An Analysis of User Profiles from Covid-19 Questions in Stack Overflow

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic brought many changes in society, with one of the most important being an explosion of software development concerning technological solutions for combatting its crippling effects. In this global crisis, many software enthusiasts, combined with seasoned developers and specialists turned their attention to Questions and Answers platforms such as Stack Overflow to expand their knowledge and ask questions regarding their COVID-19 related solutions. This paper examines the different characteristics of these users, dividing them into Newcomers and Oldcomers and pinpoints popularity differences, scientific and technological backgrounds by analyzing key technologies, as well as the role of gender in their participation. © 2021 ACM.