Green Coding: State of Practice

Abstract

The advancement and demand for digitalization increase the environmental impact of software systems through the rising energy consumption and CO2 emissions from information and communications technology (ICT) aided by software systems. This necessitates the need for energy-efficient software development. Green coding has emerged as a key practice for reducing the carbon footprint of software systems by optimizing energy efficiency and minimizing computational overhead. However, the adoption of green coding practices among software development professionals in the industry remains limited. This study investigates the state of green coding practices among software development professionals in Finland through a survey with 53 respondents. The goal is to identify software development professionals’ green coding awareness levels, the extent of adoption in practice, the tools used, and the challenges faced in integrating green coding in software development projects. The results indicate a significant gap between the perceived importance of green coding and the actual implementation in software projects. Key challenges identified are a lack of awareness, knowledge, insufficient educational resources, limited tool support, and guidelines for green coding best practices. The findings highlight the need for structured education on green coding, improved tool support, and industry-wide standardization to facilitate the better adoption of green coding among software development professionals in the industry.