ISCO-08 2512
Software developers
97.0%
ADI · 24th of 433 · 95% interval 90.1–100.0
An AI agent can at least partly carry out 97.0% of the task time of software developers, and finish 12.8% alone.
ADI · partial or full97.0%
24th of 433 · interval 90.1–100.0
ADI3 · full delegation12.8%
32nd of 433 · interval 3.5–25.0
ADIs · share of time64.3%
30th of 433 · interval 60.0–69.0
Evidence47
task statements rated by two models and weighted by importance and frequency. World employment: 9.7 million.
Task weight by level
How the tasks rate
L0No meaningful role · 0.0%L1Augmentation · 3.0%L2Partial delegation · 84.2%L3Full delegation · 12.8%
Barriers
What stops the agent
Share of task weight flagged by each barrier; a task can carry several.
47 task statements, heaviest first
| Task statement (O*NET occupation) | Sonnet · Haiku | Barriers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monitor functioning of equipment to ensure system operates in conformance with specifications.Software Developers · supplemental task | 4.8% | L2 | L2L2 | 70% | 1.0 h | Access to systems |
| Modify existing software to correct errors, adapt it to new hardware, or upgrade interfaces and improve performance.Software Developers | 4.3% | L2 | L2L2 | 68% | 4.0 h | Access to systems |
| Analyze user needs and software requirements to determine feasibility of design within time and cost constraints.Software Developers | 4.3% | L2 | L2L2 | 60% | 4.0 h | Trust and care, Access to systems |
| Develop or direct software system testing or validation procedures, programming, or documentation.Software Developers | 4.2% | L2 | L2L3 | 72% | 3.5 h | – |
| Confer with systems analysts, engineers, programmers and others to design systems and to obtain information on project limitations and capabilities, performance requirements and interfaces.Software Developers | 4.1% | L2 | L2L2 | 40% | 1.8 h | Trust and care, Access to systems |
| Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements.Software Developers | 3.9% | L3 | L3L3 | 82% | 2.0 h | – |
| Supervise the work of programmers, technologists and technicians and other engineering and scientific personnel.Software Developers · supplemental task | 3.7% | L2 | L2L2 | 42% | 2.5 h | Trust and care, Access to systems |
| Design, develop and modify software systems, using scientific analysis and mathematical models to predict and measure outcomes and consequences of design.Software Developers | 3.6% | L2 | L2L2 | 65% | 6.0 h | – |
| Prepare reports or correspondence concerning project specifications, activities, or status.Software Developers | 3.5% | L3 | L3L3 | 82% | 1.0 h | Access to systems |
| Determine system performance standards.Software Developers | 3.5% | L2 | L2L2 | 62% | 4.0 h | Access to systems |
| Analyze information to determine, recommend, and plan installation of a new system or modification of an existing system.Software Developers | 3.3% | L2 | L2L2 | 60% | 6.0 h | Access to systems |
| Coordinate installation of software system.Software Developers · supplemental task | 3.3% | L2 | L2L2 | 60% | 3.5 h | Access to systems |
| Consult with customers or other departments on project status, proposals, or technical issues, such as software system design or maintenance.Software Developers | 3.1% | L2 | L2L2 | 48% | 1.0 h | Trust and care, Access to systems |
| Confer with data processing or project managers to obtain information on limitations or capabilities for data processing projects.Software Developers | 3.0% | L1 | L2L1 | 35% | 52 min | Trust and care, Access to systems |
| Supervise and assign work to programmers, designers, technologists, technicians, or other engineering or scientific personnel.Software Developers · supplemental task | 2.9% | L2 | L2L2 | 40% | 52 min | Trust and care, Access to systems |
Show the other 32 tasks
| Task statement (O*NET occupation) | Sonnet · Haiku | Barriers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identify, analyze, and document problems with program function, output, online screen, or content.Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | 2.4% | L2 | L2L2 | 70% | 1.0 h | Access to systems |
| Document software defects, using a bug tracking system, and report defects to software developers.Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | 2.3% | L2 | L2L2 | 72% | 22 min | Access to systems |
| Obtain and evaluate information on factors such as reporting formats required, costs, or security needs to determine hardware configuration.Software Developers · supplemental task | 2.3% | L2 | L2L2 | 62% | 3.0 h | Access to systems |
| Train users to use new or modified equipment.Software Developers · supplemental task | 2.3% | L2 | L2L2 | 58% | 3.0 h | Trust and care |
| Install, maintain, or use software testing programs.Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | 1.8% | L2 | L3L2 | 80% | 1.5 h | – |
| Document test procedures to ensure replicability and compliance with standards.Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | 1.7% | L3 | L3L3 | 82% | 2.0 h | – |
| Develop testing programs that address areas such as database impacts, software scenarios, regression testing, negative testing, error or bug retests, or usability.Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | 1.7% | L2 | L2L2 | 68% | 4.0 h | Access to systems |
| Provide feedback and recommendations to developers on software usability and functionality.Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | 1.7% | L2 | L2L2 | 65% | 1.8 h | – |
| Create or maintain databases of known test defects.Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | 1.6% | L3 | L3L3 | 85% | 1.0 h | – |
| Monitor program performance to ensure efficient and problem-free operations.Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | 1.6% | L2 | L2L2 | 68% | 2.0 h | Access to systems |
| Monitor bug resolution efforts and track successes.Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | 1.6% | L2 | L3L2 | 78% | 52 min | – |
| Design test plans, scenarios, scripts, or procedures.Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | 1.6% | L2 | L2L3 | 72% | 3.0 h | Access to systems |
