Chart audit

Week 2 homework: complete before the Week 2 application session

The charts

Every year Stack Overflow surveys thousands of software developers, and publishes the results as a glossy web page: hold onto your phones, influencers, some social media dynamite is coming your way!

The 2026 edition (archive) is visually engaging… but some of its charts are – well, problematic.

Your homework

1. Pick at least one chart from the report. Choose the one that annoys you most.
2. Audit it on your own.
   • What does the chart want you to conclude?
   • What impression does it actually give?
   • What did you think was good or bad about the plot?
   • How would you draw it instead?
3. Post your audit on the class board as a new discussion in Chart audit. Post your answer before reading what your classmates wrote.
4. Check your answer. Each chart has a Dig deeper button that shows the same data drawn as a plain chart. Does this look how you expected? Was your fix close?

🌟 For bonus points: Download the survey data (available in CSV format behind the “Dig Deeper” link) create your own infographic in R.

We’ll celebrate the charts that drew the most attention in the Week 2 application session.