, with 75 percent of EEs in software using it. But its reign may be coming to an end, since our readers are ready to consign it to also-ran status. Only 25 percent expect to use DOS in their work two years from now, probably for embedded systems.

On the rise is Windows NT. Today, 27.7 percent of our software users have it; by 1998, that percentage will double to 54 percent. Windows 95 is already in place on 38 percent of our U.S. software users' desks. No increase in usage is foreseen, perhaps in anticipation of an upgrade or a move to Windows NT. Responses from Japanese EEs show similar numbers.

Fewer of our software users intend to be using Unix in two years. While 57 percent currently carry out work via Unix operating systems, only 38 percent see themselves using it two years from now. Again, the Japanese engineers trace a similar path, though Unix is not quite as

popular there as the U.S. Some interesting differences show up in how Japanese and American respondents employ software tools.

77 percent of American EEs utilize debugging tools, but only 33 percent of the Japanese do.

37 percent of Americans use software tools for C AE vs. 17 percent of the Japanese.

50 percent of the American respondents use layout/schematic software vs. about a third of the Japanese.

Sample variances

Some differences may be attributed to the profiles of the samples. More Japanese engineers consider themselves as exclusively in hardware, many more are involved in consumer-electronics projects, and more have jobs in manufacturing and basic research.

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