| Test system modifications to prepare for implementation.Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | 1.4% | L2 | L2L2 | 70% | 3.5 h | Access to systems |
| Modify existing software to correct errors, allow it to adapt to new hardware, or to improve its performance.Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers · supplemental task | 1.4% | L2 | L3L2 | 72% | 2.0 h | – |
| Recommend purchase of equipment to control dust, temperature, or humidity in area of system installation.Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers · supplemental task | 1.4% | L2 | L2L2 | 52% | 1.8 h | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements.Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers · supplemental task | 1.4% | L2 | L3L2 | 78% | 1.5 h | – |
| Update automated test scripts to ensure currency.Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | 1.4% | L2 | L3L2 | 78% | 2.0 h | – |
| Conduct software compatibility tests with programs, hardware, operating systems, or network environments.Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | 1.2% | L2 | L2L2 | 62% | 3.0 h | Physical presence, Access to systems |
| Plan test schedules or strategies in accordance with project scope or delivery dates.Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | 1.2% | L2 | L2L2 | 65% | 3.0 h | Access to systems |
| Perform initial debugging procedures by reviewing configuration files, logs, or code pieces to determine breakdown source.Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | 1.2% | L3 | L3L3 | 82% | 45 min | Access to systems |
| Investigate customer problems referred by technical support.Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | 1.2% | L2 | L2L2 | 62% | 1.8 h | Access to systems |
| Identify program deviance from standards, and suggest modifications to ensure compliance.Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | 1.1% | L2 | L2L3 | 75% | 2.5 h | Access to systems |
| Participate in product design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, product designs, schedules, or potential problems.Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | 1.1% | L2 | L2L2 | 50% | 1.5 h | Trust and care |
| Develop or specify standards, methods, or procedures to determine product quality or release readiness.Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | 1.1% | L2 | L2L2 | 68% | 3.5 h | – |
| Review software documentation to ensure technical accuracy, compliance, or completeness, or to mitigate risks.Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | 1.0% | L2 | L2L2 | 70% | 2.5 h | – |
| Design or develop automated testing tools.Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | 1.0% | L2 | L2L2 | 70% | 8.0 h | – |
| Collaborate with field staff or customers to evaluate or diagnose problems and recommend possible solutions.Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | 0.8% | L2 | L2L2 | 55% | 1.5 h | Trust and care, Access to systems |
| Install and configure recreations of software production environments to allow testing of software performance.Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | 0.8% | L2 | L2L2 | 62% | 4.0 h | Access to systems |
| Coordinate user or third-party testing.Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | 0.8% | L2 | L2L2 | 65% | 3.5 h | Trust and care |
| Visit beta testing sites to evaluate software performance.Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | 0.8% | L2 | L2L2 | 65% | 3.0 h | Access to systems |
| Conduct historical analyses of test results.Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | 0.8% | L3 | L3L3 | 82% | 3.0 h | Access to systems |
| Evaluate or recommend software for testing or bug tracking.Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | 0.5% | L2 | L2L3 | 75% | 6.0 h | Access to systems |
Level: consensus of the two models (the lower level when they disagree). Share: part of the task’s working time an agent could take over. Human time: minutes a competent person needs for one instance, as estimated by the models.
Against other measures
Exposure is not delegation
| Measure | Value | Percentile | Pct |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADI (this index) | 97.0% | 95 | |
| Eloundou et al. (2024), GPT exposure β | 0.904 | 99 | |
| Felten et al. (2021), AI occupational exposure | 1.24 | 90 | |
| Webb (2020), AI patent exposure | 83 | 78 | |
| Eisfeldt et al. (2026), generative AI exposure | 0.59 | 92 | |
| Anthropic Economic Index, observed use | 0.381 | 96 |
Earlier indices measure whether AI can touch a task; ADI measures how much of it an agent can carry out from a goal. – : the source does not cover this occupation.
Same sub-major group (25)
Neighbouring occupations
| Occupation | ADI | % |
|---|---|---|
| Database designers and administrators 2521 | 100.0 | |
| Systems administrators 2522 | 100.0 | |
| Database and network professionals not elsewhere classified 2529 | 98.5 | |
| Software and applications developers and analysts not elsewhere classified 2519 | 98.3 | |
| Computer network professionals 2523 | 98.2 | |
| Applications programmers 2514 | 97.0 | |
| Web and multimedia developers 2513 | 95.1 | |
| Systems analysts 2511 | 94.3 |
Dashed line: software developers (97.0%).
Cite this record
Text
Espinal Maya, Cristian, and Santiago Jiménez Londoño. 2026. ADI v2026.1: Agent Delegability Index data, code and MCP server. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23552918. Record: Software developers (ISCO-08 2512), https://balamlabs.org/adi/occupations/2512
BibTeX
@misc{espinal2026adidata,
title = {{ADI} v2026.1: Agent Delegability Index data, code and {MCP} server},
author = {Espinal Maya, Cristian and Jim{\'e}nez Londo{\~n}o, Santiago},
year = {2026},
publisher = {Zenodo},
version = {v2026.1},
doi = {10.5281/zenodo.23552918},
url = {https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23552918},
note = {Record: Software developers (ISCO-08 2512)}
}Machine-readable
The same record as static JSON, with its citation: /adi/v2026.1/isco/2512.json.