The Algerian Developer Stack: What Languages, Frameworks, and Tools Algerian Developers Actually Use in 2026

The Numbers Behind Algerian Code

For years, conversations about Algeria’s tech talent have relied on anecdotes, LinkedIn impressions, and guesswork. That started to change when the State of Software Engineering in Algeria survey — a community-driven initiative modeled after Stack Overflow’s annual developer survey — collected responses from over 500 Algerian IT professionals and students in early 2024. While not as large as global surveys, the results offer the most systematic look yet at an ecosystem that is both globally connected and distinctly shaped by local realities.

The headline finding is not surprising to anyone who has hired in Algiers or Oran: JavaScript and Python dominate. But the details underneath that headline tell a more nuanced story about what Algerian developers actually build, how they build it, and what employers should understand before assembling a local tech team.

This article breaks down the supply side of Algeria’s developer market — not what job postings demand, but what working developers already know and use daily.

Language Breakdown: JavaScript Leads, Python Rising Fast

According to the State of Software Engineering in Algeria survey, JavaScript remains the most-used language among Algerian developers, followed closely by Python in second place and PHP in third. The strong showing for Python reflects two converging trends: the growing emphasis on AI/ML coursework at Algerian universities like USTHB and ESI — where some institutions have started introducing Python earlier in their curricula — and the expanding freelance market on platforms like Upwork where Python-heavy data and backend projects are in demand.

Java maintains a strong position, anchored by its entrenched role in Algeria’s enterprise IT sectors. The survey notes that Java has long been one of the most-taught programming languages at Algerian universities, particularly for object-oriented programming courses. Telecom operators like Djezzy and large enterprises like Sonatrach maintain substantial legacy systems, and the enterprise database market in Algeria leans heavily on Oracle and SQL Server. For developers targeting formal employment in Algeria’s largest companies, Java remains a reliable path.

PHP rounds out the top tier, reflecting Algeria’s large WordPress and Laravel freelance community. C and C++ remain prominent in the rankings, driven almost entirely by university curricula — most Algerian CS programs still require foundational C coursework before students move to higher-level languages. TypeScript adoption is growing in step with the global trend toward type safety in JavaScript projects, though Algeria-specific adoption figures are not yet tracked in local surveys.

Frameworks and Libraries: React Reigns, But Laravel Is the Quiet Giant

On the frontend, the Algeria survey confirms that the JavaScript ecosystem dominates — seven of the top ten web framework and library answers come from the JavaScript world, with React, Vue.js, Angular, and Next.js all featuring prominently. React leads the pack, and its dominance is even more pronounced among younger developers. Next.js has emerged as a popular meta-framework choice, suggesting that Algerian developers are keeping pace with the global shift toward server-side rendering and full-stack JavaScript.

The backend story is more fragmented. Django and Flask serve the growing Python developer community, while Laravel — the PHP framework — quietly powers an enormous share of Algerian web projects. Yassir, Algeria’s leading super app, actively employs Laravel developers alongside its Java, Node.js, and Go services. For freelancers building client websites and business applications, Laravel remains the pragmatic choice: fast to develop, affordable to host, and supported by a deep local knowledge base.

Node.js with Express is well represented, and FastAPI — the rising Python framework — is gaining traction in Algeria as it has globally, where it surged to 38% adoption among Python developers worldwide in 2025 according to the JetBrains Developer Ecosystem survey. Mobile development splits between Flutter and React Native, with Flutter leading as the most-used mobile framework in the Algeria survey. Native Android development with Kotlin remains relevant given Algeria’s approximately 88% Android mobile market share, while native iOS (Swift) development is constrained by the country’s small iOS user base of around 12%.

IDEs, Operating Systems, and the Infrastructure Reality

Visual Studio Code is not just popular — it is practically universal among Algerian developers, mirroring the global trend where VS Code reached 76% usage in the 2025 Stack Overflow Developer Survey. JetBrains tools like IntelliJ IDEA and PyCharm, while respected, face a pricing barrier in the Algerian market: the All Products Pack costs roughly $289/year for the first year of an individual subscription, which represents a significant portion of a junior developer’s monthly salary in Algeria. According to the State of SWE Algeria survey, junior developers earn a median of around 60,000 DZD per month ($460 at current exchange rates), with ranges extending from 20,000 to 150,000 DZD depending on the employer.

Operating system choices among the general Algerian population heavily favor Windows, which holds 85% of the desktop market according to StatCounter data. Linux sits at just over 3% of general desktop usage, and macOS trails at under 1%. Among developers, however, Linux adoption is likely significantly higher — the open-source culture in Algerian universities and the practical reality that many developers work on shared or older hardware where Linux performs better both contribute to greater developer adoption. Ubuntu is the dominant Linux distribution globally among developers, and anecdotal evidence suggests the same holds in Algeria.

macOS adoption among Algerian developers remains low, constrained by Apple’s pricing and the absence of official retail presence in Algeria. The base MacBook Air with M4 chip starts at $999 — roughly five to ten times a junior developer’s monthly salary. This has downstream effects: iOS development skills remain scarce, and companies like Yassir recruit iOS engineers across their offices in Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and beyond to fill demand.

What This Means for Employers Building Algerian Teams

For companies looking to build or expand technical teams in Algeria, the data points to several actionable insights. First, recruiting for JavaScript and Python skills will yield the largest candidate pools, but the competition for those developers is also fierce — especially from remote employers in the Gulf and Europe. The State of SWE Algeria survey found that 29% of respondents work remotely for foreign companies, with some earning up to 85,000 euros per year. A mid-level developer in Algiers earns a median of around 100,000 DZD ($770) locally, while remote positions with foreign companies can pay several times that amount.

Second, the Java talent pool skews toward established enterprises. The survey confirms that Java has been a university staple for years, but universities are increasingly introducing Python earlier in their curricula, which may shift the balance over time. Companies planning long-term Java projects should invest in training pipelines rather than relying solely on the open market. Third, the Flutter-versus-React Native split in mobile development means teams need to make an early framework commitment — with Flutter currently leading in the Algeria survey.

Finally, the dominance of VS Code and the open-source culture in Algerian universities suggest that developers are comfortable with modern toolchains and cloud-native workflows. The infrastructure gap is not in developer capability but in the surrounding ecosystem: reliable CI/CD pipelines, local cloud hosting options, and enterprise-grade DevOps practices remain areas where Algeria is still developing. Only 39% of Algeria survey respondents reported using cloud hosting providers, with AWS, GCP, and Azure as the primary international choices.

Sources & Further Reading

• The State of Software Engineering in Algeria — 2024 Survey Results
• Technology Trends — State of Software Engineering in Algeria
• Salaries & Remuneration — State of Software Engineering in Algeria
• Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2025
• JetBrains Developer Ecosystem Survey 2025
• StatCounter — Desktop Operating System Market Share Algeria
• StatCounter — Mobile Operating System Market Share Algeria
• StatCounter — Mobile Vendor Market Share Algeria
• Yassir — Senior Back-end Developer (PHP Laravel) Job Posting
• Yassir Case Study — Google Cloud
• TemTem One — Tech Stack and Technologies
• Apple MacBook Air — Official Pricing